Fra Til (From To) - Mikkeller ApS

ToasterChef

Maine

3.95/5  rDev -6.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A bottle marked "Bottled 2008" which has been in my cellar since I received it as a gift in December, 2009. I've poured into a pint glass.

The beer has a very dark brown color. It is too dark to see through. The head is large and made up of good sized bubbles. It has light brown coloring. Good lacing is left behind.

The aroma has a healthy amount of spices. Clove and cinnamon are the most prevalent scents. A chocolately sweetness can also be detected.

The beer has a decent base of dark malts. It is slightly sweet, but my tongue is distracted by the spices. Clove seems to be the strongest flavor, but hints of cinnamon can be tasted (especially in the aftertaste). I am also tasting small amounts of chocolate and anise. The alcohol is well hidden.

The beer is a little bit sticky, on both my lips and within my mouth. It is full bodied, so it feels a little bit heavy. But since this is a winter beer, its fullness seems appropriate.

This si an enjoyable porter. As mentioned above, I received this as a gift, so I can't comment on it's value in terms of the price paid. I can say I would drink it again, but I wont go out of my way to obtain another bottle. I never had it fresh, so I can't be positive, but I feel safe saying that aging this beer for four years has not hurt it.

Serving type: bottle

10-27-2012 01:07:10 | More by ToasterChef

biglite351

Pennsylvania

4.15/5  rDev -1.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

A - dark as night with a very tight dark tan head

S - warm roasted malts and yeast, cocoa and a hint of spice. Very deep!

T - Mild but good. Malts and dark chocolate, dark fruit, yeast and a hint of roastiness

M - a little thin and only a mild tingle

O - extremely good flavor and scent, only the thinness lets it down.

Serving type: bottle

05-23-2012 20:31:55 | More by biglite351

Sunnanek

Sweden

4.22/5  rDev 0%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A: Pours motor-oil-black with a enormous pale brown compact and creamy head. Slow dissipation leaves rich lacings.

S: Sweet, hard roasted dark malt. Lots of dark dried fruits. Coffee, chocolate and slight vanilla (oak-aged?).

T: Dry and sweet at the same time. Coffee galore. Roasted malts. Chocolate and vanilla. Burnt. Syrupy. Bitter.

M: Long burnt bitter aftertaste. Body is syrupy full while carbonation is held back.

O: A well-crafted beer, a bit on the wilder side.

Serving type: bottle

12-30-2011 18:38:30 | More by Sunnanek

Ruds

United Kingdom (England)

4.83/5  rDev +14.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured from 750ml bottle into a wine glass

Dark rich black colouring veering towards very dark brown

An amazing head 2 to 3 fingers initially, frothy with flecks of darkness

Smells of coffee, chocolate, liquorice

Bold taste - lots of coffee, raosted malts, chocolate, toffee, biscuit, burnt/roasted nuts

Mouthfeel was excellent, it dared you to drink more all the time and you couldn't help yourself but do so! Big big body and lovely creamy texture on the palate

A fantastic beer!

Serving type: bottle

12-30-2011 12:24:34 | More by Ruds

Gushue3

Massachusetts

4.25/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

2008 vintage poured into Hill Farmstead glass

A. Poured gently into my glass and a gigantic head erupted 3 or 4 fingers and light brown. Body is black and head leaves lots of lacing after it finally goes down.

S. Acidic tartness catches me off guard. Some lighter malt and sweetness but the tart nose really surprised me

T. Light malt sweetness that's really mello. Sweetness carries through to the end that finishes with a light green apple tart. Really different but interesting taste.

Taste really grew on me as I drank it. Really complex stuff

M. Medium lighter feel with higher carbonation.

O. Really interesting taste that's quite complex.

Serving type: bottle

12-12-2011 01:14:32 | More by Gushue3

rarbring

Sweden

4.1/5  rDev -2.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

An extremely black beer, a brown head leaving good lacing and good curtains.

Extremely much roasted malt, coffee, coffee bean, coffee leftovers, coffee whatever.

Sweet black syrup, dark toffee, dark dried fruits, coffee shots.

Little carbonation, soft and oily, sticky, warm and a big body.

An extreme beer in many ways, but no bad ways.

Serving type: bottle

12-02-2011 22:39:54 | More by rarbring

Knapp85

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev -5.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This brew pours out as a nice deep rich brown color with a really good sized head on it. The lacing was nice and the retention was really good too. The smell of the beer is herbal, Lots of different aromas coming off of it. The taste of the beer is really nice, plenty of anise in the flavor, some other herbs I'm not really sure of and it's got a hefty amount of malts too in it. The mouthfeel of the beer is thick like a stout, I really like the body this one. Overall I founf this to be very nice, it's a really good brew to have in the winter time around the holidays. I would love to have this one again.

