Mikkeller Single Hop Warrior IPA

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

2009-08-15. Lightly hazy orange amber body, massive foamy beige head. (4+) Aroma is a touch mild at first, struggling through the huge head. Pleasant citrusy hops, grapefruit and sweet oranges. Gains strength and a touch of hoppy resin after drinking away the head, touch of leafy notes as well. (7+) Flavour has a good amount of bitterness up front, quick sweet malt and oranges, lightly astringent bitter finish. Grapefruit grows and becomes less astringent as the glass goes on. Malt is quite mild, light caramel hints. Average palate is smooth and pleasantly carbonated. (3+) Enjoyable. De Proef Bottling, Bottle from Premier Gourmet, Buffalo

Bottled. Aoma has grapefruit, orange, some yeast. Hazy, orange coloured beer with an off-white, lasting head. The taste is moderate bitter, slightly sweet, has citrus, some maltiness. Medium body. Good one.

(33cl-bottle) Hazy, amber to copper colour with a fluffy, slightly off-white foamy head. Slightly yeasty and moderately sweet, minimal toasted malty aroma with fruity (citrus. otange, lighter apricot) and woody hoppy notes. Bitter flavour, medium bodied with a lively carbonation. Pale and slightly cara-malty base with a moderately fruity and spicy, slightly oily hoppy touch; finishes dry and quite bitter with a shy malty sweetness in the back. Nice but lacks the perfect balance (16.VIII.09).

Shimmering copper, thick beige head. Very fruity nose of grapefruit and orange, minor breadcrust. More citrus in the flavor, also some sweeter caramel and definite crust in the finish. Dry body, hints of salt into the bitter, fruity finish. I enjoyed this one, especially the recurring fruit notes.

Bottle. Orange pour. Subtle floral, and bitter aroma. Floral hops, with some malt and bitter characteristics. Decent, but not my favorite of the hop series.

Let’s pit the Warrior Single Hop versus the Cascade, Nugget, Nelson Sauvin, 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 some subtler floral, earthy tones. Taste: Lightly toasted base maltiness with a touch of dry caramel and crumbled cookies, though with only a light, restrained amount of sweetness. The Warrior hops serve up a floral, vaguely earthy taste. Of all the Mikkeller Single Hop versions, this one had the lightest, most subtle hop character and bitterness, allowing for more of the maltiness to emerge. Medium, clean 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!

The pour produces a tall, off-white head over a clear, deep orange body. Fresh tropical fruit aroma. The flavor is largely bitter from front to back and the bitterness lingers into the finish.

Nice floral aroma. Beautiful orange color. hops linger but don’t coat the tongue.