Mikkeller …Zest Please! American Porter at 7% ABV (C$6.40 at Sherbrooke Liquor, 330 ml, best before 15-Apr-2017, reviewed 22-Feb-2016)
Appearance: near opaque black with some particulate, one fat finger of medium dense beige head, good retention and moderate lacing. (5/5) Aroma: orange zest, cocoa, liquorice, dark roasty malt. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-high bitter, light tart. (8/10) Palate: moderate slightly oily body, moderate carbonation, lingering bitter, tart, and warming finish. (4/5)
Well, that’s more than a little weird, but not in a negative way. The citrus tones really are orange zest, with not even a suggestion of juice or pith. (I’m also more than a little convinced that the particulate is actually the orange zest itself.) The sweetness is actually less than it seems at first, and is really barely sufficient to offset the bitterness of both the hops and the orange peel, which build and become progressively more aggressive as the pint progresses. Well balanced with a mild ABV that manifests only as a gentle warming towards the end. Not your typical beer, but well worth a try. (16/20)
8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com
