Mikkeller Hop Burn Low American Double / Imperial Pilsner at 10% ABV ($7.30 at Sherbrooke Liquor, 330ml, best before 16-Jul-2019)
Pours hazy pale amber with one finger of light tan head diminishing gradually to a thin skim, moderate lacing. (4/5) Nose is aggressive citrus and tropical fruit, mild caramel malt. (9/10) Taste is moderate caramel sweet, intensely bitter pine resin ahead of citrus and tropical fruit, building spice. (9/10) Medium body and slightly oily texture, low sustained carbonation, and a spicy, lingering bitter finish, with an immediate warming in the gut from the high ABV, the high IBUs, or both. (5/5)
This is very similar to its brother from another mother, the Hop Burn High (the major difference being that’s an ale instead of a lager like this one). Massive, ridiculous IBU’s – this is so massively bitter that the caramel malt is initially more apparent, because the bitter receptors just max out and give up. It actually gets more bitter as the initial malt flavour subsides. So, yeah – the Mikkeller Draft Bear that I earlier this evening said was the best Imperial Pilsner I ever had? Short reign. (18/20)
9/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com