Serving type: bottle

09-03-2011 20:06:59 | More by Knapp85

Gueuzedude

Arizona

3.8/5  rDev -10%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Vintage 2008; Sampled June 2011
Pours with a frothy, somewhat large bubbled, well browned head (it is dark enough that you can’t really call it tan anymore); the head subsides quite slowly leaving lots of lacing and falling with a very varied, rocky surface. The beer is a deep, dark brown color that perhaps some black touches to it. The beer smells quite spicy still, with notes that remind me of cinnamon, nutmeg and clove. There is perhaps a hint of nuttiness to this beer, that suggests at a very feint oxidation. There is a rich underlying, toasted maltiness here that suggests also at a rich caramelized malt character. Notes of molasses mix with the spice character that suggests of pumpkin pie. There is perhaps a hint of tartness here that also suggest at pumpkin pie and perhaps a dark fruit character (though this last is fairly subtle). The aroma on this is quite vibrant and interesting after all this time (I wonder if the spices were overwhelming when this was fresh).

Nicely carbonated, which helps to carry the medium’ish viscous body across the palate without letting it get too heavy. The body lingers on the tongue after a sip. The beer has a sweetness to it that speaks of complex toasted malt, browned caramel and molasses. There is a certain phenolic character to the finish that produces a smokiness as well as a clove note; the smokiness lingers in the palate, though it is fairly soft overall and the spiciness adds something to the finish that is quite different but sort of substitutes for a hop bitterness (though it is nothing like it). There is a nice, toasted brown bread character that has a spiciness that is reminiscent of spicy browned whole grains. The smokiness the finish at times also tastes a bit vegetal at times. The finish can actually get a bit weird at times. The spiciness also takes on a certain woodiness to it (which seems to be akin to the flavors of aged cinnamon, nutmeg and allspice). I like that this beer is not overly heavy, but has a certain richness to it. There is a touch of a cola flavor to this beer, though it is fairly subtle. As the beer warms up, lots of roasted, quite porter like notes start to become noticeable; the dry quality this accentuates helps to balance the sweetness and sweet accentuating spice character that is here, though this was certainly never a cloying beer.

Despite being a touch rough at times in the finish, I find that I am quite enjoying this spice dominated beer. The spices definitely play a large role here, but there is just enough malt complexity to keep this fairly balanced.

Serving type: bottle

08-08-2011 13:52:46 | More by Gueuzedude

ZacharyJ

Massachusetts

4.18/5  rDev -0.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Mikkeller continues to surprise. Pours black with a huge head that consumes 2/3's of the glass. Lacing sticks, and retains. Mint chocolate on the nose. Crisp and malty on the tongue. Sweet and creamy. Very nice as it warms. Pretty hoppy for the style. Malt lingers well after the drink. Relatively low ABV means you can enjoy plenty of these if you have the opportunity. I don't know how he does it, but Mikkeller seems to get it right every time.

Serving type: bottle

02-24-2011 03:29:35 | More by ZacharyJ

CMB2012

Illinois

4.18/5  rDev -0.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Gold wrapping over a plastic cork held with a wire basket. This a 2008 vintage, 1pt 9oz bottle, and it was poured in a large stemless snifter.

The beer pours an impressive and elusive black. Almost no light can penetrate this dark brew. With little effort it produces a thick, soapy, mocha brown foam which dissipates slowly and goes the distance.

I can smell it from here! Starts with cocoa powder, then butterscotch, a yeasty funk, mmm... chocolate milk, cherries, plumb, and dried apricots. Some spices too.

Starts thick and smooth, creamy, coffee bitterness, no real hop presence other than to back up the malts. Almost instantly the palate changes to a noticeable vinous character. The taste is almost tangy, and I think the somewhat strong 8%abv is hiding here as well. I have to eat bread to clean my palate and drink some water too. Is this taste for real? Dark fruits come to mind, starting with plum, then cherries, dried apricots are next.

The aftertaste is reminiscent of rustic wheat, oats, and other grains, nesquik chocolate milk and milk sugar. And at the long end spices/herbs such as nutmeg, cinamon, mint, maybe some pine too.

Overall this is definetly a beer to try if you can. The complexity is intriguing and as much as I am bewildered or confused, I seem to be going back for more. Mikkeller is a great brewery and a good one to keep up with.

