Draft Bear - Mikkeller ApS

meeekyh

Colorado

4.97/5  rDev +25.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Poured from a 750ml into a pilsner glass.

Slightly hazy, dark-honey color beer with a 3 finger, off-white head that is hesitant to depart and leaves thick lacing when it does.

The piny hop aromas from this one are evident from rather a distance. Upon closer inspection citrus, banana and caramel present themselves. Heavy malt and bread aromas, licorice, vanilla and some dark fruits release as warmth works its magic. This beer almost smells oaked.

The balance in this one is stunning considering the fullness and depth in the nose. Tangy, grassy, bready, a bit of anise, citrus, grain, bitter hops, and joy; I distinctly taste joy.

Mouthfeel is light-medium. Carbonation is high and sparkly and the finish is dry but lingering.

Drinkability is very high. I could imbibe this beer all day long for days, except it is 8% ABV and I would die. Be carefull but enjoy.

I love this brewery (brewer). They (he) seems to have the love, and it comes through in the beer, it kicks ass.

This shall prove to be my highest rating yet and I stand by that. I might just choose this beer if it was the last thing I could ever taste.

Slainte!

Serving type: bottle

02-16-2010 03:36:23 | More by meeekyh

quilty

Illinois

4.9/5  rDev +23.4%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

st- 750ml

app- golden with slight rust and rose.

smell- floral and bright, with citrus, hops, and yeast.

taste- best i've had for this style, any pilsner really. perfect balance of malt and hop. it has amazing depth for a pilsner, with notes of candied lemon, perfectly-baked biscuit, and lager yeast, all in balance. crisp, dry finish.

mouthfeel- medium to full, with just the right abv.

overall- one of the best beers i've enjoyed in recent memory. perfect for all seasons and absolutely delicious and satisfying.

Serving type: bottle

02-26-2012 06:45:30 | More by quilty

Trueant1

Minnesota

4.65/5  rDev +17.1%
look: 5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

....style notes from BA website....

Similar to a Pilsner in appearance, but expect a more pronounced malty backbone and an intense bitterness. Malt flavors tend to be quite sweet in many examples. Alcohol can be quite aggressive and lend some spicy notes to the flavor.

This beer pours hazy orange and has a HUGE white foamy head that leves a thick lacing.

Smells kind of "rank" up front. Not much going on for me in the smell catagory.

The taste is spicy, lemons, and grassy hops. SOme bittering lingers on the aftertaste....this beer drinks like a nice saison..farm house ale. This is smooth and well balanced. I love this beer.

The moutfeel is carbonated a little to much, dry and smooth.

this beer drinks way too easy for a 8%

Loved this beer!

Serving type: bottle

04-05-2008 05:33:56 | More by Trueant1

cokes

Wisconsin

4.63/5  rDev +16.6%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

It pours the color of raw honey under a billowing smokestack of ash. One that sits long as a mesa in the glass, and leaves the glass positively filthy as it slides away.
Nose of dried lime rinds, autumn leaves, dead summer grass, crushed pills, with a small accompaniment of Golden Grahams and ginger.
Those Golden Grahams present right away in the mouth, but just for a second, as it lurches sweeter towards rock candy. There's not much of a lagered interlude, the hops come quickly to wipe it all away and replace it with quinine, citrus zest, ignitable prairie grasses, and wet granite. The other Mikkellers I've sampled have been quite dry, sometimes to a fault, but here it fits perfectly with that sere, parched demeanor. The hops are obviously huge, but they are brittle and light (though powerfully bitter) rather than fruity, sappy, or sticky.
The mouthfeel is gravity defying, both literally and figuratively. This is tactilely light in the mouth, medium at best, as no clue to it's strength can be found across the mouth. There is no leftover tack in the mouth, no un-pils-like portliness, no off-kilter overproof balance distortions, no carbonation sluggishness (it is on the high-side and everlasting and slaking, just like it's smaller, traditional cousins). This drinks, and feels, and tastes like a pils, if vastly concentrated in flavor. Immediately, I thought of slightly bolder Christoffel Blond, and that's the highest sort of praise I'll ever give anything.
So many "imperial" pilsners come across as India Pale Lagers. This doesn't. And that is not because the hops aren't here in gaudy abundance; they are. For a beer that tries to break the rules, it shows the base style in it's distilled, purest form. It's not traditional, it's just pilsener.

