Mikkeller Beer Geek Brunch Weasel

Mikkeller
Brewed at Nøgne Ø
Style: Imperial Stout
Copenhagen V, Denmark

Originally reviewed 2/2/2009... Imperial pint into a Duvel tulip. ’How ’bout that...big 2-finger bready maple candy head with some muffin-like tunnels. Head retention is solid with nice lacing. Tops a milk-to-dark chocolate body that has some viscosity to it. This looks solid. There’s some nutty booze to this deal. Austere, dry coffee is powerful but there’s a milkiness to the roasted chocolate malt. Only minimal tannins from any patent in there. A little hop pine and grass counter the nutty texture. The sensations from the nose transfer to taste - very well done. What’s added is a bit of sweet brown sugar booziness with a touch of raisins. Reminds me of an espresso with a hint of anisette. A little hot right now. Nicely put together...silky, nutty and a little dry. However this may need some time ’cause the alcohol sweetness does create a little burn. Look out for this one - it has some heft and a big bite. Sip it, don’t rip it. PS Don’t read the label until you drink this...you’ll know what I mean.

Bottle @ Ölbutikken. Black with a dark brown head. Smooth roasted coffee vanilla bitter chocolate alkohol little spicy.

Bottle. Pours a black color with a longlasting tan head. Has a roasted malty coffee aroma with hoppy hints and also hints of chocolate and vanilla. Smooth roasted malty coffee and dark chocolate flavor. Has a smooth roasted malty coffee finish with a bitter chocolate aftertaste.

Bottled. Poured deep brown with slight garnety influence and a uniform cap of burnt umber head.. became spotty after a minute or so. The aroma was chock full of smooth, rich coffee with vanilla, toasted sweeter chocolates, and a bit of anise.. charred coffee and light vinous character on the back.. deep and engaging. The flavor opened with tangy, sour oak-like and coffee notes smoothly rolling onto a decadent coffee, rolled oat, and baker’s chocolate core.. accents of vanilla and spicy bitterness.. a lot of tasty coffee on the long, warm finish. Medium-plus bodied with low-ish carbonation on the palate.. great blend of sweet and spicy on the palate.. this was really, really, really good!

Had a 4oz. taster of this at the Seattle International Beer Festival. I have heard a lot about this and have been wanting to try it for quite some time now. Poured a dark black/brown color with nice head. Aroma of roasted nutty coffee and chocolate. Good roasted coffee taste with a little bit of tart. Very well balanced all around. One of the best beers at the festival in my opinion. It’s the shittiest beer I have ever had (LOL).

Color is a solid with good carbonation and a thick brown head. Aroma is a deeply roasted malt scent with a chocolate cake note in the back. Taste is bold and coffee like. Starting with a full body it goes down smooth with a roasted bitter bite on the end. Finish is a deeply roasted coffee like taste that gives a mild bitterness then a little dried fruit comes in with a hint of liquorish, this all ends with a sweet little bite. After taste rolls in sweet with a touch of alcohol coming out then ends with a mellow lingering bitterness. Wow this is an intense Imperial Stout with a big complex coffee flavors.

Great beer. Everthing you want in an imperial stout. Black, oily pour. Huge dark brown (almost purple) collapsing head leaving lacing on the glass and crater like formations. Amazing aroma of chocolate, coffee, black licorice, cream, oatmeal, and toffee. Lots of sediment in the bottom of the glass. Taste is the same as the nose with sweet, dark, dried fruits like prunes, and raisins taking the stage at the beginning, then giving way to a coffee like bitterness that grows into a dry roasted, ashtray finish. Surprisingly drinkable for such a huge beer. Fruity, yet dark and roasted. Nice. Alcohol is a little oppresive burning the throat.

To me this was a very well made Imperial with an slightly unusual bitterness on the back end from the coffee. Drunk this after the Abyss and I think it may have suffered from that. Still very good, but expensive (2500 yen!). Probably wouldn’t drink again at that price, but did really enjoy this.