SjG

Serving type: bottle

01-27-2011 02:55:53 | More by CMB2012

biegaman

Ontario (Canada)

4.38/5  rDev +3.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Fra Til is an awfully dark beer for the so-called season of lights; its black and opaque body is without even a single highlight and shuns any of my and the room's overhead lights' efforts at making some. Its head, however, is most decorative and even just a little colorful too; its tan brown lacing festoons the glass in an elegantly patterned drapery.

Judging by smell, this beer is certainly in the running for most distinctive and original brew I've ever tried. The aroma is nothing if not offbeat, showcasing lively, effervescent spices as well as the more familiar roasty and bittersweet components. It's like a giant breath of Christmas air (and it's got enough booze to warm you up a little too).

An ingredients list containing pale, cara-crystal, pale chocolate and chocolate malts, oats, dark sugar, two varieties of hops as well as star anise, cinnamon, clove and coriander reads less an ingredient list and more an inventory sheet for a homebrew store. There's a lot of things put in this and, as result, there's a lot of flavour that comes out of it...

The spices are all unbridled: clove is as rabid as coriander is riotous while cinnamon is only slightly less firm than anise is forceful. The sensation is like a fourth of July pyrotechnics celebration for the palate. Dark, rustic breads are also tasted, albeit slightly overrun by pressing notes of roasty coffee, bakers chocolate, dried fruits and anisette liqueur.

A certain piny, spruce-y quality was also present - I felt as though I were drinking the thing in an enchanted forest. Each sip was at some point resinous, leafy, spicy and minty; evidently Mikkeller found a way to get hops and spices to work together. One must also factor in the esters of the yeast to fathom what a spicy, savory, complex treat this was.

It takes a very skilled brewer to blend so many spices in such a bold manner and create something as palatable and delightful as this. Fra Til is one of the most simultaneously distinctive and delectable beers I've had (even more so than its predecessor Til Fra) and considering how well this bottle held up after 2 years aging, I'm sad to not have more.

Serving type: bottle

01-04-2011 19:35:06 | More by biegaman

wingedeel

Indiana

4.35/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Bottled in 2008. Had this at Old Crown Coffee in Ft Wayne,IN.

Poured a lovely dark color into a Tulip glass.

Smokey up front with minimal spices on the back end.Roasted malt and dark chocolate flavors are also present.Rather unique, and quite drinkable.

Were this not so expensive, I would have snagged a couple more bottles. I would guess this one would improve even more in another year or so.

Serving type: bottle

12-29-2010 23:23:11 | More by wingedeel

Murchmac

California

4.47/5  rDev +5.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

This was the best beer of the night after having many fine beers. A great way to cap the evening.

dark dark color with brown highlights, creamy tan head.

Great smell, chocolate, earthy, spices, hops, dark fruits, coffee.

smooth, creamy, molasses, chocolate, coffee, and some hops.

Excellent, creamy, velvety beer. Perfect, with some age on it, it would be great.

Serving type: bottle

12-29-2010 05:24:27 | More by Murchmac

Mora2000

Texas

3.95/5  rDev -6.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Thanks to my brother for sharing this bottle. Bottled in 2008.

The beer pours a dark brown color with a large tan head. The aroma is roasted malt, dark cherries, chocolate and molasses. Fairly complex with all of the elements blending nicely.

The flavor is burnt and roasted malt, coffee, chocolate and dark fruit. The flavor is much roastier than the aroma, which works out nicely. The dark fruit is hidden in the background behind the malt. The heavily roasted malt also provides some bitterness. I don't get much spicing in the flavor, but that may be because the malt is so prominent.

Medium to full mouthfeel and high, prickly carbonation. The only thing I would change about the beer is to dial down the carbonation a little bit.

A nice, complex porter that has aged very nicely.

Serving type: bottle

12-27-2010 03:17:30 | More by Mora2000

elgiacomo

Georgia

4.28/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

750ml bottled in 2008.

Pours black with a large brown head, very fluffy and foamy, leaves tons of lacing and holds a foamy island and ring.

Aroma starts with the spices, clove, cinnamon, anise then in come the roasted malts, chocolate, coffee, smoke, dark fruits such as cherries and plums. Complex and strong aroma.

Flavor is also rich and complex with strong chocolate notes, tangy cherries, raisins, plums, figs, roasted & smoked malt, caramel, coffee, spices, very little alcohol.

Medium bodied, very creamy and velvety texture, low carbonation.

A very unique, tasty and complex Imperial/Baltic Porter. The spices give it that little extra to separate it from others in the style.

