Mikkeller Black Hole

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

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?

Bottle. Pours out thick like motor oil, nice brown head and intense aroma. Aroma is of coffee, chocolate, and roasted malt. Taste is very filling and complex. Coffee up front goes into a nice chocolate with some notes of dark fruits and slight earthy notes with some roasted malt lingering around in the background. Very nice!

375 ml bottle. Pours a pitch black with a thick foamy light brown head. Lots of lacing. Aroma of bitter coffee beans, dark chocolate and roasted malt. Taste of freshly roasted coffee, malt and bitter dark chocolate. alcohol well hidden. A very nice imperial stout.

(375ml bottle) Large brown head atop black body. Aroma is moderately sweet, roast/coffee, chocolate, anise/cherry, light smoke, grapefruit. Taste is moderately sweet, coffee, chocolate, some smoke/burnt, alcohol, grapefruit, fig. Low carbonation, full body. Definitely has some nice qualities, but the alcohol presence is too strong for me to enjoy the beer fully -- at 9% I’d probably enjoy this much more.

375 ml . Opaque black with a medium, mostly lasting head. Aroma is coffee, chocolate, roasted barley. Flavors of coffee, chocolate, hops, and alcohol. Smooth full body but with a slightly rough bitterness

Bottle enjoyed with shp555 and douglas88 at my place. So this is the second batch but man, this was tasty. Thick and rich. Like biting into a coffee and chocolate confection. Has a bit of bitterness which nicely complimented the richness.

Bottle. Pours black with a brown head. Lacing on glass is pretty heavy. Aroma of roasted coffe and chocolate, with some unID’d bitter/sour notes. Taste is also of coffee and chocolate, with some fruit and hops. The most fruit I’ve ever taste in a RIS. Finish has some other flavors that are hard to pickup, bitter, salt, citrus(?). A lot going on here. Mouthfeel is slick and sticky. A very nice stout. Not as hot as I expected for 14%. Really nice and unique for the impy stout group.

Gratis bottle from Rick. Opaque black pour into a snifter. Nice thick, creamy tan head that dissipates to to a fine layer. Great lacing that lasts. First thing you smell is coffee and a deep roast aroma. Initial taste had a great full mouthfeel that left a bit of a oily feeling. Little to no hop bitterness but the coffee taste lends a nice bitterness. The 14% ABV is hidden well until the swallow; you feel it going down and gives you a great feeling in your stomach. The low carbonation and toffee/caramel flavors mix well. To date, this is the best Imperial Stout I have tasted. Worth the price. As it warms, the bitterness is subsiding and has a nice vanilla flavor to compliment the coffee. Would love to try a cash version if it were ever available.