USAlive! (Alive) - Mikkeller ApS

northyorksammy

Ontario (Canada)

4.05/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Cloudy yellow with off-white three inch head, looks great. Hop aromas are terrific, medium mouthfeel, very lacey. Citra hop taste, orange. A full bitterness, lots of hops. A tad of sourness-astringency. Ken's bottle from the private order.More of an American strong.

Serving type: bottle

02-01-2011 01:04:46 | More by northyorksammy

brentk56

North Carolina

3.93/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Appearance: Arrives without much of a head atop the hazy amber liquid; just a few strands of lace are left behind

Smell: Caramel melt with some pith and funk

Taste: A hint of caramel at the outset and then the beer moves in a tart lemony direction, with tropical fruit and barnyard funk developing by mid-palate; a grassy, herbal hop character adds a bitter edge but the funk builds after, the swallow and lingers in the aftertaste

Mouthfeel: Medium body with low carbonation; a bit flabby

Overall: A very complex brew, with the caramel, pith and funk all playing a role; I would prefer a livelier mouthfeel

Serving type: on-tap

09-18-2011 01:06:43 | More by brentk56

Phyl21ca

Quebec (Canada)

4.93/5  rDev +24.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Bottle: Poured a medium orangey color ale with large foamy head with good retention and some light lacing. Aroma consists of Brett with light tartness and dry hoppy notes which are very well balanced. Taste is a complex mix between some Brett notes with some medium barnyard and light tart undertones with a great mix of floral and dry hops which are mix with a semi-sweet Belgian-style malt base. Body is slightly fuller then average with good carbonation and no apparent alcohol notes. Very well brewed and while being different kind of remind me of the quality of Russian River beers.

Serving type: bottle

07-29-2011 18:24:22 | More by Phyl21ca

Mora2000

Texas

4.08/5  rDev +3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Thanks to bu11zeye for sharing this bottle.

Pours a murky yellow brown with a white head. The aroma is apple and banana with some spices and some tartness/wildness. The flavor is alcohol with the same mix of fruit that was in the aroma. There is a little brett funk in the flavor as well. Medium mouthfeel and low carbonation.

Serving type: bottle

02-02-2010 19:54:20 | More by Mora2000

metter98

New York

4.1/5  rDev +3.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A: The beer is hazy dark orange/amber in color and poured with a thin off white head that left some lacing on the surface but eventually completely faded away.
S: There are light aromas of grapefruit in the nose.
T: Like the smell, the taste has some citrusy flavors of grapefruit, but these are well balanced by the underlying malts.
M: It feels medium-bodied on the palate with a moderate amount of carbonation.
O: The beer goes down very smoothly and is easy to drink. Ordering this at a bar can make some interesting discussion if it should be pronounced “USA live!” or “US Alive!”

Serving type: on-tap

06-07-2011 03:01:41 | More by metter98

Halcyondays

California

3.55/5  rDev -10.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

On-tap at Beachwood I,

A: Pours a deep amber with a medium white head, leaving solid lace.

S: Candied orange, some sweet malt, dark sugar, dried fig, much sweeter than I thought'd be.

T: Sweet fruit, notes of stone fruit, some grapefruit, with some earthy character.

M: Medium to full-bodied, creamy, soft carbonation.

O: A solid effort, it wasn't as dry as I thought it would be with tasting It's Alright. I enjoyed it, but nothing mind-blowing.

Serving type: on-tap

06-21-2012 06:16:04 | More by Halcyondays

biboergosum

Alberta (Canada)

3.88/5  rDev -2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

750 ml bottle, with a simple label, reminiscent of something out of Patton, the movie.

This beer pours a slightly hazy dark brownish amber colour, with two fingers of chunky, rocky, light beige head, which has pretty decent retention, and eventually leaves some random curtains of lace around the glass. It smells of grapefruit and orange hops, caramel, brown sugar, and some mild funk. The taste is caramel malt, candy sugar, mild citrus hops, and a dusty, earthy funk, while the 8 points of booze are well masked. The carbonation is moderate, but innocuous, the body medium weight, sugary, smooth, and it finishes mostly dry, the citrus hops and dusty funk presiding.

