Mikkeller Tjekket Pilsner

Mikkeller
Brewed at De Proefbrouwerij
Style: Bohemian Pilsener
Copenhagen V, Denmark

Sampled at DØE Beerfestival 2009, Valby. Pours a clear pale yellow beer with a white head. The aroma is hops (saaz) and malt. The flavor is dried fruits and malt. The palate leaves some bitterness. Overall an average beer.

33cl bottle. Pours a cloudy deep gold with straw highlights and an immense beaten-egg-white-like white head that fades slightly and leaves lots of lace all over the glass. The aroma is a combo of saaz hops and cereal-grain-breadiness/maltiness. The flavor starts with a strong grainy pilsner malt quality with a definite (and completely unexpected) tinge of smoke. It also has a strong, spicy and slightly floral hoppiness that starts somewhat subdued and opens as the beer warms. At mid-palate, there is a firm bitterness from the saaz hops and a mild cereal-grainy quality that is dry with almost no residual sweetness. The finish is dry and bitter with a very dry bready malt character, subtle smoke, and odd hints of tropical fruit. The mouthfeel is very crisp, very clean, a bit thin with an odd graininess (almost like sandy texture after you swish it around to release the carbon dioxide). Overall, an interesting pilsner. The smoke and light fruit add some interest, but it is otherwise well-fit to the style. Not bad, but not great.

Bottled. Light yellow coloured. Unclear. Off white head. Sweetness, light smoke, spice and herbs in the aroma. Flavour is spiced, herby, grapish, light smoky and fruity. Medium bodied. Dry. Grapish and sour bitterness in the end.Quite refreshing.

Pours a clear golden color with a white head. Aroma is honey, vanilla, sulfur, and spicy peppery hops. Flavor is honey, vanilla, grain, sulfur, and a peppery bitter finish.

Draught @ Ølfestival Valby - CBF09, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Clear light yellow color with a average, frothy, good lacing, mostly lasting, white head. Aroma is moderate to light heavy malty, toasted, hay, light to moderate hoppy, moderate yeasty, smoke - rubber ! and also butter ! Flavor is moderate to light light heavy sweet and bitter with a average to long duration. Body is medium, texture is oily, carbonation is soft. [20090515]

12oz bottle purchased from Hop City, labeled "Czech-style Pilsner," poured into a pils glass. Pours a hazy golden with orange tints underneath a massive fluffy white head that’s at least 4 inches thick. The head leaves clumps of lacing on its slow descent to a 2-inch cap. The aroma is really nice and pretty strong. It’s got some floral hops up front with some lemon zest and a bit of sweeter fruits as well. There is also plenty of pale malts, toasted grains and a bit of spices as well. The taste is a bit different than the aroma for me. It’s got a much more dominant herbal presence, almost medicinal even. There isn’t much citrus and the finish is dry and leaves that medicinal bitterness on the tongue in the aftertaste. It’s also got an interesting buttery character throughout. Weird taste for me. The mouthfeel is well carbonated but has a slight metallic character that keeps it from being better. This is an interesting pils and looks and smells great. I’m not exactly sure what to make of the taste. It’s definitely a well-crafted brew, but it’s not quite in the top tier of the style.

cloudy gold under a medium sized creamy white head. a bit of lemon in aroma with wheaties. flavor has some musty notes with pepper or chilies. grassy lemony hops. sharply carbonated with a light body. not sure what i think of this one. very different.

Yellow color with a large head. Light floral hop and perfume aroma. A bit grainy. Oddly smokey and medicinal taste. Sweet grain and some corn that I would expect from an American pale lager. Not as hoppy as I would have imagined. Still good.