Mikkeller / Liu Xiaodong Scent on the Air Session IPA at 4.6% ABV (C$5.80 at Sherbrooke Liquor, 330 ml, best before 12-Oct-2017, acquired 17-Dec-2016, reviewed 17-Jun-2017)
Appearance: hazy deep gold with three fingers (and growing) of fluffy marshmallow ivory head, excellent retention and moderate lacing. (4/5) Aroma: slightly funky citrus, yeasty pale malt, floral, pine. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (7/10) Medium body, moderate carbonation, smooth off-dry lingering bitter finish. (3/5)
I didn’t exactly intend to keep the Mikkeller string going over a second day, but I noticed several in the fridge and figured there’s pretty good odds I’ll be at the Mikkeller bar in San Francisco tomorrow night, so what the hell, let’s see if it makes it to three? Anyway, as far as the beer goes, well… not a runaway success. I’ve had some hoppy Mikkellers in the past that have a truly ridiculous shelf life, but despite coming in four months under the wire on this one, I think it’s faded at least a little. Dunno how old it is, but since I bought it six months ago, it’s at least that. It’s not bad, mind you. I’m not detecting any oats in the aroma, but the mouth feel has the smoothness I associate with a little oat presence, and the overall character is more or less clean, with a slight mustiness that adds an interesting complexity. Gotta say, though, I’m starting to hit my saturation point with merely good Mekkellers. Maybe instead of adding fifty or so seven out of ten beers a year, he could dial things back a bit, and instead add ten or twenty nine out of tens, maybe one or two ten out of tens? (14/20)
7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com
