Mikkeller Single Hop Nelson Sauvin IPA

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

Bottle poured a clear tarnished copper with a large lasting amber head. Aromas of carmel, pine resin, earthiness and light citrus. Palate was light bodied and crisp with a watery finish. Flavors of pine, earthiness, carmel and light citrus with a crisp watery lingering bitter finish.

11.2 fl oz bottle purchased at Zipps in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Pour is fully hazed orange golden copper with a big, four inch, very lasting off white head. Head falls quite slowly with thick lacing. Aroma of floral and earthy resin, some husky toasted malt behind that. Very natural and engaging nose. Taste is the floral resin from the nose, with an added element of bitter orange and toasted toffee light sweetness. The three flavors of resin floral earth, bitter sweet and toasted malt really play together and meld nicely. The long finish has more earthiness. Palate is medium, medium to low carbonation and a nice dry bitter finish. I really enjoyed this one. Thanks for helping get this to me Tyler.

Bottle: Pours a transparent copper amber with a clumpy-lacing large off-white head. Aroma of sweet orange citrus and pine resin with a touch of caramel malt. Body starts with good fullness and toasty caramel malty sweetness with a good juicy grapefruity flavor hops and a crisp, bittersweet lemongrass finish. A nice, and unique IPA.

Transparent copper body, large beige head. Nose is very fruity with grape and berry, also some pepper and an odd note, somewhat spicy. Flavor is similarly sweet with heavy berry and grape, but there is also nice balance with pine, caramel, and doughy bread. Great balance here, but the fruit is the special highlight.

Let’s pit the Nelson Sauvin Single Hop versus the Cascade, Nugget, Warrior, and Simcoe versions. Appearance: Pours out cloudy, burnt orange body with a full inch of lasting, off-white foam. Smell: Delicately toasted malts with notes of cookies and grains with a distinct waft of white grapes as well as some lightly earthy, herbal hints. I’ve always appreciated Nelson Sauvin hops for being so different and unique. It’s shame I don’t see it used too often. Taste: Lightly toasted base maltiness with a touch of dry caramel and crumbled cookies, though with only a light, restrained amount of sweetness. The Nelson Sauvin hops serve up a faintly tart, fruity white wine flavor with some milder earthy, fresh herb undertones. Moderate bitterness. Finishes dry, crisp, and with some continued bitterness into the aftertaste. Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied. Medium-plus carbonation. Drinkability: I certainly enjoy the concept of a single hop series to really enjoy all the various vibrant nuances and characteristics of the particular hop varieties utilized. While this was previously done by Bison, I had no love for the base beer used, so I quickly abandoned the idea of following that series. I’m diggin’ this though!

Bottle. Pours a hazy orange/amber with a big, fluffy off-white head. Nice lacing. Very sweet fruit aroma – rhubarb porridge is what comes to mind. Took a few seconds to appreciate it (felt like cooked vegetables at first), but it’s really quite alright. Flavour is sweet as well, with the same rhubarb-like fruits. A bit tart as well, and a mild bitterness mucks about on the left. Mild finish – a lot like the initial flavour. Bitter with remote liquorice notes. Lingering grassy notes. Bit of metallic notes as it warms. Very interesting, but a tad cloying in the long run (both aroma and flavour). Still, a quite nice beer. 14-08-09.

Ordered from crackedkettle.com. Appearance: It pours a beautiful, slightly hazy copper beer with a tall creamy beige head leaving a beautfiul lacework. Fantastic aroma of gooseberries, (I usually associate this component with Tettnanger hops), sweat, a lot of mango, wild strawberries, pepper, vanilla, basil, hop resin, blood orange, lemon peel, rose, clotted cream and grapefruit- very impressive and mindblowingly inviting. Flavor and palate: Great hop profile with grapefruit, clotted cream, apricot, sweat, wild strawberries and lemon showing up. Good bitterness. Slight peppery elements sneaking in. Subtle carbonation. Long dry bitter finish which is reminiscent of apricot, lemon peel, faint licorice, clotted cream, wild straberries, light pepper and a huge amount of wonderful Nelson Sauvin hops. Overall impression: Fantastic, divine- I reveled in every sip. By far the best single hop IPA from Mikkeller I’ve had so far!

Name: Nelson Sauvin IPA
Date: July 19, 2009
Mode: Bottle
Source: Green’s, Atlanta
Appearance: cloudy burnt orange, huge frothy beige head, sticky lace
Aroma: sweet and fruity orange and tangerine aroma, nice citrus
Flavor: sweet malt flavor, crystal sweetness, lots of balancing citrus, light earthyness, plenty of balancing bitterness, long bitter finish
Aroma: 7/10; Appearance: 7/10; Flavor: 7/10; Palate: 6/10; Overall: 14/20
Rating: 3.5/5.0
Drinkability: 7/10
Score: **4