Mikkeller USAlive!

Mikkeller
Brewed at De Proefbrouwerij
Style: Belgian Strong Ale
Copenhagen V, Denmark

Bottle: Deep orange/copper pour with a frothy loose off white head that fades to a film. The aroma combines some brett (Brux.) horsey subtleties and citrusy hops along with a leather note. A tad thin and fizzy feeling but with a very dry flavor. Some minerally notes upfront with less brett character in the flavor than the aroma suggests- thought it is bright with a citrusy hop spiciness and evident crystal malt character- quite bitter on the back with a firm resiny U.S. hop presence and a fair amount of huskiness as well. Quite simple overall, but tasty and dry.

From tap@Københavnske Øldage 2009. A tiny offwhite head over a foggy, amber colored body. Intense floral and citrussy hop aroma. Fruity and resinous hop flavor, backed by a clean, but moderate malt body. A pleasant sour-fresh note the Brettanomyces. Crisp in the mouth. Superfresh and quenching.

(Bottle, 0.75 l, at Pikkulintu, Helsinki on 2009-06-18) Amber and hazy. Medium sized and dense white head. Pine and fruitiness in aroma. Full bodied, warming and dry palate with medium carbonation. Malts, fruitiness, pine, grass, bitterness and alcohol in taste. Bitterness and grass in aftertaste. Balanced one but bit boring.

750mL bottle, no date from Bottle Barn, $17.99. Clear medium orange with a 2 1/2 finger beige head, good retention. Fruity orange and pineapple along with floral (think lilacs and rose petals) hops up front. There is also some fruity brett and grassy notes, light caramel and alcohol. As it warmed a little, some peach came out. Flavor is quite fruity and floral again, with a pretty big hop bitterness--around a 6 or 7--that turns a little earthy in the dry finish. Again, light alcohol burn noted. Medium full body with moderate carbonation. Quite the tasty beer--lovely hop presence. . .

Superb hop aroma. Golden color with a small white head. Very nice balanced body with strong hop flavors. Very nice and balanced hop and bitter palate. Very nice.

Good head and carbonation misty orange amber pour,aroma fruit malt pine,flavourorange citric bitter grapefruit some spice a bit tart,peach flavour,finish fruity bitter tart like finish to the palate.

Bottle. Rich amber beer with a dark cream colored head. PNW hop aroma with light tartness and light yeast. Tart and grapefruit hops flavor with a light metallic note. Medium bodied. Tartness lingers with light malt and light grapefruit/pine and also with a light metallic note.

Light copper orange color with a tall, bubbly light beige head. Somewhat calming scent after a long day. Dark rich caramel with a strong influence of hops, with grapefruit, fresh pine sap orange zest. Head slowly dissipates with just a few strings of lace. Still over and inch of foam afloat prior to my first swig. Quit acidic from the start with big earthy hops. HInts of caramel, light fruit and pale malt. Spicy and slightly hot. White pepper, cloves, allspice and key lime wonder about. Second, and final pour adds a bit of haze and just a little more depth in color. LIght palate, that for the heft is very nice. No tongue clinging sappiness, a hook and book liquid. Finish seems green, with grass and some more pine pitch. Finish carries into the linger. Some rough edges, but the bottle states a "Belgian Wild Ale", and while not overly funky, the hops on the wild side seem to work for me tonight. Some other nights I’m sure I would struggle to give this a 3.8, but tonight it’s every bit a 4.0.