Struise Mikkeller (Elliot Brew)

Brewed by De Struise Brouwers
Style: Imperial/Double IPA
Oostvleteren, Belgium

Bottle. Mediium sized fizzy off-white head with a bit of a yellow tint to it that mostly diminished, one ring of lacing, hazy, very little carbonation, and an amber hue. The aroma was sugary, sweet, spicy, citrus hops, malty, hint of clove, and fruity. The flavor was sweet, grapefruit, citrus hops, some spicyness, acidic, malt, some caramel, and somewhat vinuous but not overly so considering the ABV. Semi-dry finish. Tingly, warming mouthfeel and medium in body. The aroma outdid the flavor with this bottle which was unfortunate as I was looking forward to this beer. Definitely not over-the-top hops given the style which quite surprised me. I’m not sure what all the hype has been about with this beer??

Poured from an 11.2oz bottle and served in a tulip. This beer poured a lightly hazed amber color with a lasting, two-finger thick head of beige foam. The aroma of the beer was made up of bright citrus notes, sticky caramel, and some earthy yeast. The flavor consisted of creamy caramel/toffee, over-ripened citrus, a lightly acidic sourness, and a strong element of earthy yeast. The mouthfeel was full-bodied with minimal carbonation. A very mild mannered DIPA. The hop bitterness was extremely mellow and at times almost unnoticable.

Poured an opaque amber from the 33 c bottle. A large foamy head formed and stayed resulting in nice lacing. Aroma was of hops, citrus, with some spicey orangey pine resins. Floral scents also come to mine. Flavour was thick, candy like. Brown sugars, hop bitterness come through. Both malty and smoothly bitter. While this beer was tasty and quaffleable, it did not really impress me with the hype given. Good beer? Yes, but not a knock out IMO. Overall pleaseant, would definitely drink again.

Bouteille 330ml, courtoisie de Blankboy. De couleur ambrée-orange et voilée. Nez de houblon floral, herbeux (herbes fraîches) et aux faibles notes terreuses, malté de pain, léger de biscuits au miel et avec des notes de caramel sucré, moyen de levures fruitées (agrumes, notes d’abricots et de pommes). Ronde-moyenne en bouche avec un pétillement moyen et une texture crémeuse et aux faibles notes résineuses. Goût de levures fruitées (agrumes et zest, léger de pommes, notes de pêches, d’abricots, de raisins blancs et traces de mangues) accompagné d’un goût moyen-amer de houblon floral et herbeux (herbes fraîches et traces de menthe, une amertume présente en arrière-goût durant toute la gorgée) et de notes épicées (coriandre) lors de l’entrée en bouche auquel se rajoute un goût malté de pain, un léger goût de céréales, de biscuits au miel et de caramel doux avec des petites notes de sucre bonbon puis en finale l’on assiste à un léger regain d’amertume asséchante, plus herbeuse (traces de foin), légèrement terreuse, aux petites notes citriques et résineuses accompagné d’une léger goût de levures épicées (poivre doux) et de notes d’alcool. Post-goût long et plutôt sec, moyen-amer de houblon herbeux, floral et légèrement terreux avec une légère aigreur de levures fruitées (zest d’agrumes, pelures de pommes et de pêche) et des notes d’alcool doux.

33 cl bottle, from Liquid Solutions. Pours hazy dark amber with a few floaties, huge fluffy head what leaves a thick wall of lace. Aroma of pie cherries, bready yeasts, floral hops with fruity notes as well, light herbiness and a hint of dust. Bready, malty, fruity sweet, floral, citrus and pine hops to balance, dandelion milk and dusty moss notes with a hint of funk. Medium to full body, fine, tingly carbonation.

Bottle, 130 IBU’s? Where did they go? This seemed more Belgian than IIPA. Pours a orangish somewhat cloudy brown. I found a lot of earthy funkiness 7 bandaid in this. Hops seemed extemely subdued. Some caramel sweetness, candi sugar. Bitterness was definately hidden the Struise way whatever that means. Decent but different

(Bottle at Hilpeäa Hauki on 2008-04-25) Amber and hazy. White medium sized head. Nose contains malts, hops and yeast. Full-bodied. Taste in balanced combination of yeast, malts and hops. Some sweet liquorice. Strong body hides the strong bitterness.

Decent nose and look, though very subdued in flavor and minimal hop character. Very drinkable, though nothing too spectacular.