Mikkeller Black Hole

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

Tasted with 5 other imperial stouts. Pours deep black with a small brown head. The aroma is sweet with caramel, chocolate and some mild coffee. The taste has all those plus a bit of wood and a definate alcohol presence. The aftertaste lingers with a bit of bitterness. First tried in a small american style pint glass. This got better poured in to a Duvel glass. The only thing keeping this from being perfect was the fact I had already had 5 strong stouts. I am going to try this on its own for a final rating. Definately on of the best beers I have ever had.

This was a crowd favorite tonight. Personally, I’ve had better, and I am in the infantile stages of rating! Deep earthy tones with a slight hop linger. I was expecting more.

Bottle.

Maybe I’m just not man enough, but this beer doesn’t quite live up to my expectations. Too hot, too sourly vinous (I love sour, but not necessarily in a coffee imperial stout), too over-the-top to be truly great.

Pours extremely dark and heavily viscous with a vinous aroma, charred wood, a bit of robutussin (alcohol, cherry, sugars, medicinal). And very vinous flavors, sourness competing with the roasts, again that cherry cough syrup especially toward the close. Cold, acidic black coffee. Cough syrup mouthfeel; no, this one isn’t coming together for me at all. Maybe with a ton of age on it, but for now I’m pretty unexcited.

Black with a oily, tan head. Creamy lace. Nose of roasted bitterness with some coffee. Vinous and a bit of alcohol. The coffee comes out with a vengeance. Strong roast malts and bitter hops. Oil thick body that coats the mouth heavily. Finishes off a bit hot and malty.

[1033-20080108] 12.7floz (w/ jerc, DuctTape, others). Faint roasted malt aroma has a bit of nail polish fruit. Black brown body with a medium-lasting foamy tan head. Boozy roasted plywood flavour. Medium-full body is grainy. Surprisingly disappointing, would like to re-rate in future.

Suprising nose of noble hops dominate the roast and cold coffee. Interesting. Mouthfeel is rich and oily that just borders glycerin. Palate entry reminds me of a late-harvest Zinfandel, as crazy as that sounds. And thats the way it seems to finish, albeit an earthy (by way of malt) and spicy hop finish. The alcohol is held well in check but could stand to intergrate in the cellar. Damn this was pricey, but worth tasting at least once. Worked well with the currant and hazelnut bittersweet chocolate.

Bottle 37,5 cl. Average size rocky tan head that’s mostly diminishing. Heavy aroma of coffee, roasted and burnt malt. Also heavy hoppy bitter aroma. It has a full body and oily texture. Strong in alcohol - to strong in my opinion. The strength on 14 %is doing no good. Heavy bitter flavor and long bitter, burnt alcoholic finish.

2007 Bottle. Poured into a big brandy snifter. The color is a bright glossy black with a swirly head of deep dark tan. The aroma is is pretty mild. I can smell some bitter coffee and dark chocolate; just a touch of alcohol. The flavor is a match of the aroma. A smooth blend of bitter coffee and dark roasted chocolate. There is a bitter nature to this stout, but at the same time I can’t say the flavors aren’t well blended and smooth on the delivery. The 14% alcohol is nowhere to be seen. The body is there, but I wouldn’t have guessed 14%, I would have guessed 8 or 9. That fact alone is impressive. I guess I’m undecided on this beer. The quality is more than evident, but where is the standout that makes it a top-notch beer?