Mikkeller Draft Bear

Sampled on 5/22/2009. This European Strong Lager pours a medium orange gold color from a corked and caged 750ml bottle. Large sized white foamy head, with good retention. The aroma is cereal, floral hops and malts. A medium to full bodied European Strong Lager. The malts are cereal and bready, a touch sweet. The hops are very aggressive, with lots of grapefruity and floral hops. Nice carbonation. Kind of pilsnerish, but it is way too big and hoppy for a pilsner. Very tasty beer. Mouthfeel is full and round. Finish is clean and dry with a touch of sweetness. The aftertaste is slightly bitter.

A 0.75L bottle from Alko. Mild hoppy nose. Slightly hazy orange colour. Fresh hoppy and toffeish taste. Slightly sweet and soft. At the end sinfony of hops. Fruity nice beer.

What is this? Well I’ll start off by saying I like it a lot. Top marks for originality. This beer shrugs off labels, it is-what-it-is. Lovely on a warm day, refreshing but still hints at being powerfull, a great combination, and one you don’t find that often, at least not often done as well as this. Aroma is surprisingly malty given it’s hop arrangement. Quite a lot of sweetness on the nose, light honey-like aromas and some caramel, very close to a bit of a liquorice tied up in there, which is quite an intriguing find, some floral activity and possibly a bit of herbals, almost mint like? Appearance is certainly cloudier than I had anticipated, hazy orange/golden, small receding whit/grey head. The flavour is very nice and certainly quite unique. Malts up first with some caramelized sugar notes, then straight into the beginning of aromatic hops, once again a little menthol-like nuance, lovely florals followed by a crisp and moreish bitter finish that goes on for some time. Finish contains good slightly acrid qualities, minor perfumed aromatics, a touch of spice and some lemon rind. Mouth feel is smooth as you like. If it wasn’t for the slightly high price I could happily tuck into one of these every few days. It slightly reminds me of a tripel in some ways, which I suppose is to be expected given abv. and its genetics, but all in all I feel it hangs onto enough originality to escape any desire one might have to pigeon hole the beer. One word: TASTY!!!

750mL bottle, BB 12/13/09. Poured clear, brighter orangey-golden with a creamy and sticky white head. The aroma picked up significant doses of catty and floral hoppage over juicy lighter fruits and caramel malts. The flavor was also led by the hop blast, showcasing pine, citrus, and floral character.. juicy overall, and it carried well through the finish.. honey and bready malts supported well.. tasty. Medium-plus bodied with great balance throughout.. dry and a bit grainier on the back.. very drinkable! God help me if I ever find this on cask.

750 ml. Ugly golden-brown color, huge frothy head. Hoppy aroma with pine. Bitter flavor with pine and grapefruit, somewhat oily too. Full body, medium carbonation. This is a very unique beer, which brings to mind the American Double IPA style -- but lagered!

bottle 750 ml from Alko Arkadia 9,26€ EXP 13/12/09 orange small creamy white head lacing. Today my number second beer after sauna beer but this kind of lager beer I prefer. Strong bitterness piney fruity as well full body. Alcohol very well hidden under all flavors. I want more please!

Slightly cloudy, orange-yellow beer with big and lasting cream-yellow head. Aroma is stunning, tropical sweet fruits, at the least grapefruit and mango and some bitterness. Flavour is also great, fruits, some pine needles and sweetness that turns into dryness and quite bitter. Easy, and nice to drink but still slippery. Absolutely great beer (if every lager would be like this...), that reminds me to Anchor Liberty Ale for every aspect, so this beer can’t be far away from the truth.

Amazing head retention, creamy yet rocky. The aroma boast some sensual dry hopping and hints of plums. Orange and grapefruit zest, plums, red apple, biscuity toasted honey wheat bread flavor. - Dangerously drinkable!