Mikkeller Single Hop Warrior IPA

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

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.

11.2 fl oz bottle from Bieropholie, served cold in a tulip glass. JL 24/09.

App.: Heazy deep amber with a nice off-white/yellowish froth. Aroma: Earthy, piney hops, some nice sweet malts, some citrus notes as it warms, some light cotton candy esters, rye bread crust. Palate: Medium body, soft effervescence, creamy. Flav.: Like the nose, pine/earth hops, some rye bread crust and burnt sugar, light citrus, light fruitiness; lightly sweet with decent bitterness.

Nice stuff!

11.2 fl oz bottle purchased at Zipps in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Pour is hazed copper orange with a huge fluffy 5 inch head. Head falls slowly with sticky thick lacing. Aroma of nutty earthy resin hoppiness, with nice toasty maltiness mixed in there nicely. Some nice sweetness in there as well, maybe pear fruit or really mellow cane sugar, in that realm. Great balance on the nose. Taste is the sweet, nutty earthy mild resin bitter hops, balanced with toasty maltiness. The finish lingers long with a caramel sweetness. Palate is medium heavy, mouth coating, lowish carbonation.

Bottled 33cl ordered from crackedkettle.com. Appearance: Hazy copper with a tall creamy light beige head leaving a beautfiul lacework. Aroma: Spring onion accompanied by overripe grapefruit. Flavor and mouthfeel: Strange spring onion-components accompanied by cardamom, overripe grapefruit and cumin. Unrefined bitterness. Bitter finish which is completely reminiscent of grapefruit. Overall impression: Distinct, strange and not all that pleasant.