Beer Geek Breakfast - Bourbon Edition - Mikkeller ApS

IronDjinn

Alberta (Canada)

3.65/5  rDev -5.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Thanks to Jim at Sherbrooke for the sample. From a 500 ml tall brown bottle batch #463, best before 221014. Tall creamy mocha head on the pour with big loose bubbles, opaque black body impermeable to light.

Sweet boozy and wood aroma, touches of vanilla, small hints of roastiness beneath it all.

Sweet, then boozy, then woody, then roasty, that pretty much sums up the flavour in a nutshell. In the background is some brown sugar and vanilla bean (the latter also coats the lips). Dry, somewhat grainy finish with coffee grounds.

Mouthfeel is medium-bodied, smooth and silky with very low carbonation. A bit light for this style.

Flavourful and very easy to drink for the style and the abv%, didn't really rock my world, but the bourbon certainly adds a pleasant dimension to it. Although the bourbon tends to dominate, it certainly doesn't detract overall.

Serving type: bottle

03-25-2011 23:46:45 | More by IronDjinn

stakem

Pennsylvania

3.58/5  rDev -7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

500ml brown bottle shared with friends and poured into a matching Mikkeller teku. This bottle in question was the stronger Euro edition drank side by side with the barrel aged brunch weasel.

The brew pours black in color with a finger of dark brown head. Some patchy lace sticks to the glass and a swirl revives about a finger effortlessly back to the surface.

The aroma is earthen with notes of roast, citrus, burnt to char quality and a mild fruity alcohol note accented just a bit perhaps by the barrel aging. Overall not bad smelling but the overall impression of barrel aging is quite subtile.

The flavor is roasty with notes of bitter coffee and earth. Some chocolate to cocoa quality emerges with more sips along with a mild citrus inclusion. Raw oak is present giving the only notion of this being barrel aged. Some mild sulfur quality persists into the aftertaste which is a bit distracting.

This is a medium bodied brew with a modest amount of carbonation. The inclusion of sulfur was a bit distracting and the oak aging was too subtle in my opinion. It is a decent brew but nothing exciting and not worth the inflated price. The chunks of gelatin that plopped into our glasses mid-way through the pour was a huge disappointment. When you pay this much for a beer, it should be beer in the bottle not gelatin that makes half the people partaking in the bottle cringe and not want a pour.

Serving type: bottle

04-04-2013 17:42:11 | More by stakem

ngeunit1

California

4.33/5  rDev +12.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Dark black with a hint of brown and a finger of frothy chocolate head. Fades fairly slowly.

S - Dark chocolate malts, roasted coffee, vanilla, oak, Bourbon, milk chocolate, molasses, black licorice, some caramel malts.

T - Dark chocolate malts, roasted coffee, oak, vanilla, Bourbon, black licorice, molasses, some milk chocolate and caramel malts, earthy hops and some mild hop bitterness, toasted coconut, oatmeal.

M - Medium-full bodied with moderate carbonation. Super smooth with a roasted, sweet, and warming finish.

D - Fantastic balance. The Bourbon adds some great complexity to the base beer.

Serving type: bottle

01-15-2013 04:33:24 | More by ngeunit1

Yabev15

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev +3.9%

01-04-2013 23:10:12 | More by Yabev15

Gobzilla

California

4.1/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: poured a dark as night black in color with a thin brown head that left a little lacing sticking to the glass.

S: plenty of roasted malts were present upfront in the aroma with a little coffee, some good chocolate notes, burnt char character, it had vanilla and brown sugars coming through but with signs of wood.

T: the roastiness was just as potent as the aroma but with more vanilla molasses sweetness, plenty of burnt char notes, mild coffee character, a little bourbon barrel booze and of course great chocolate flavor.

M: the brew was medium to full in body with a fair amount of carbonation which had a sweet, char, barrel bourbany, roasty, chocolatey, and chewy finish.

O: been hearing a lot of good things about this beer and sure enough it was solid. glad I got to try it finally. Good lookin out beezler

Serving type: bottle

12-23-2012 21:44:06 | More by Gobzilla

peensteen

Ontario (Canada)

4.13/5  rDev +7.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Bottled 2009, European version though I cant remember who sent me this...Thank You though!

Jet black, one and a half fingers of tan head, some nice thick rings of lace. Smell is full on deeply roasted malt, burnt at points, bourbon, vanilla and chocolate, still a surprising amount of coffee grind/bean presence in here as well. Taste has lots of coffee up front, roasty with lots of vanilla and bourbon, slight alcohol burn but pretty well concealed, some chocolate and char in the finish. Lightly carbonated, medium-full body, good full feel. Solid stuff and a very good BA coffee stout, another well executed big beer from Mikkeller.

Serving type: bottle

11-30-2012 14:36:47 | More by peensteen

northyorksammy

Ontario (Canada)

3.98/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A bourbon nose, but understated Bourbon in the taste. Roast, an interesting roast, chocolate, engine oil. Smooth, above average mouthfeel. Well integrated. Gelatin thickness.
Peenstein bottle From a visiting friend to Europe.Mocha head.Alcoholl well hidden

Serving type: bottle

11-25-2012 15:37:24 | More by northyorksammy

branimal9

South Carolina

3.5/5  rDev -9.1%

11-11-2012 02:56:56 | More by branimal9

thegerm87

Connecticut

3.5/5  rDev -9.1%

11-03-2012 16:12:02 | More by thegerm87

FullObs

Illinois

4/5  rDev +3.9%

08-20-2012 17:05:49 | More by FullObs

drewone

California

2.5/5  rDev -35.1%

08-13-2012 19:57:59 | More by drewone

womencantsail

California

4.1/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Black in color with light carbonation and a tan head. Light to moderate bourbon aroma. Notes of vanilla, oak, char, and roasted malt. Nice dark chocolate and molasses notes. Not that much coffee. Plenty of roast, charred oak, vanilla, and dark chocolate on the palate. Moderate coffee, light bourbon, and a mild molasses sweetness. Very good, one of the top Mikkeller beers I’ve had.

