Mikkeller It’s Alive!

Mikkeller
Brewed at De Proefbrouwerij
Style: Belgian Strong Ale
Copenhagen V, Denmark

Nice dense orange coloured body with a soapy tan head. Potent aroma of yeast, wheat, coriander seed, alcohol, fruit and a nice bit of hops. Medium-bodied; Strong assertive effervescence, a dose of alcohol and yeast and a nice amount of malt and hops perfectly balanced. Aftertaste shows some coriander seed and curacao, but the fruit comes out more and the bubbles are still noticed too. Overall, a good beer - I didn’t know they were trying to recreate Orval - but I think this is fairly different, and welcome in its differences. I sampled this 75 cL bottle purchased from Knightly Spirits in Orlando, Florida on 15-February-2009, sampled in Washington on 17-October-2009.

Orange amber color out of the bottle with a thin, yellowish head. I got the top of the bottle, and it was nice and clear. Earthy nose with hay and leather and some musty brett. The flavors reminded me of the wet kind of hay that mushrooms grow in, with a mix of malty sweetness and a little brett funk. The funk is not too oppresive, but I’m just starting to appreciate the funk.

Delicious yeasty aroma with some funk and dark malt. Pour was dark orange with a huge 3 finger tan head with lots of tiny bubbles. Taste was strong, biting and yeasty with orange, apple and brown sugar in the front and a dry bitter aftertaste. Very complex and delicious.

A hazy brown beer with little to no head. The aroma is almost sour like fermented fruit. The taste is very smooth somewhat fruity but a watery fruity taste. The alcohol is very well hidden. I do see some similarities to Orval but it does not come even close to Orval.

Two words for this beer- watery Orval. That being said, the alcohol was well hidden, but felt in the noggin after the botttle.

Bottle from Kegs & Barrels in Plano, TX. Pours a very hazy amber with fluffo beige head. Aroma is very nice, Brett, farmhouse, white grape, very floral, musty. Flavor is nice, funk, little malt, light grape, a little grassy, nice small bitter, musty. Mouth feel is light-medium body with medium fizzy carbonation. Overall, not bad but was hoping for more in the flavor and a little more tang...

BB 11-12. Pour is a murky, red mahogany color with a full, dense, foamy, off-white head which is mostly lasting, leaving a small layer of foam but minimal lace. Nose is very fruity, citrusy, and full of hallertauer; classic hallertauer notes of bitter oranges and intense floral bouquet, papaya, dusty/basement yeast, an almost lime-like brett citrus, light rustic notes, lots of leafy hops, just hints at toasty sweet breads, and a prominent warmth. Flavor is again quite hop dominant but more bitter and dry than citrusy; yeast is still there with similar dusty/basement notes, slight malt notes of toasty caramel and sweet breads, light hay notes, heavy rustic notes, similar lime-lime citrus with a moderately light acidity, still plenty of bitter oranges, some floral, and some light leafy notes. Palate is more than medium, velvety, lively, dry by the finish, and only a mild warmth. Finishes with the moderately high bitterness lingering quite long with other notes of leafy hops, lime, light rustic, and still bitter orange in there. In my opinion, this blows Orval out of the water; more hop flavors, less intrusive yeast notes, and a better palate. This one was better than the USAlive because the hops were not so brash and overpowering which allowed the other notes to come more to the forefront. The brett melds well with the hops and the rest of the beer only accents those flavors. Mikkeller creates some wonderful beers.

Thanks to whomever brought this to The Bruery’s Beer Geek Show & Tell. Opaque golden pour, some sweetnees and tanginess, it’s easy drinking.