This is just what it purports to be - a funky strong Belgian ale, with American West Coast hop stylings. Overall, while a tad distracting, it works, the numerous influences playing nicely together.

Serving type: bottle

06-03-2010 00:30:10 | More by biboergosum

glid02

Georgia

4.13/5  rDev +4.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bottle purchased from Five Points Bottle in Athens, GA.

Pours a hazy gold-copper color with a one-finger white head. The head recedes into a thin layer on top leaving thick lacing.

Smells of a combination of pale and somewhat grainy caramel malts with good amounts of citrus and smaller amounts of tropical fruit hops. Mild amounts of brett funk waft out as well and intensify as the beer warms.

Tastes very similar to how it smells. Malt flavors that skew more toward pale than caramel but with good amounts of both kick things off. Coming in shortly thereafter are candied hop flavors - more earthy than in the aroma but still with strong hints of citrus. Midway through the sip mild hints of funk come in before fading into a mildly bitter finish.

Mouthfeel is good. It's got a nice thickness with smooth carbonation.

Drinakbility is also good. I finished my glass without a problem and could have another.

Overall I thought this was a tasty beer, although more of a wild IPA than a wild Belgian. I'm willing to bet the high amount of hops used is a result of the US part of the name. Worth a shot.

Serving type: bottle

05-25-2010 23:10:14 | More by glid02

stakem

Pennsylvania

3.63/5  rDev -8.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

Thanks to wishuwerebeer for sharing. Poured into a snifter, the brew appears copper in color with a finger of off-white head. It retains fairly decent leaving patchy lace on the glass as it slowly recedes.

The smell of the brew includes a hint of caramel malt sweetnesd with some earthy notes. Also present is citrusy fruits like grapefruit. A bit of cardboard quality rounds out the nose. Overall a bit perplexing, yet mild and not all that appealing.

The taste includes some fruity quality of grapefruit that also includes a rindy bitterness of pulp and zest. Some earth and peppery spice mixes with cardboard-like oxidation and earthy funk. The flavor of this brew is what you would expect from the aroma, it is disjointed and doesn't really come together.

It is medium bodied with a moderate level of carbonation. An interesting mix of flavor that wasn't bad, just unique without much appeal. It is quite oily and bitter as it warms up with just a bit more focus on some natural fruity/alcohol esters. This brew is not something I would go out of my way for.

Serving type: bottle

02-28-2012 14:01:23 | More by stakem

thagr81us

South Carolina

3.78/5  rDev -4.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Served from bottle into a Mikkeller oversized wine glass. Poured a hazy yellow-orange with a two finger off-white head that subsided to a half finger extremely slowly. Maintained excellent lacing throughout the glass. The aroma was comprised of sweet malt, fruit, spices, earth, funk, and pear. The flavor was of sweet malt, fruit, earth, funk, spices, bread, pear, and earthy funk. It had a light feel on the palate with high carbonation. Overall this was a fairly good brew. There was just something about the flavor on this one that was a little off-putting for me. There just seemed to be too much earthiness and funk going on without anything to really balance it out. The aroma on the other hand was quite nice. Glad I got to try this one based on the style on the bottle. I suggest you do the same if you like earthy funkiness.

Serving type: bottle

04-17-2012 10:57:51 | More by thagr81us

scruffwhor

Illinois

3.85/5  rDev -2.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Enjoyed this 750ml bottle on our porch with my girlfriend. Enjoying what will probably be the last 70 degree day of autumn in the Chicagoland area.