Serving type: bottle

02-28-2008 08:11:57 | More by cokes

mdagnew

United Kingdom (Northern Ireland)

4.6/5  rDev +15.9%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

750ml corked and capped bottle bought online from the Cracked Kettle, Amsterdam...

Poured a slightly hazy golden honey colour. Slightly off white head poured big, thick and foamy with a whipped meringue like top then faded slowly to a good one finger covering which lasted throughout... lots of sticky lacing patches coat the glass all the way down...

Aroma - Spicy tart fruits (oranges (peel?), limes, pears), some almond nuttiness, lots of floral honey, sea saltiness, chalky notes, some soapiness, peppery and grassy hop bitterness, very herbal - some hints of basil, some tobacco notes, cut wet grass, some buttery traces, slightly rubbery, some graininess...

Taste - Lots of grassy and peppery hop bitterness up front followed by lots of herbal notes, light biscuity malts, again some floral honey sweetness, quite nutty, marzipan traces, juicy fruits (bitter oranges, pears, apples, grapefruit), a hint of saline, some alcohol warmth just coming through, faint tobacco...

Feel - Pretty smooth and creamy with a little bite... medium bodied... dangerously drinkable at 8%

Overall - A superb brew and one that i wish i could get my hands on more easily... highly recommended..

Serving type: bottle

06-23-2009 07:41:13 | More by mdagnew

brentk56

North Carolina

4.55/5  rDev +14.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Appearance: Pours a clear golden color that verges on amber; the head is massive and rocky, leaving clumps of foam stuck to the side of the pint glass (I decided not to pour the beer into a pilsner glass so that I could better enjoy the aroma)

Smell: The malts and hops both come through with verve - the malts bringing taffy and toast, while the hops add a grassy but pithy charge

Taste: Taffy and toast, up front, but it doesn't take long for the bitterness to set in, with a surprisingly grassy character considering that we are dealing with Amarillo and Cascade); there is a citrusy punch, as well, which is to be expected; a hint of apple appears at mid-palate and lingers after the swallow; in the finish, just a smidge of the candi sugar can be detected, but it is the hops that leave the final impression

Mouthfeel: Medium body with crisp carbonation

Overall: Having had my share of disappointment with this style, I was expecting a beer that was boozy and sweet with a clash from the noble hops; this was more like a DIPA and, but for the mouthfeel; I might never have guessed it was a lager; no twang and no booze - just really well done

Serving type: bottle

07-07-2012 18:47:06 | More by brentk56

adamparker05

California

4.53/5  rDev +14.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Pours a filthy amber, dirty orange color. Nice, soft foam.

Aroma is a malty sweetness with some nice banana bread and papaya fruit.

Taste is full of some tropical fruits, a little bit of peach french toast (Weird i know- but I've had it!) with a sharp, acidic finish.

Very drinkable. Comes in 750ml so you can't drink a whole lot, but if you're taking your time it is a delicious beer to be savored.

Serving type: bottle

10-17-2008 02:46:33 | More by adamparker05

corby112

Pennsylvania

4.53/5  rDev +14.1%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Pours a cloudy golden amber/ orange color with a huge, foamy off-white head that settles into a lasting lace. Aroma is nicely balanced with hints of citrus peel, hops, crisp fruit, pine and malt. Very quaffable and excelently balanced, with a complex flavors. Nice malty backbone balancing out sweet crisp fruit, lemon and orange peel, and a nice citrus/ floral hop presence that lasts throughout. Alcohol warmth in the finish.

Serving type: bottle

12-04-2008 06:51:59 | More by corby112

Absumaster

Netherlands

4.53/5  rDev +14.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

I drank this beer on tap at the Beer Temple in Amsterdam. It pours a yellow, light orange color with a thin head.

