Mikkeller 黑 / Black

Mikkeller
Brewed at De Proefbrouwerij
Style: Imperial Stout
Copenhagen V, Denmark

Dark brown-black color with a brown head and oily consistency. The aroma is more than a little crazy, with alcohol, insanely strong black coffee, and dark chocolate. I thought that the aroma was something, then I took a taste. The flavor is like a mocha espresso gone horribly wrong, with some roasted malt and a bitter finish. It is rather thick and alcohol is somewhat well concealed, but I agree with RCL that I will be more than a little drunk by the time I finish this one. Interesting example of a truly extreme beer....

Poured from a 12.7oz corked and caged bottle and served in a snifter. This stout poured an opaque black with a one-finger thick head of creamy, dark tan foam that would not fade. A solid sheet of lace coated the entire glass. The aroma of the beer was made up of burnt malts, coffee, licorice, and a healthy dose of sweet, perfumey alcohol. The flavor consisted of charred malts, burnt sugar, black licorice, cold coffee, bittersweet chocolate, caramel, and a huge, sweet alcoholic finish. Lots of nice flavors, but it was hard to get past the alcohol. The mouthfeel was heavy and full-bodied with minimal carbonation. A fun beer to try, but I think this would be really good if the alcohol was cut back to about 12%.

This poured black in color with a thin to moderate brown head of fine bubbles. The nose was filled with aromas of dark fruit, chocolate, roasted coffee and alcohol. In the mouth it was full-bodied, concentrated, sweet and alcoholic. The alcohol really pokes out in this one, almost like a cocktail. It is quite smooth with great depth of flavor but the alcohol and burnt flavors are a bit distracting. While drinking you come to terms with the alcohol but it becomes almost ponderous on the palate.

Bottle. Poured midnite black. The nose was sweet, and boozy. Definitely a beer to sip, 6oz took me almost an hour. Flavor was also sweet with obviously lots of alcohol. How do you hide 17%? As it warmed the burnt flavors became more prominent, and easier to drink. I liked it, but would order and drink carefully. Very strong bite in the finish.

Jet black pour with dark brown head. Aroma is roast, sweet molasses, vanilla and alcohol. Flavor is intensely rich and sweet. Caramel, bourbon boozyness and caramel molasses with tons of chocolate and vanilla. Palate is rich, full, velvety and creamy with a warming syrup like quality. AS the brew warms flavors develop into creamy roast, licorice, and syrup. Amazing brew.

Black beer as the name implies, nice lacing, small brown disappearing head. Inky smell, cane sugar sweet, coffee underneath. Sweet, burned and slightly coffeeish taste. Not as good as black hole but I admire the whole intensity of this crazy brew, definetely a slow sipper.

Pours dark brown with an almost reddish tint and a small dark brown head. Aroma is earthy, vinous and pungent with truffles, chocolate and coffee liquours. Insane flavor of sweet chocolate candy up front with a bit of plum, fig, dates. It then settles into an incredible roasted, earthy finish that recalls a campfire and a mouthful of dirt and twigs. Very inky, its so bitter it almost chokes you. It’s definitely a beer I will remember for the good and the bad. Extremely alcoholic, obviously, crazy complex and lots of flavors, but way over the top.

Aroma is more restrained than I had expected. Bitter and burnt notes like espresso coffe and licorice. Appearance is somewhat dissapointing - midnight black as expected, but almost no head. Medium lacing. Taste is extraordinary, almost like a good matured port. Vinous, with lots of licorice and coffee. Sweet notes, and a lovely espresso breathe-through...Palate is mediocre - not as big as I’d expect from a beer this big. Somewhat oily and syrupy. Don’t get em wrong - this is an extraordinary beer all told - it’s like a glass of coffee and licorice infused vintage port. This would be superb with Christmas Pudding! I’d better go and buy some more to keep in for December - and next December, and the one after that.