Mikkeller 黑 / Black

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

big thanks to nbutler11 for cracking this... it pours about as black as brown can be with no head... very viscous. the aroma is really rich, thick and sweet... malt, soy, red wine, prunes, black raisins, wood, spice, cocoa nibs and booze. it smells like it’s going to hurt... the palate is just not my thing... overtly sweet, rich and syrupy. it does have nice flavors of vanilla, prunes, dark cocoa, barley, ashy roast, salt/soy/yeast, wood and a fruity wine-like tartness before a cleansing on the finish of alcohol. the aftertaste is amazing!... tobacco, vanilla and all around fit for a cigar... something to cut the sweetness. the body is thick, rich and syrupy (just like the rest of the brew), smooth and nearly void of carbonation. much like sipping on a nice port... just not my thing. 7/5/5/4/14/3.5

Bottle. Wow this beer has some punch. Pours a pitch black mystery to revel a green bottle (why would you but a beer this thick and black in a green bottle?!). Oak flavors fill the nose. Tastes like you are drinking BBQ sauce, the most delicious BBQ sauce you’ve ever had but BBQ sauce none the less. Doesn’t taste that strong on the tougue but it hits you half way down and leaves lingering burn. Perhaps better with age but worth the try. If not for the price tag it would be fabulous to cook with!

Bottle courtesy of GMCC2181. Pours a crude oil black with a thin tan head but that does leave decent lacing. Nose is sweet dark fruits and alcohol. Taste is molasses, dark fruits, caramelized brown sugar, roasted malt, powdered cocoa, coffee and booze. Lots going on in this one. Surprisingly sweet – way too sweet for my taste, but that does cut the big ABV somewhat. Medium creamy mouth feel. Big beer for sure. Thanks G-Whizzle my Nizzle.

375ml Bottle (Thanks Svesse) - Black in colour with a tan head. Rich chocolatey aroma with molasses, chocolate and some hoppy hints. The taste is rich, bitter and warming. Chocolate, molasses and coffee feature in the taste. It’s incredibly rich and definitely one to sip slowly. Not bad but I still think it’s a bit of a gimmick.

Smells of coffee and roasted malt. No lacing or head. Very dominant taste of alcohol... maybe some citrus in there too. No carbonation. Too powerful to be ultra enjoyable but a great beer nonetheless. Worth a try.

bottle, jet black color with a nose to match, brown head dissipates easily, has flavors of varnish and roast beef with burnt kahlua thrown in, finish is bitter sweet

375ml bottle.Appears pitch black with brown sticky head. Aroma is roasted, some liqourice, coffee, peachy alcohol and chocolate. Flavour is bitter and tastes like ash. Very burned, but changes to sweet liquer. Chocolate with alcohol warmth. Quite oily, it has somekind of little bits of something. Extremely strange, maybe too much. I’m not sure if it is a good thing. Worth of tasting, but I’m not sure where I stand with these "BIG BREWS".

I agree with the description - this beer is NOT for sissies: It is black as a witches cauldron, powerful in both flavour and alcohol and very oily. It is rare to find a beer like this. But be ware - difficult to drink a whole bottle alone (share it) and all beers afterwards taste like water (rinse your palets!)