Smell is quite hoppy with notes of citrus. The beer has light raspberry smell. A nice smell beer, that has a big smell.

Taste is bitter with a nice balanced hop taste and bitterness. The bottom fermenting yeast adds a whole new light on a big, hoppy beer. The yeast adds a light maltiness, some light sulfur and crisp taste. The hops are US hops, but I also get some European, herbal and light grassy tastes. The balance of this beer is just right. The hops are not bold. It's mouthfeel corresponds nicely with the bitterness. A great drinking beer.

Serving type: on-tap

01-20-2010 11:36:53 | More by Absumaster

GbVDave

Illinois

4.5/5  rDev +13.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a 750ml bottle into two pint glasses. Thanks to HeatherAnn for the assist!

Best before 13/12/09

A: Pours a beautiful looking hazy golden color with an extremely meringue-like off-white head that leaves chunky gobs of lace all over the glass.

S: Lightly sweet caramel with an awesome fresh cut grass and tangerine/grapefruit aroma. Also noticed some pear and peach.

T: Caramel malt,toasted biscuits, and a kiss of honey sweetness, with a huge dose of bitter, spicy, and juicy/sweet hops (changing from citrus to pine as the temp changes). Tastes like a freshly mown lawn!

M: Right off the bat, this feels sweet and unusually creamy then the peppery hops march through and turn things decidedly drier. Very juicy and sticky.

D: The guys from Mikkeller strike again. This is an excellent beer!

Serving type: bottle

03-14-2008 04:29:24 | More by GbVDave

BeerAdvocate

Massachusetts

4.5/5  rDev +13.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Review from BeerAdvocate Magazine Issue #41 (Jun 2010):

Giving the bird to the ho-hum lagers. Pale orange-amber color, good sticky lace. Taffy from the malt sweetness and peppery from the hops and alcohol--the nose is pleased. Fluffy medium body, bigger than expected. Hops are a bit serious with a lot to offer in flavor and bitterness. Malt isn't holding back either, with rustic bread and dried grass on the palate. Warming alcohol and chalky yeast in the bitter, semidry finish. Raw and in your face--the punk of Pilsners here.

Serving type: bottle

01-11-2011 03:00:36 | More by BeerAdvocate

megahurts4

Louisiana

4.5/5  rDev +13.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Mikkeller Draft Bear

Appearance: smooth amber, large head, and some good lacing.

Smell: hops, citrus, and faint grain.

Taste: strong hops, some citrus, and a floralness.

Mouthfeel: medium and smooth.

Overall:
This is flavorful and silky smooth. If you love IPAs, you will love this.

Serving type: bottle

02-09-2011 23:00:28 | More by megahurts4

eric5bellies

Australia

4.5/5  rDev +13.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Drank from my Duvel Tulip.

A - Pours a cloudy Honey colour witha tight two fingered White head that retains and laces.

S - Pungent mandarin, tropical passionfruit and mango aromas. Really great stuff.

T - Nice tropical flavours up front and the finish is nice bitterness with some citrus. Very well balanced indeed and lingers on the tongue without being sticky.

M - Light to medium body with medium to full carbonation.

O - A cracking beer and no sign of the 8% ABV. The balance in this beer is to be applauded.

Serving type: bottle

10-07-2011 13:12:14 | More by eric5bellies

stewart124

Ohio

4.47/5  rDev +12.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

On tap at Dutch's.

Orange-Golden yellow with decent head in the snifter.

Big nose of fruity, citrusy hops to go along with some wafts of alcohol.

Bigger body than expected but then again this is a double/imperial pils here. Lots of bready/malty characters with some big spicy yet citrusy hops. This is chewy.

Really a nice take on this style. I was pleased with the American Hops introduced and yet it doesn't take away from the malts.

Serving type: on-tap

10-17-2011 13:53:08 | More by stewart124

hwwty4

Missouri

4.45/5  rDev +12.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Thanks to Jtrockchalk, like so many before this, for this one.