Serving type: bottle

12-27-2010 00:30:08 | More by elgiacomo

ThatWineGuy

Ontario (Canada)

4.5/5  rDev +6.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

brewed in 2008, a gift from last Christmas, aged a year in my cellar and opened with biegaman tonight. Opaque black, tan head, about a finger and reduced to a filmy, spotty, swirled blanket. Nose was coriander, minty chocolate, clove, cinammon, powdered cocoa. Hoppy taste and mouthfeel, spicy, cocoa, bone dry bitter bakers' chocolate, a flash of astringency, big taste and body, roasted malts and espresso. Mouthfeel a touch pine as well, dense and very rich, alcohol well done, benefits from air and warming to take on other dimensions. Nice and complex, one to sip and savour, don't pass up an opportunity to try one if the chance comes along.

Serving type: bottle

12-25-2010 02:31:45 | More by ThatWineGuy

bucklemyshoe

Georgia

4.53/5  rDev +7.3%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

#5 - 12 beers of Christmas. 750 mL bottle at 45* into a St. Bernardus chalice.

A: This pours a completely opaque black color with a two-finger, thick, foamy, and lively dark khaki head with excellent retention and lace. It actually bears a resemblance to FBS.

S: Big roasted espresso notes leap from the glass, followed by dark chocolate, herbal notes, gingerbread, and bittersweet dark fruits; excellent.

T: The taste consists of a blend of espresso, chocolate, molasses, and dark fruits, combined with herbal and winter spices: juniper, nutmeg, cinammon, and gingerbread.

M: This has the typical medium to medium-light body for the style but with thick creaminess and some finishing stickiness.

D: This is terrific all-around and among the best Christmas beers I've tried.

Serving type: bottle

12-19-2010 09:02:20 | More by bucklemyshoe

Bung

North Carolina

4.25/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

750, into the Gran Marnier snifter.
Near black pour, did not look that black pouring out, but it is pretty solid. About 2 fingers of tan head. Lowers to just under a finger and really sticks around.

Twigs and juniper are the first things that hit in the aroma. Some corriander, roast malt, dark chocolate. May be just a bit too herbal for me.

Taste is very malty, some roast. Whole bunch of cocoa. There is some nutmeg and a mild hop spiciness, but finishes strong with dry roast and cocoa that lingers.

Man is this smooth. I'm guessing the oats help this out. Creamy, coating, not quite full bodied. Nice standard baltic warming sensation, but the alcohol is no where present in the mouth. Have no problem drinking the whole 750.

Glad I finally got to try this one, had a bottle that broke on a flight home(5 others made it, go figure) about 4 months ago and just located another.

A bit pricey, but I think it's worth if for a Baltic fan.

Serving type: bottle

12-12-2010 03:32:48 | More by Bung

TMoney2591

Illinois

4.1/5  rDev -2.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Served in a wine glass.

What a nice gift. It pours a lovely dark brown topped by a finger or so of tan foam. The nose comprises cedar, mint, chocolate, spruce, and a touch of roasted malts. The taste brings more of the same, along with some light peppermint, figs, and molasses. The body is a light-ish medium, with a moderate carbonation and a fairly dry finish. Overall, though not the greatest exemplar of the Baltic porter style, this is a pretty darn tasty brew. I could see enjoying this happily during the holiday season.

Serving type: bottle

12-09-2010 21:47:13 | More by TMoney2591

Vdubb86

Illinois

4.45/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Served in a wine glass

This beer looks gorgeous in the glass with it's chocolate color and it's tan head. The aroma has what I might go as far to say is the perfect amount of smoke. There are some peppered spice notes in the back to accompany the chocolate and coffee aromas. The taste is just as good. The smoke is on point in this beer's flavor as well. The chocolate and the coffee come though in a creamy melange that works so very well for me. At 8% I'm wondering why I can actually still taste the liquor, but It's not enough to detract from what is really an outstanding beer. I could truly enjoy having this again.

Serving type: bottle

12-09-2010 19:28:38 | More by Vdubb86

Weizenmensch

Japan

4.2/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4.5

Fra: my girlfriend Til: me on my birthday, 02/12/2010 (today). Holdbar til 02/09/2012.

Pours black with a head that forms slowly as the bubbles swim through the pitch-like body. Head is dark tan and frothy/creamy. Lots of lacing, very fine carbonation.

The aromas detectable from the first pour are the strongest point of this brew. Sweet forest berries, maybe some wood, maybe both berries and woodchips were added. Roasty and enticing. Complex aromas that I can't deconstruct because I haven't reviewed for some time. Impressive though.

