Mikkeller Single Hop Cascade IPA

Mikkeller
Brewed at De Proefbrouwerij
Style: India Pale Ale (IPA)
Copenhagen V, Denmark

bottle. Gentle pour (as I’ve learned with these Mikkeller brews) shows a clear, darkish amber copper color, inch and a half head of very light tan head that sticks around and laces well. Aromas of sticky citric grapefruit and lemons, oranges, and some muted floral sweetness. Heady aroma that strays nicely from the typical aggressive grapefruit cascade aroma. Flavor starts with an acrid, sharp citric hop bite. Slightly understated but even bitterness throughout. Oranges, lemons, and various fruity and floral notes round out a nicely deep hop profile. Malt balance shows up in a muted sticky floral sweetness. Flavor shows some interesting aspects, but those aspects don’t blend especially well. Could be better with some rounding out. Palate, as with the other Mikkeller single-hop IPAs, shows some astringent sharpness, but more tamed in this brew. Overall, another interesting entrant in this single-hop series, but not an altogether superb brew. Very good, but not quite great.

12oz bottle. Cloudy amber/copper pour with a big off-white head. Floral hop aroma with caramelly and bready malt. Malt flavor up front followed by bitter hops. Finishes a bit too botanical; lots of grass and leaf flavor. Still pretty good though.

Dark amber color with a moderate, fairly wispy, but surprisingly stable off-white head. Big citric zest scents. Seems to have lost most of the malt in the nose. Earthy malt start. The earth seems to move (not in a shattering way) through the flavors, and combining with other flavors, including bright and fairly sharp hops. Seems light in feel. Very sharp in the finish and linger, with a bit of metal late. Looks like earlier versions had a bit more balance.

Bottle from Orland Park Binnys. Pours murky orange with a fizzy white head. Lots of carbonation. Aroma is of hops, citrus, caramel, pine, and fruit. Taste starts off with a very bitter hop burn. Backbone is of biscuity malt. Lots of pine notes to this one. Lingering hop burn. Mouthfeel is heavily carbonated, making the hops burn even more. Too much bitter hop and not enough flavor hop to it. Dissapointing.

Bottle. Clear golden colour with a medium white head. Rich aroma and taste of fruits, flowers and citrus.

Bottle: Hazy orange/amber with a dense light tan film that retains well. Fruity hop aroma, accompanied by some plasticy phenols. Zesty citrus & sweet dough/caramel undertones. Fluffy, but over carbonated a bit. Lots of sweet crystal malt with a zesty citrus hop presence. There’s lots of husky bitterness from the malt as well that blends with the resiny cascade oils. Simple, and a bit heavy on the crystal husk- but decent.

Draught, 6.9% at KØ09. Mild grassy aroma. Hazy amber colour. Small stable white head. Grassy hop flavour. Quite bitter, clean.

Name: Cascade IPA
Date: May 16, 2009
Mode: Bottle
Source: Green’s, Atlanta
Appearance: clear amber, creamy off white head, streaks of drippy lace
Aroma: citrus hop aroma backed by bready malt, lots of earthyness along with the malt
Body: creamy body
Flavor: rich dry caramel malt flavor with loads of citrus and earthy hops. just a touch of sweetness before a long bitter finish
Overall: i’m surprised by the amount of earthyness in a cascade single hop
Aroma: 6/10; Appearance: 7/10; Flavor: 6/10; Palate: 7/10; Overall: 13/20
Rating: 3.3/5.0
Drinkability: 7/10
Score: **+/4