To start out with, this ain't no Malt Liquor, like I've ever seen one. This has definitely more in turn with a big IPA/Imperial pilsner then the label makes out. I poured a 750ml bottle into my New Belgium goblet. This beer pours a hazy orange-honey with a huge, Crest White Strips whitehead that receded (somewhat) leaving some pretty hardcore sticky lacing down the sides of my glass. The aroma is big American West Coast hop goodness. Lots of orange, pink grapefruit, and a bit of peach. This is nothing like any other Malt Liquor I've been privy too. The flavor is big and fruity. Mostly just orange and lemon from the hops but a bit of malty sweetness muscles its way thought this hop bomb. The mouthfeel is light and crisp like most well done lagers. This is a great beer. Mikkeller definitely lives up to their reputation of taking a American style and perfecting it. But in its perfection it looses its entirety. This isn't a Malt Liquor. The label is 100% incorrect.

Serving type: bottle

01-22-2009 05:06:49 | More by hwwty4

ShogoKawada

Rhode Island

4.45/5  rDev +12.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

750ml... I need a beer.

A- Golden copper kettle amber, kind of dull. SNowy, jagged peaks of head in the glass. Sticky icky lacing.

S- Hops! Also getting green apple sweetness. A faint alcohol booziness is noted, and a bit of a peppery spice. Intriguing.

T- Wow! Zesty, peppery, and bitter hops are competing with a fruity malt sweetness I didn't expect. Hops are bitter, floral, have a citric twang, like lemon zest. Works well with the taste of alcohol, which is not hidden but is well-blended. Hop profiles reminds me of USAlive from Mikkeller, but with a bit more punch and a bit sweeter malt profile as well.

M- Really clean, crisp... an imperial pilsner? Fuckin' spot-on. Amazing life on the tongue, flavors and carbonation are other-worldly.

D- Wish I got distribution of this. I think I'll trade for a few more. Really a treat... just what I needed. I had a great time with this beer.

Serving type: bottle

01-27-2010 03:06:32 | More by ShogoKawada

russpowell

Oklahoma

4.43/5  rDev +11.6%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours an effervescent bronze with 4+ fingers of fluffy cream colored head. Insane lacing & head retention

S: Lemons, grapefruits, grassyness & soapyness as well

T: Grapefruit, a touch of booze warmth, grainyness & a touch of honey malt up front. Grapefruit, lemons & pineapple dominate as this warms, along with dryness, apricot & passion fruit. Finishes dry, fruiity, with hints of appleskins, buried in Grapefruitty hops & nice honey sweetness

MF: Smooth, medium bodied, creamy, great balance

Drinks pretty easy for the ABV, a very good take on the style. A little more hop freshness wouldn't hurt, but this is a keeper!

Serving type: bottle

08-11-2008 02:22:01 | More by russpowell

Trilogy31

California

4.43/5  rDev +11.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours a beautiful golden brown, with a full three fingers of head the slowly dissipates and leaves a beautiful cap. Nose offers bitter citrus, floral tones and what i can only describe as a fresh boiling wort. In the mouth its reminiscent of a mild ipa, with nice citrus, pine and floral notes. Extremely drinkable and refreshing with the alcohol barely noticeable. Finishes with nice grain and a smooth not sweet malt taste. One of my new favorites.

Serving type: bottle

03-15-2011 04:38:04 | More by Trilogy31

beerdrifter

Germany

4.43/5  rDev +11.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Picked this up at my favorite beer store in Belgium, Dranken Geers. Clear amber-yellow pour with big two finger head with great retention and lacing. Floral, hoppy, herbal nose with hints of grass, lemon peel, bread, and a bit of caramel. First sip really caught me off guard. Wasn't expecting such a bold, flavorful beer. The taste is loaded with perfumey, citrusy, bitter fresh hops along with hints of pine and tangerines. All nicely balanced out with a solid caramel malt backbone. The mouthfeel is perfectly carbonated and subtly oily with a crisp, dry, bitter finish. Hugely drinkable. I'm kicking myself for only getting one of these. I'm hoping there's some left when I go on my next beer run. Another winner from Mikkeller!

Serving type: bottle

05-17-2012 15:11:57 | More by beerdrifter

ohoh

Sweden

4.4/5  rDev +10.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Draft Bear, what a great name for a bear. Sorry, beer.

