Beer Hop Breakfast - Mikkeller ApS

shangwang

Pennsylvania

4.4/5  rDev +7.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured into a Chimay goblet. I've been aging this one for a little over a half year.

As I poured this I couldn't help but notice how viscous it was; it was like heavily used motor oil - dark and thick. The pour left a foamy tan head that quickly reduced to a thin layer and left chunky lacing on the sides of the glass. The smell is a beautiful blend of piny hops and roasted coffee with notes of chocolate. Very unique smell - couldn't wait to taste. From the first sip I got dark chocolate - extremely dark chocolate. Lots of intense bitterness with a little saltiness on the finish. After a little more, I really noticed how prevalent the hoppy character was, which continued to surprise me from a beer this dark. The warmer the beer became, the more sweet notes emerged and took the edge off of the hops. I loved the mouthfeel - very thick and smooth, with some decent carbonation. The character of the mouthfeel really added to experiencing the taste.

Overall, I really enjoyed this unique beer. There were a lot of elements present that I would expect from an oatmeal stout, but lots of hoppy IPA character as well, and it was all blended very smoothly together. Definitely will seek this one out again.

Serving type: bottle

01-07-2012 23:10:11 | More by shangwang

random846

Georgia

4.5/5  rDev +10%

05-24-2013 02:46:15 | More by random846

bdardenne

Belgium

4.75/5  rDev +16.1%

05-23-2013 22:58:59 | More by bdardenne

ncstateplaya

North Carolina

4/5  rDev -2.2%

05-22-2013 18:47:44 | More by ncstateplaya

ThePaleRider

California

4.16/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25

A - Very dark and rich brown. Dark chocolate two finger head with really nice retention. Nice legs on the glass. No light passing through the glass on this one.

S - Smells a little boozey for the ABV. Lots of coffee and chocolate with a slight citrus. Very intriguing aroma.

T - Not picking up on the hops very much. Mostly light coffee and chocolate notes. Very drinkable stout.

M - Full bodied and very smooth. Not much carbonation to speak of. Really nice after taste.

O - My favorite that I've had from the breakfast lineup. Very drinkable but like usual, Mikkeller is just so expensive.

Serving type: bottle

05-22-2013 18:33:08 | More by ThePaleRider

bkonk10

Indiana

4.25/5  rDev +3.9%

05-22-2013 01:46:16 | More by bkonk10

laituegonflable

Australia

3.5/5  rDev -14.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a dark brown, with a glint or so of mahogany up to the light. Head is darkish beige, bit whispy but decent lace left around. Looks pretty good, although it could easily look better in all aspects.

Smells quite resiny, actually. Fair floral hints coming off that, with some citrus, pine and rubber. Mostly light, and even though it's deliberate, I'm missing something darker, more heavy or just earthier, as it all seems a bit unsubstantial. Nice, but I'd like more.

Taste is a bit better. Still a little light body-wise, but plenty of that resiny hop note upfront, with floral and woody, organic sap notes that transition smoothly into a long, bitter finish. Lots of astringency on the back, with charred roastiness and resinous hop oils competing for the bitter crown. A bit too much, really, kind of lemon pithy and doesn't quite clean up to make me want more.

Body is quite light for the style, but there's a presence by the end. OK.

Have had better dark beers, this one tastes quite heavy but not quite a full enough flavour to compensate for the weighty bitterness. Just a bit ashy and astringent. Not an everyday beer.

Serving type: bottle

05-19-2013 08:14:23 | More by laituegonflable

Krakpoff

Quebec (Canada)

4.5/5  rDev +10%

05-13-2013 15:00:33 | More by Krakpoff

mikeburd1128

New Jersey

4/5  rDev -2.2%

05-12-2013 17:16:08 | More by mikeburd1128

Whiskeydeez

Kansas

4/5  rDev -2.2%

05-12-2013 17:06:10 | More by Whiskeydeez

Howlader

Virginia

4.75/5  rDev +16.1%

05-09-2013 22:07:59 | More by Howlader

KillaB

Illinois

4/5  rDev -2.2%

05-07-2013 00:42:51 | More by KillaB

WVbeergeek

Ohio

3.09/5  rDev -24.4%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3

Visually really really appealing, pitch black body flowing huge tan head frothing above the sides of my chalice, fine even lacing as it slowly fades. Aroma has dark chocolate bitterness and hint of pine and citrus tone hops in the background with a somewhat creamed coffee in the middle. Bitterness unwavering bitterness green hops assault the palate with a pelletized hop concentration black malts (mainly black patent bring out the charcoal and roasted malt bitterness) so there's a bit of a tag team combo hitting me hard right now. I really couldn't tell you they used oatmeal, but dark bitter coffee, dark malts, and hops are screaming hello!!! Mouthfeel never gets past any one of the waves of bitterness it coats all dimensions of the palate, medium bodied even solid carbonation no issues there just the lacquer known has beer hop breakfast is left behind coating the entire palate with a lingering unbalanced bitterness. Overall I wish the gypsy brewer had a stroke of finesse in his paint brush, maybe due to the country where the brewing scene is breaking out like a punk rock movement do most of these guys feel the need to brew this way. Believe me I like extreme beer I just like well balanced big beers.