Pours a cloudy and dark rust colored amber. Pretty good two finger head that recedes to a nice film. The aroma is a sweet green apple skin with flower petals and just a touch of worn leather. The taste starts out bitter green apples and some light bready malts. The American hops dominate the middle to finish with super strog floral notes. The finish does have some interesting fruits that I can't place in the finish mixing with the resiny, almost palate coating hops. Good converstaion starting, bitter Belgian style brew.

Serving type: bottle

11-09-2009 02:02:03 | More by scruffwhor

LilBeerDoctor

New York

4.25/5  rDev +7.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Rating #1100!! And appropriate, considering it's also Memorial Day! Anyway, pours a cloudy brown/orange with a thick off-white head that leaves nice lacing on the glass. Aroma of tropical fruits and floral hops. Smells like an IPA, an awesome IPA at that! Flavor is not a fruity but has a nice bitter finish. Definitely quite hoppy with some sweet caramel malt. Nothing Belgian about this one to me. This is a great beer--I really enjoyed this one!

Serving type: bottle

07-11-2009 14:36:51 | More by LilBeerDoctor

hopdog

Pennsylvania

4.1/5  rDev +3.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

750ml bottle.

Poured a medium and cloudy golden/amber color with a larger sized white head. Aromas of citrus, some pine, some funkiness, and fruity. Tastes of citrus, the same funkiness, lighter pine, and caramel.

Couldn't drown away the way the Flyers sucked while I was drinking this...

Serving type: bottle

04-26-2009 21:14:13 | More by hopdog

StonedTrippin

Colorado

4.1/5  rDev +3.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

this is a classic mikkeller brew, all thing things ive come to expect from this guy. its different, strong, expensive, and worth it. pours a very hazy amber brown color with a massive head in my tulip glass. head does not subside at all. smells like intense funky wild yeast and sweet earthy red malts. its belgian yeasty in that super carbonated, mildly spicy, still alive aspect, but its more of a farmhouse in the funk department. this is somewhere between a saison and a sour, right down the middle. the flavor is definitely yeast driven, maybe a touch of brett tartness, but more fieldy meadowy polleny glory. it leaves a real dry tongue sticking to the roof of my mouth, ready for another gulp. its a fast drinker for its strength, and a beer that has a really memorable flavor profile. im somewhere between white pepper and lavender, its very unique, complex, and rewarding to the patient drinker. id gladly pay 14 bucks for another bottle of this, its exquisite. just short of magic.

Serving type: bottle

09-18-2012 04:35:07 | More by StonedTrippin

wordemupg

Alberta (Canada)

4.63/5  rDev +16.9%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

750ml corked and caged bottle with silver foil poured into Corsendonk chalice oct26 2009

A slightly cloudy amber with tonnes of carbonation and a massive beige head that has great retention and lots of lace. this is a pretty sexy looking beer, when the head finally dies down it leaves a 1/4in film with a little island in the middle

S lots of hops, pine, citrus, some caramel and maybe some bread. this to me smells like a huge DIPA and a sweet one at that, there is however something I just can't place, I'm assuming it's the wild yeast

T again lots of DIPA flavors with just some mild grapefruit not mentioned in the smell. I'm liking the taste of the smell I can't place, a little funky but adds a complexity to this ale that is unlike anything I can think of. I do taste booze but it's well concealed

M nice and creamy with carbonation that makes it feel even thicker, no problems here

D I plan on drinking this again soon, it's a unique brew that sinks like the Bismark. my only real complaint with this beer is I only just became aware of it. very nice and well worth drinking

I'm trying to grade this beer based on its style, however as far as I know this is the only Belgian Wild Ale I've ever had. I'm worried that this may not be a world class version of this style and every other one I drink will get straight 5's. now that I think about it I need to get to know this style in great depth

Serving type: bottle

10-27-2009 06:06:22 | More by wordemupg

drpimento

Wisconsin

4.78/5  rDev +20.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

Very interesting and very good. Having this version of Mikkeller's It's Alive now. This one's aroma is milder, but the floral component is more pronounced in the flavor. Poured with nice off white head and good lace. Aroma is as above and with yeast malt hops and brett. Flavor's similar with a little more acid than the euro version. Incrediblly full flavored. Excellent body and carbonation. Again complimented so well by the Brettanomyces. Clean finish and almost a session for sipping.

