Month: June 2017

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

Mikkeller Amoeba (Amøbe) American IPA at 6.5% ABV (US$2.99 at Knightly Spirits Orange Blossom Trail, 355 ml, packaged on 2-Dec-2016, acquired 15-May-2017, reviewed 16-Jun-2017)

Appearance: clear pale gold with three fingers of loose white head, excellent retention and moderate lacing. (4/5) Aroma: citrus, resiny pine, leathery funk, pale malt, floral, hint of onion. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-high bitter, mild funk. (8/10) Medium-light body, moderate carbonation, crisp bitter and funky finish. (4/5)

I was initially a little surprised, thinking there wasn’t a whole lot of brett character there. After the first sip, though, the retronasal contribution really kicks in, and the funky, leathery aspects start to come to the fore. Another really good Mikkeller beer. (16/20)

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Mikkeller Sparks (Gnister) American Pale Ale at 5.6% ABV (US$2.49 at Knightly Spirits Orange Blossom Trail, 355 ml, packaged on 2-Feb-2017, acquired 15-May-2017, reviewed 16-Jun-2017)

Appearance: slightly hazy pale amber with three fingers of fluffy ivory head, excellent retention and moderate lacing. (4/5) Aroma: juicy and pithy citrus, resiny pine, bready caramel malt, floral, earth. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-high bitter. (8/10) Medium body, moderate-soft carbonation, off-dry lingering bitter finish. (4/5)

Fairly big bitterness barely maintains dominance over sweet bready caramel. I’m not suggesting it’s unbalanced, or even tending towards an EPA, but there’s definitely a more emphatic malt presence than I was expecting. Still and all, well-balanced, with a lingering but not overwhelmingly bitter finish. (16/20)

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Mikkeller California Dream Pilsener at 4.6% ABV (US$2.79 at Knightly Spirits Orange Blossom Trail, 355 ml, packaged on 11-Nov-2016, acquired 15-May-2017, reviewed 16-Jun-2017)

Appearance: slightly hazy pale gold with one finger of loose white head diminishing gradually to a thin skim, patchy lacing. (3/5) Aroma: citrus, stone fruit, biscuity malt, pine, grass. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-high bitter. (8/10) Medium-light body, moderate carbonation, building emphatic bitter finish. (4/5)

I’d be tempted to call this a fairly unique take on the Pilsener style, if I hadn’t already tried American Dream, which is another hoppy pilsener by Mikkeller. Pretty impressive hop character for such a light malt bill and ABV. Except for crackery malt instead of caramel, I’d be tempted to say this was almost an APA. Good stuff! (16/20)

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Mikkeller Brand New Normal Berliner Weisse at 3.2% ABV (US$2.79 at Knightly Spirits Orange Blossom Trail, 355 ml, packaged on 12-Feb-2016, acquired 15-May-2017, reviewed 16-Jun-2017)

Appearance: slightly hazy pale gold with one fat finger of rocky white head, good retention and minimal lacing. (3/5) Aroma: lemon zest, soured wheat malt, light earthy funk. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate tart, low bitter. (8/10) Light body, lively carbonation, crisp tart finish. (4/5)

Not as nice as the couple with added fruit I just tried, but still a decently clean example of the style. (15/20)

7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Mikkeller Hallo Ich Bin Berliner Weisse Raspberry Berliner Weisse at 3.7% ABV (US$4.99 at Knightly Spirits Orange Blossom Trail, 500 ml, best before 20-Oct-2017, acquired 15-May-2017, reviewed 16-Jun-2017)

Appearance: clear reddish gold with one fat finger of fluffy light pink head, excellent retention and well-defined lacing. (5/5) Aroma: raspberry, light funk. (9/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate tart, low bitter. (9/10) Light body, lively carbonation, crisp tart finish. (4/5)

