Mikkeller Black Hole

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

Poured black with a dark brown head. Rich strong aroma of roasty malts and dark fruits, an interplay of bitter and sweet. Flavor is surprisingly sweet though not intensely alcoholic as I expected... with strong notes of chocolate, vanilla, and dark fruits with a slight roasty hop kick. More drinkable than I initially gave it credit for, and a nice imperial stout overall.

Bottle at No 5. Guest Mikkel Bjergsøe. Black with a large brown head. Aroma moderate malty (licorice, coffee, oatmeal), heavy hoppy. Flavor light sweet, heavy bitter, long duration. Full body, almost flat.

Bottle courtesy of kleyland, shared with kleyland and alexanderj at the GA-CA-VA-NY-MA pre-NYE Extravaganza Day 2. Pours a pitch black color. Thin, dark tan head. Aroma of roasted coffee and soy sauce. Flavor was quite tasty. Coffee and roasted malts with a silky, smooth body. Alcohol was nicely hidden. Best beer of Day 2.

Holy hole! Incredible deep black with coffee head. Notes of extremelyness. Burned syrup, toffee, burned and heavy roasted malt, licorice, vanilla, plums, coffeechocs, "hot" burning alcohol, a winterwarmer for hours, close to the limit, wood, mint, orangechocs, fresh noseyeast and burning finish. Will buy one for cellaring!

The aroma was strong coffee and woodsy, earthy, grassy and minty hops when first poured. Roasted grains and espresso coffee were notable along with a caramel presence. The beer poured into the glass pitch black with a very slight ruby highlight when held to light. The head was brown, tight bubbled, tall and frothy with a lasting presence which laced the glass. The flavor was nicely malty with caramel and chocolate coupled to a nice roasted barley character of espresso coffee. The grassiness of the aroma carried over into the flavor and the caramel moved forward out of the background. The flavor was also lightly minty and the bitterness was well done in conjunction with the malt. The finish was dry with lasting grassy hop flavor and chocolate/coffee into the aftertaste. The body was just below full and despite a fairly low level of carbonation the beer was creamy on the palate. The alcohol was restrained despite being substantial and really only showed its cards in the warming that occurred post consumption. A very nice RIS! 12.7 ounce corked and bailed bottle.

Bouteille 375ml (13.1% abv), courtoisie de Hogtownharry. De couleur noire et opaque. Nez de malt assez rôti (notes de brûlé), de mélasse, moyen de houblon herbeux, de chocolat noir et de café, léger d’alcool et avec des notes fruitées (raisins). Moyenne-ronde en bouche avec un pétillement moyen et une texture riche, sirupeuse et légèrement crémeuse. Moyen goût fruité (raisins vineux, notes de cerises et de figues) accompagné de notes de réglisse noire et des traces boisées (bois brûlé) lors de l’entrée en bouche auquel s’enchaîne rapidement un goût amer de malt très rôti (légèrement brûlé), un moyen goût de chocolat noir, un léger goût de mélasse sucrée et avec des notes de pain grillé. Parallèlement, l’on retrouve une une amertume asséchante de houblon herbeux (également de faibles notes résineuses et des traces de thé des bois) ainsi qu’un moyen goût d’alcool réchauffant jusqu’en finale, où on note également la présence d’un goût de café espresso ainsi que des notes de noix grillées. Post-goût long et moyennement sec, amer de rôti, de houblon herbeux, d’alcool, moyen de chocolat noir et de café ainsi qu’avec des notes fruitées (moût de raisins).

Bottle sampled from Capone’s. Pours black with a large tan head. Aroma of roast, coffee, slight chocolate, brown sugar, molasses, and hops. The flavor is slightly sweet, roast and coffee are prodominate, chocolate, spices, vanilla, alcohol is well masked, and has a beautiful hoppy finish. Great brew.

Bottle. Pours a deep black with a very thin brown head. Just a bit of lacing. The aroma is roasted malts, coffee, dark chocolate. The flavor is very deep, with a bit of bitterness. Roasted malts, coffee, and a nice bitter finish. A very big beer, with no smoothness, which is perfect for this style. Very well made