Serving type: bottle

04-07-2010 03:05:11 | More by drpimento

onix1agr

Pennsylvania

4.03/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

On Tap at Kraftworks.

US Alive pours into the glass a amberish/orange color with a small tint of red although that could of been the setting. A small off white cap that eventually bounces leaving little squiggles. smell is a mix of floral hops and some brett scent, going into some pepper and some citrus scents including tropics orange, grapefruit. Taste is pretty decent. Not as hoppy as the nose would lead one to believe. I do get some grapefruit and orange mixing in with some floral taste. The brett is understated but there. I do get more spice, black pepper, yet it does not intrude. A nice pale ale from Belgium with a kick of brett. I dug this but wonder if a fresh bottle might be a different experience, as I was expecting more brett.

Serving type: on-tap

09-17-2011 14:01:36 | More by onix1agr

dbrauneis

New Jersey

4.1/5  rDev +3.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Served on tap at Beer Street Brooklyn in New York, NY

A: Pours a hazy dark orange to copper/amber in color. The beer has a quarter finger tall off-white head that reduces to a very thin ring at the edges of the glass. Light amounts of lacing are observed.

S: Very light amounts of funk with a moderate amount of grapefruit aromas.

T: The beer starts out with some light amounts of caramel malt sweetness that turns a little sour/funky as you continue to taste it - there are some light notes of fruit like apple and grapefruit.

M: Medium bodied with moderate amounts of carbonation.

O: This beer is pretty easy to drink and is enjoyable - certainly not sessionable but a decent sipping beer. A little tough to drink on a really hot afternoon in a shop with minimal AC.

Serving type: on-tap

07-02-2012 01:14:09 | More by dbrauneis

GbVDave

Illinois

4.35/5  rDev +9.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a corked and caged 750ml bottle into a Mikkeller tulip.

Neck foil dated: 03/02/15

A: The cork slid out with nary a sound. Uh oh, did I get a bad bottle? Nah, keep reading. Pours a chill hazed burnt orange, with a 3 1/2 finger thick, rocky, light khaki colored head that retained forever! The head graaaadually melted down to a thick glob that hung around in the center of the glass leaving a lacey mess down the sides.

S: I went into this one, not having read any of the reviews, expecting a sour/funky "Belgian Wild Ale". My first whiff had me wondering if I got a mis-label. Strong piney (American-styled) hops took the forefront with hints of caramel, citrus, and sweet candi.

T: Huge piney hop flavor. Delicious! Rounding out the flavors are cut grass and citrus hops, caramel, white pepper, spices, and a touch of candi sugar. Half-way through the second glass I finally noticed the spicy & funky Brett. I guess proper temp is the key to awakening the slightly funky Brett as I pulled this out of my too cold food fridge and not my beer fridge.

M: Typical APA/AIPA/DIPA mouthfeel: dry, juicy, peppery, oily, and spicy. Finish has a fantastic run of spicy astringency.

D: I kept trying to remember to pace myself to no avail. This beer went down so well. An 8% (let's face it) AIPA/DIPA with a slightly "wild" side? Sign me up, brother!

Serving type: bottle

08-29-2009 00:10:51 | More by GbVDave

rfgetz

New Jersey

4.28/5  rDev +8.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Pours a hazed and lightly rusted orange amber with nice cap of frothy white bubbles. Scent is a nice mix of citrusy hops and earthy, light funk along with a lightly bready malt backbone. Taste brings the components of scent to a whole new level, all the best notes of an IPA (bitter and citrusy) combine with a Belgian Pale (bready yeast, light sweetness) and completed wonderfully with the Brett (earthy, light barnyard funk)... complex. Medium bodied, grainy and dry. A nice beer from Mikkeller who continues to make interesting and tasty brews.

