Mikkeller Draft Bear

Mikkeller
Brewed at De Proefbrouwerij
Style: European Strong Lager
Copenhagen V, Denmark

Best By Cork Date February 2009; Sampled March 2008
A vigorous pour yields a four-finger thick, light tan colored head that forms some structural mesas and leaves some crunchy lacing on the sides of the glass as it slowly recedes. The beer is a honey color, but shows a lightly hazy, orangish copper color when held up to the light. The aroma has a nice grassy hop character to it up from, but this is immediately followed by a mix of sweet malt and hop notes that contributes an almost honey-like, wild flower nectar aroma. Aromatic notes of orange blossoms, lemon zest, fresh mown hay, grassy grain, soda crackers and a distinct fruitiness that is like a cross between apricot and pear. The fruit notes in the aroma are quite interesting, though this seems to dissapate as the beer warms and I work my way through the beer.

The beer is still fairly well carbonated after sitting for the last ten minutes; it foams up a bit as it hits my mouth. There is a nice grain sweetness to this beer, but it is not so much that I would characterize this as a sweet beer. Lots of hop character helps to offset the grain sweetness; flavors of hay, herbal grass notes, and a touch of menthol. Towards the finish the hop character gets much more herbal, with an accented menthol note and it even gets a bit astringent and green; a sure sign of a hopped up brew. The bitterness is not overwhelming here, it is solid, noticeable and even lingers on for quite a bit in the finish; either some low cohumulon hops were used or it does not have an over-abundance of IBUs when compared to the malt. The malt sweetness accents flavors of wild-flower honey with a touch of bergamot and orange flower. While this is certainly not a light Pilsner, it drinks fairly lightly for a beer of its strength, capturing perhaps the intent of a Pilsner if not the actual lightness.

As the beer warms up it picks up some more sweetness and a bit of warming alcohol in the finish, though I will admit that over all the alcohol is fairly well hidden here. A pretty tasty brew; the hop character can be a bit green and grassy at times, but this is perfectly in line with an "imperial" Pilsner and certainly distinct from an IPA.

Purchased: <a href=http://www.ratebeer.com/Places/ShowPlace.asp? Liquors, Tucson AZ

Bottle (75 cl) from Ölbutikken, Copenhagen, Denmark. Deep golden to amber, medium white head. Floral and piney hops, bready malts with some caramelly notes. Smooth mouthfeel, medium bodied. Very well balanced with a lingering bitterness.

I love my Malt Liquors, even if they are European. 750ml bottle, foiled, caged and corked. Very nice Imperial Pilsner. Peppery hop nose. Flavor is a chewy malt, which is always an added bonus. Follows with a crisp hop bitterness. Amazing bear, super tasty. Very nice as all Mikkellers are.

Bottle shared by Robert at SL. Pour was full golden to orange in color, some haze, good head, good retention, good lacing. The aroma was pretty darned hoppy for a lager, some citrus and pine in there, not much pilsner saaz type action detectable. Flavor starts with a good malt foundation, bread, some honey also present, not the often sulfury type character in a pilsner. The hop balance was certainly there, keeping this thing crisp (along with the high lager attenuation and yeast contributions), resinous and light citrus. The mouthfeel was full and hearty for the style, another nice one from Mikkeller, although it doesn’t beat out Rogue’s Impy Pilsner!!!

Bottle: Poured a deep cloudy copper color ale with a large foamy head with good retention and good lacing. Aroma of European dry hops is totally dominating. Taste is a mix between some huge dry and somewhat floral European hops and a huge malt base. Full body with some great carbonation and no apparent alcohol. Very well done for the style but this is a style that I have a hard tie to dig – I find beer tend to be too dry.

Bottle at tasting at Chris Fischer’s (from Liars Club) house. Pours with an orange gold body topped by a thin to medium thick head with some lacing. It’s slightly sweet yet hoppy wtih notes of grass and pine. Light bodied, smooth and a touch dry.

bottle at Stone. Clear golden with a fizzy white head. Sweet malty and floral hops aroma. Crisp sweet citrus and hoppy taste.

From Superbrugsen, Aarhus, DK Bottled Alcoholic but with a nice hoppy floral aroma and flavor