Mikkeller Draft Bear

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

Draught at Københavnske Øldage. Clear, golden beer with a small, white head. The aroma is a bit weak, and has hops and beef-stock. The flavor is a bit weak too, I think, and is mostly on the hoppy side, with a good deal of pine. Medium body, and a lots of hops in the finish. This beer didn’t suit me, at least not that day, but will try it again if I find a bottle the next time I’m in Denmark. Rating: 6-3-6-3-11-2.9. (070511)

Bottle, 75cl corked, at Olympen, Oslo. It’s a nice-looking hazy, dark golden beer with a big, off-white head leaving nice lacings. Citrusy hops and lots of sugary sweetness on the nose, like a big American West Coast Double IPA. Resins and beef stock blends nicely in. Lovely sweetness in the mouth, some beef stock, lots of hops giving pinecones and resin, as well as some citrus. Pleasantly bitter. Full-bodied, almost astringently bitter. Lasting finish with sugars, beef-stock, pine and citrus. I remembered this one as a fun but not very successful experiment, but it certainly a good one. Even though it’s a quite big and sweet beer, it feels easy to drink, but it’s not a thirst quencher. (090313)

Draught. Golden coloured. Uncelar. Dense off white head. Floral and herbal aroma. Has some spicy sweetness. Flavour is citric and hoppy. Loads of herbs, flowers and spice. Quite balanced and easy to drink. Is quite full bodied. Very dry. Ends on a floral bitterness. Drink this with care. Makes you a bit nuts in the night.

Bottle from Binny’s Beverage Depot in Orland Park, IL. It poured a clear golden amber body with a HUGE rocky head. The nose was sweet and grainy with a light floral/grassy hopping. It tasted of sweet pale malt, grainy, with a light hop bitterness that was boosted by the obvious alcohol presence. Not bad, but a bit too smooth for the European Strong Lager style that it’s listed under.

Dark golden to light orange color. Tall, lasting slightly aged paper colored head. Nice thin lace. Quite citric in aroma. Lemon and grapefruit zest, key lime and orange blossoms up front. Hints of biscuits and caramel in the background. Not your great uncles euro lager. This doesn’t have the airplane glue, alcohols and grain scents typically present in many euro strongs. If anything a touch too much hops aroma. An interesting citric and pine lace light lager flavor. This is one that has me rethinking my beliefs on imperial pilsners. This does not have the grain and perfumy hops so many others process. Rather citric and biting hops all the way through this brew. Finish is actually rather dry, with the linger revealing a little pale malt sweetness and again some lime zest and grapefruit. Easily one of the better ones in this style. I checked and my other favorites have bordered on maibock. I’m not there with this one. I think I’m going to need to do a side by side with Golden Showers with this one.

Bottle@chris_o. Floral aroma with a hint of plastic. Golden color, off-white head, good lace. Sweet, very bitter, floral. Full with a dry finish. Doesn’t taste like a normal ESL at all, more like an IPA.

Bottle at wine, cheese and beer store in Livingston, MT. Poured clear golden color with an average frothy white head that was lasting and produced good lacing. Good moderate to heavy hoppy and sweet malt aroma. Medium body with a smooth sticky texture and soft carbonation. Moderate to heavy bittersweet flavor with with a moderate bittersweet finish of moderate duration. Nice find on this trip.

Bottled - Chris O shindig 2007 - A blonde beer with a thin off-white head. The aroma is refined grassy hops and other more aromatic hops. The taste has good piney hops and is very bitter in the mouth. Pretty much bites the tongue. Great flavours and beautifully brewed.Score 3.5
Subsequent rating scored 4.0. Average becomes 3.7

Draught. Pours a slightly hazy golden color with a small white head. Sweet malty floral hoppy aroma. Sweet malty hoppy and bitter flavor with some floral notes. Long malty hoppy finish with a long bitter aftertaste.