Serving type: bottle

05-03-2013 22:58:12 | More by WVbeergeek

Googs

New York

4.25/5  rDev +3.9%

04-30-2013 07:15:20 | More by Googs

AdamP

Massachusetts

4.5/5  rDev +10%

04-25-2013 15:19:04 | More by AdamP

SDG1070

Ohio

4/5  rDev -2.2%

04-25-2013 14:19:31 | More by SDG1070

larryi86

Delaware

4.09/5  rDev 0%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

16.9 oz bottle poured into a tulip

A- Black with a two finger tan head.

S- Roasted coffee, piney hops, roasted malts, some dark chocolate, citrus hops.

T- Hoppy, piney, touch of burnt hops, some citrus, roasted coffee, touch of smoke, dark chocolate.

M- Smooth, medium body, dry.

O- I enjoy Beer Geek Breakfast more, but this is still a solid beer. Hoppiness makes it almost taste like a black IPA.

Serving type: bottle

04-18-2013 23:30:44 | More by larryi86

PatGreer

Massachusetts

4.75/5  rDev +16.1%

04-14-2013 21:56:53 | More by PatGreer

CaptDavyJones

New York

4.25/5  rDev +3.9%

04-14-2013 01:44:39 | More by CaptDavyJones

joshbrink

Alabama

4.75/5  rDev +16.1%

04-12-2013 17:59:43 | More by joshbrink

Kendo

New York

4.15/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: First, a note on the bottle. I cracked it open and there was sediment on the neck and the lip of the bottle. It's been in my fridge, standing upright, for at least 2 weeks. I wonder how it was stored before then - and how old this bottle might be. . . . Anyway, on to the review. . . .

Poured into a Sam Smith's nonic-style pint glass. Body is black with a 1+ finger light-brown head that leaves behind some Yoo-Hoo colored lacing.

S: I get coffee right away, but it subsides and is replaced by an earthy, tobacco scent and plenty of citrus. Reminds me of an American Black Ale that was brewed with coffee more than a stout.

T: First impression: wow, this is surprisingly hoppy and bitter. Roasty malt underneath, along with plenty of roasted coffee beans and some charcoal. Finishes with citrusy bitterness and roasted grain husks. Reminds me of a cross between a hoppy Imperial Porter (e.g., the roast and char) and an American Black Ale (the citrusy hops). Again, I don't get the overall sense that this is all that stout-like. . . . ABV is noted on the end of the sip, with heat felt on the way down into the belly. Lingering bitterness - grapefruit and burnt grains - on the aftertaste.

M: Medium in heft, maybe a touch heavier. Carbonation is modest, provides a bit of sharp prickliness at the back end of the sip.

O: This is good stuff, just not really what I was expecting given the Stout style description. I suppose the word "Hop" in the name should've been a give away, but still. . . think of this as an American Black Ale and you'll be pleased.

Serving type: bottle

04-11-2013 01:10:11 | More by Kendo

mecmd

Georgia

4.25/5  rDev +3.9%

04-08-2013 04:25:50 | More by mecmd

Poupae

Thailand

3.75/5  rDev -8.3%

03-31-2013 13:56:34 | More by Poupae

t0rin0

California

3.5/5  rDev -14.4%

03-30-2013 21:49:11 | More by t0rin0

stumac

Texas

2.46/5  rDev -39.9%
look: 5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 2.25 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 2

Please don't tell me that Mikkeller is pumping out outrageous gross beer and up charging like Saint Arnold does with the Divines. Any hoot, sippin this brew while reading the end of Stephen King's The Mist as my roomies are loud as shit downstairs. No biggy.
Pours up amazing foamy dark tan head. Great lacing. The head made it thru the whole journey. Aroma is very hoppy, some malts creeping thru. Nice aroma. Now the taste. It's too much. You've got big bold malts battling heavy hops. I don't ever eat chocolate with ketchup. It's too crazy in this bottle! It's not bad but it's not good. Full bodied. Heavy crispy carbo. Meh. Just an experiment I suppose

Serving type: bottle

03-28-2013 04:09:11 | More by stumac