Serving type: on-tap

09-19-2011 14:32:43 | More by rfgetz

IronDjinn

Alberta (Canada)

3.75/5  rDev -5.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

From a 750 ml caged and corked brown bottle, silver foil around cap and neck.

Rich hazy yet translucent copper hue, loose creamy off-white head that leaves behind an insane coating of solid thick sticky lacing.

Mild caramel malt, some brown sugar, grassy and citrus hops on the nose. Reminds me of a young American barlerwine. Lingering floral and perfume notes. Very enjoyable, it all works beyond the sum of its parts.

Light malt, the bulk of the flavour comes from a lopsided balance of leafy green, spicy, grapefruit pith hops, a neutral earthiness lingers in the aftertaste, while some herbal notes pop up longer into the aftertaste. Pleasant to drink, but becomes a bit one-dimensional after a while.

Light side of medium-bodied, mild carbonation, dry, a bit musty.

Holds its own and definitely makes its presence known, but fails to hold interest after a while. Great for a hoppy Belgian ale, but gets a bit lopsided as a result. A great substitute for an English IPA, ignore the U.S. homage when it comes to the hops.

Serving type: bottle

02-11-2010 09:02:36 | More by IronDjinn

CrazyDavros

Australia

3.8/5  rDev -4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Pours dark amber with a large, fading head.
Nose shows caramel, piney and fruity hops, funky brett notes, lemon and soft alcohol.
Flavours are dominated by hops, with piny and grapefruit notes most prominent before the mild acidity and funky brett enter. The alcohol and piny bitterness are very bold in the dry finish.
Carbonation seems a little full on.

Serving type: on-tap

06-18-2012 11:53:40 | More by CrazyDavros

ADZA

Australia

4.1/5  rDev +3.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This beer pours a see thru copper colour with beautiful carbonation that leaves a frothy two finger head and heaps of noticable lacing,it has a distinct real piney hop aroma to it with some caramel malts in the background very much like a nice AIPA aroma,it has a nice mouthfeel for the style which is neither thin nor thick and the palette is coated with the piney,passionfruit infused hops,caramel malts and of course a little brett but on finish the piney hop taste is the most prevalent to make this brew finish nice and bitter just like a AIPA even tho it is sposed to be a BSPA i would definately buy this beer again.

Serving type: bottle

11-04-2009 03:50:48 | More by ADZA

Bierguy5

Ohio

4.08/5  rDev +3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

On tap at Local Option in Chicago. Hazy orange, nice frothy head. Great retention and lace.

Earthy, slightly funky. Some zest and orange peel. Stone fruit as well in the nose.

Orange zest and stone fruit flavors up front. A drying, funky, earthy feel. Dries out at the finish.

Medium body, good carbonation. Alcohol is non-factor. Nice, funky, slightly leathery feel. Nice beer.

Serving type: nitro-tap

07-28-2011 00:35:11 | More by Bierguy5

AgentMunky

Alabama

3.83/5  rDev -3.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Served in a gorgeous half-pint glass in the BrewDog bar in Edinburgh. From notes. Reviewed 7 June 2011.

A: Clearish; pretty. Light, white, creamy head fades fast leaving really great lace. Nicely orange.

S: Smells like an IPA. Fresh, semi-vegetal hops provide exciting topnotes. Some grapefruit...and some sweetness, from both malt and, seemingly, yeast.

T: Whoah. QUITE bitter. Quite. Raw grapefruit juice. Hops are slightly soapy, but with a nice tinge. A bit of lambic sourness. The finish is lemon peels and more hops. Drying and pleasant.

M: Carbonation, dryness, and sourness (almost too much).

O: Too bitter and sour for me. It's strength shows after half a glass. Not precisely *recommended*, but worth trying.

Serving type: on-tap

07-31-2011 01:30:28 | More by AgentMunky