75cl bottle shared with friend with a pair of snifters.

Lovely, dark pilsner colour with a quite big head, slowly disappearing. The aroma is quite hefty, with of course citrus dominating it. I can also feel some caramel malt.

Considering the powerfull smell this is very well-balanced. Lots of differents tastes comes to mind as the breadiness of the pilsner part is mixed with the distinct bitter hops of the imperial part. Great.

Lots of bubbles remind us that this is no IPA. Quite refreshing considering the force of the taste and aroma. I could drink this bottle myself. There isn't 8% in here. 4.5%?

Another fine brew from Mikkeller, I'm astonished. I gotta go back to Copenhagen. Thank you!

Serving type: bottle

02-25-2010 14:47:37 | More by ohoh

drpimento

Wisconsin

4.38/5  rDev +10.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Killer beer. It's pretty much the way they say in the commercial description. Poured with a nice white head and plenty of lace. Color is a hazy amber. Aroma is very aromatically spicey yeast malt and hoppy. Flavor is clean like aroma and bigger. Body is appropriately full and well carbonated. Finish is like flavor but then tapers to quite bitter, almost a little too bitter

Serving type: bottle

06-09-2010 04:01:16 | More by drpimento

scruffwhor

Illinois

4.35/5  rDev +9.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a mild amber hue with some sunsin highlights. Very thick and sticky head that can't help but cling to the side of the glass. Not to mention the good bubbling carbonation that can't help to be seen. The aroma is a hoppy, pilsnery, IPA malt and hop bill. Citric hops, and lager yeasty garss herbs. The first sip is only reminiscent of what a pilsner might be. Dry pilsner malts with an orange zest backbone. The finish is an herbal and peppery hop with a dry lagery, pilsner malt. The palate i pretty bitter, a little sweet, an just a touch rocky. A great double pilsner.

Serving type: bottle

04-17-2008 04:28:27 | More by scruffwhor

OneWoman

California

4.35/5  rDev +9.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

The Draft Bear has slightly translucent reddish, copper color, that shines. It has the pilsner smell (the fresh, yeasty whiff of pils malts), but nothing of your Danish grandpa's pilsner in color or flavor. At 8% ABV, it's a slow sipping beer that's warmly hopped and tastes like light brown sugar or that cotton candy flavor, but without being too sweet. All this is lovingly well-balanced to make a sexy, modern, beer. I was unable to find any clues about why the Mikkeller Draft Bear is called a "bear" (is it related to the mythical Boontville creature from Anderson Valley, the Beer?). But, come to think of it, the Draft Bear is sort of grizzly bear-colored.

Serving type: on-tap

03-25-2010 18:52:20 | More by OneWoman

wcintula

New York

4.35/5  rDev +9.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Woohoo! I love Pilsners and that goes for Imperial Pilsners, I didn't know what to expect out of this one. The bottle says Malt Liquor and BA says Double Pilsner. I'll make it more relate-able: Victory Prima Pils on steroids...maybe some meth.

Pours with a hazy golden color and a big ass head. Aromas range from boozy to hoppy/grassy. This beer is awesome and drinks like a hop-infused liquor with hops punching through in bitterness, flavor and aroma. This beer is delicious, so don't knock it because of categorization, label or otherwise. It's an awesome beer.

Serving type: bottle

11-04-2011 19:10:37 | More by wcintula

oberon

North Carolina

4.33/5  rDev +9.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured into my Pilsnert Urquell glass a hazed honey golden with a large fluffy white head that stuck like glue to the glass as it settled very slowly.Big grassy and herbal hits the nostrils on impact of the pour then a honey sweetness as a well as some mineral shows thru just nicely balanced with a real pronounced hop profile.Wow the flavors of this double pils to me are up there with the Sam Adams Hallertau pils, big herbal-spicey hop along with some citric hop intermingling with caramel and honey malt is just great.A great beer and it will keep hopheads like me happy but stay somewhat true to styel,a great beer.

Serving type: bottle

04-12-2008 22:08:55 | More by oberon