The taste isn't as heavyweight as the smell but still rewardingly rich. Tart hop bitterness under the tongue makes me gleek. Creaminess on the back of tongue and a nice sourness on the palate, familiar but I can't quite identify that flavour. Maybe just sweet malt.

Mouthfeel is a letdown - it may just be this bottle but the carbonation is too weak. More effervescence could of course make this brew a mess of mineral water flavours but a little more would improve the mouthfeel.

Only have one of these 750mL bottles as it's imported and a special occasion but I'd be keen to have another one, if only to compare the carbonation. Rich but drinkable, and intoxicatingly sweet and dark aromas. Not excessively alcoholic or warming or heavy, which is good. Recommended, but definitely a winter brew.

Serving type: bottle

12-02-2010 12:08:59 | More by Weizenmensch

Parrotshake

Australia

4.2/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Cracked a bottle of this alone a few weeks back and took notes, which I just stumbled across. 2 and a bit weeks later it is hot as fuck here and I couldn't imagine drinking it, but it was appropriate at the time. Lousy Smarch weather. This is the second time I've had it, the previous bottle split with 2 or 3 others, but I had this one all to myself. From Bob, To Bob.

Very dark ruby-tinted brown with a monstrous long-lasting head. Smells like Christmas alright - dark fruits, nutmeg, even a bit of gingerbread.

First impressions upon sipping are mostly chocolate related. Bit of coffee roastiness, and then the spices. The end of each sip is kind of like a liquid panforte - spicy, fruity, nutty, not especially sweet. Fantastic. Nice little hop bite in he finish, too.

Mouthfeel is around medium. Creamy from the carbonation, but a bit thinner than I'd like - in this case, I think bigger would have been better. Overall though, I love this and on a colder night could drink it indefinitely.

Serving type: bottle

09-08-2010 05:09:50 | More by Parrotshake

lumikuuro

British Columbia (Canada)

4.55/5  rDev +7.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

750ml bottle.

Appearance: Very, very dark brown thick pour, almost black in the glass. Dark beige head that isn't large but exhibits some retention and leaves some nice lacing.

Aroma: Chocolate, cinnamon, star anise, cloves. Lots of smoke. Spices are moderately subtle.

Taste: Changes as the beer warms.

At first, there is lots of chocolate, roasted malt with gentle coffee, clove, cinnamon, star anise. Again, the spices are moderately subtle. Slight sweetness, but this is well tempered with a lingering roasty bitterness. Smoky. Alcohol strength is gently apparent, not harsh.

As the beer warms further, some hazelnut comes through. As it approaches room temperature, a hop bite becomes apparent before a strong piney hop flavour subdues the chocolate.

Mouthfeel: Oily, very full bodied, but with a little crispness when chilled. Dry.

Drinkability: I did not detect the coriander seed at any stage; unless the gentle sweetness comes from them, which is possible. This is a very nice beer that is worth sipping from chilled until room temperature to explore all the flavour transitions; or could be drunk quicker cold, or only drunk warm, depending on the mood. I would like a little more assertiveness from the spices and perhaps a touch less roasty bitterness, but that is just a personal preference; the flavours are there. Definitely a worthwhile beer.

Serving type: bottle

07-18-2010 08:50:32 | More by lumikuuro

BDTyre

British Columbia (Canada)

3.48/5  rDev -17.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

I had higher hopes for this, but I find it actually somewhat bland.

It looks good...dark ruby, almost black, with a thick, rich khaki head. Malty, gingerbread-y smell with a noticeable hop spice to it. Dry malt and gingerbread flavour, but lacking sweetness. Raisin bread and slight cinnamon hint in the aftertaste.

Nice carbonation, smooth mouthfeel - but its coupled with a weird, dry-spicy taste. Maybe better at Christmas, with Christmas dinner or dessert...but on a hot July night...not so much.

Serving type: bottle

07-18-2010 07:28:52 | More by BDTyre

htomsirveaux

Texas

4.38/5  rDev +3.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

750 mL bottle tried 7 Jan 2010. Bottled 2008.

Poured in a 0.4 L Steiner Pils snifter. Pours black and thick. Small tight dark brown head. Well carbonated. Asoma is of cinnamon and nutmeg, dark chocolate covered figs. Flavor is full of chocolate and molasses, some coffee. Fairly sweet. A woody perfumy quality to the finish, some of this is noticeable in the aroma too. Aftertaste is somewhat peppery with an ethanol burn. Body is very silky.

Would like this as a gift every year.

Serving type: bottle

05-13-2010 04:01:41 | More by htomsirveaux