I was hoping the raspberry would work better than the passionfruit, and it did not disappoint. The raspberry dominates, with the only other aroma being a slight funkiness, but that’s not a negative. Slightly less tart, and slightly fruiter than the passionfruit version. Basically a super tart, low sugar, slightly alcoholic raspberry soda, and totally the kind of thing you could drink all day long on a hot sunny day. (18/20)

9/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Mikkeller Hallo Ich Bin Berliner Weisse Passion Fruit Berliner Weisse at 3.7% ABV (US$4.99 at Knightly Spirits Orange Blossom Trail, 500 ml, best before 19-Oct-2017, acquired 15-May-2017, reviewed 16-Jun-2017)

Appearance: clear paler-than-pale straw with one fat finger of fluffy white head, excellent retention and well-defined lacing. (5/5) Aroma: tart fruit, bready yeast, tropical fruit, stone fruit, citrus, light funk. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate tart, low bitter. (8/10) Light body, lively carbonation, crisp tart finish. (4/5)

Can’t say I’d identify that as passionfruit to save my life (and, heck, the images on the can look like Homer Simpson donuts to me!) but there’s a definite tropical fruit presence over top of a fairly pronounced soured wheat malt tart. Refreshing and easy-drinking with allow ABV that makes this a definite all-day patio beer. (17/20)

8.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Postmark Brewing Mandarina Wheat Wheat Ale at 5.3% ABV | 15 IBU (C$6.01 at Oak & Vine, 650 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 5-Jun-2017, reviewed 15-Jun-2017)

Appearance: clear medium gold with two fingers of rocky ivory head, good retention and moderate lacing. (4/5) Aroma: doughy bread, citrus, floral, earth and grass. (6/10) Taste: moderate sweet, low bitter. (6/10) Medium body, moderate carbonation, sweet medium duration finish. (3/5)

I was hoping for more citrus presence in something called “Mandarin[a],” but it’s really dominated more by doughy wheat, than citrus. Similar to Lemon Drop hops, Mandarina Bavaria hops seem to be another case of a hop that, in my opinion, overpromises and underdelivers. (13/20)

6.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Central 28 Beer Company Up River American Pale Ale at 6% ABV | 50 IBU (US$2.29 at Knightly Spirits Orange Blossom Trail, 355 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 15-May-2017, reviewed 15-Jun-2017)

Appearance: hazy pale amber with one fat finger of rocky ivory head diminishing gradually to a persistent cap, moderate lacing. (4/5) Aroma: pine, grapefruit, caramel malt, floral, earth. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-high bitter. (7/10) Medium body, moderate carbonation, off-dry moderate bitter finish. (3/5)

This brewery continues to underwhelm. I was really hopeful that an American style would be more up their alley than their Belg-ish efforts. Despite their label claims of aggressive hopping and barely-sufficient malt, this is relatively mild in its hop profile, with a significant (though admittedly not dominant) caramel malt presence. Yeah, it might be an older can (because they don’t date them) but I doubt it, given the retention and lacing. Again, not bad, and perfectly serviceable, but not memorable in the least. (14/20)

7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Central 28 Beer Company Dancing Pierre Belgian Pale Ale at 5.9% ABV | 30 IBU (US$1.99 at Knightly Spirits Orange Blossom Trail, 355 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 15-May-2017, reviewed 15-Jun-2017)

Appearance: cloudy, almost opaque deep gold with a short, short-lived white head, no lacing. (3/5) Aroma: stone fruit, caramel, floral, spices. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter, mild peppery spice. (7/10) Medium body, moderate carbonation, off-dry mild finish. (3/5)

When I opened this, I was thinking, “I haven’t had a good BPA for ages.” Unfortunately, I still haven’t… OK, OK, I’ll be nice. It’s actually not bad – in a lot of ways, it’s like a slightly beefier version of their Saison, although with more fruit emphasis relative to the spices. Again, though, I’m left slightly cold by it – it’s just not very clean or exciting. (13/20)

6.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com