Serving type: bottle

08-07-2012 20:30:16 | More by womencantsail

TonyTalon

Wisconsin

3.75/5  rDev -2.6%

08-06-2012 02:59:36 | More by TonyTalon

MasterSki

Illinois

4.13/5  rDev +7.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Europe edition clocking in at 10.7%. Batch 463, bottled on October 22nd, 2009 and best before the same date in 2014. Thanks to Jeffo for the hookup. Served in a tulip.

A - Creamy mocha foam settles to a thin cap, thick collar, and splotchy lace. Black body, with a glint of brown at the edges. Very viscous and oily.

S - Tons of bourbon character in the aroma, along with oak, vanilla, slightly stale coffee grounds, chocolate, fruity berry notes, and hints of smoke and black olive. Distinctly Scandinavian in flavor profile.

T - Taste has a bit more roast to it, with mild char and smoke amid the coffee, chocolate, bourbon, and oak. Barrel character grows into the finish, and there's some moderate roast bitterness too, but this is fairly restrained for a Mikkeller offering. Still, nowhere as sweet as the aroma suggests.

M - Smooth, medium body, with a chewy, sticky texture, and lower by active carbonation. Some tannic oak and gritty coffee grounds in the finish. Definitely drinks a lot bigger than the base beer, but the 10.7% doesn't stick out too much.

D - Surprisingly enjoyable. I actually preferred this to the Beer Geek Brunch (Bourbon Edition), even though I like that base beer far more than this one. Curious how the American version compares, but would gladly drink the EU edition again. Still, best shared among friends.

Serving type: bottle

05-19-2012 18:29:15 | More by MasterSki

mmurphy525

Nova Scotia (Canada)

3.25/5  rDev -15.6%

04-29-2012 22:38:59 | More by mmurphy525

brotherloco

California

3.48/5  rDev -9.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

500ml bottle. Labeled "Barrel Aged Breakfast". 7.5% ABV. Served in a tulip.

Pours solid dark brown, almost black. Forms a big three finger mocha colored head. Dissipates slowly and lightens in color. Big chunks of lacing left in glass.

Aroma of roasted and chocolate malt. Coffee. A bit of floral hops. I'm not detecting any real barrel presence. Maybe a little bit of oak. There is also a slight band-aid tinge.

A lot more coffee in the flavor than the nose. Roasted bitterness along with a touch of the band-aid I got in the nose. Again, I'm not getting any real barrel presence in the flavor. Maybe a tang from the bourbon and wood. Hop bitterness lingers in the finish and aftertaste.

Body is fairly thin, below medium. Carbonation is mild but supportive.

Decent, but not stunning.

Serving type: bottle

03-18-2012 00:46:23 | More by brotherloco

chrispoint

Connecticut

3.5/5  rDev -9.1%

02-18-2012 17:28:05 | More by chrispoint

AndyAvalanche

Massachusetts

3.95/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

1 pint 9 oz. bottle poured into a Duvel Tulip Style Glass. US version 7.5% alcohol content. Almost completely black in color, slight dark red/brown highlights on the edges where the liquid gets a little thinner, but pretty opaque the whole way through. Dark tan, close to brown colored head, decent lacing and glass retention. Good looking beer.

Smell is good. Much like the original, coffee is a dominant feature. In addition to the coffee there are tones of dark chocolate. Bourbon hints and undertones here as well. Nothing too overwhelming though, it's just there. Not bad, just not very strong.

Taste is a step up. like most Mikkeller beers there's a nice malt backbone here. Fresh dark brewed coffee with more dark fudgey chocolate, the 2 complement each other very nicely. Bourbon a little stronger in the flavor than the smell, not too hot tones of it, not too overwhelming, sort of sweet.

Mouthfeel is another step up, which this area is usually a staple high quality marker with Mikkeller beers. Full flavored and well balanced while being soft and delicate in the feel, quit an accomplishment. Good carbonation level and silky smooth the whole way through. Really just a good beer. Recommended seeking out as most Mikkeller brews. Drink as fresh as possible and serve at room temp. Hope to try the UK version someday!

Serving type: bottle

01-29-2012 04:20:27 | More by AndyAvalanche

kiki3drt292

California

4/5  rDev +3.9%

01-19-2012 18:42:56 | More by kiki3drt292

yourefragile

District of Columbia

3.5/5  rDev -9.1%

01-14-2012 00:07:05 | More by yourefragile

orangesol

Pennsylvania

3.95/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Thanks to foofaa for sharing this one with us.

A - Pours jet black with a small half finger tall tan head leaving spotty lace down the glass.

S - Smells of rich coffee, chocolate, warm bourbon, dark charred wood and some sugary sweetness comes in as it warms.

T - Starts off with quite a bit of dark roast up front slowly giving way to a mix of fresh brewed coffee, chocolate, light smoke, and some warm bourbon. Pretty smooth initially growing a bit watery as it sits in the glass. Finish is roasty with some light sweetness developing as it warms. Booze is fairly well hidden but it does grow as it warms up.

M - Heavy body and flavor with moderate carbonation. Dark, roasty feel with a slight alcohol burn at the end of each sip.

O - Not too bad. I am not sure how much of an improvement this was on the base beer but a good barrel aged stout none the less.

Serving type: bottle

01-11-2012 22:43:08 | More by orangesol

Rickythejeweler

Maryland

4.55/5  rDev +18.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Barrel Aged Breakfast 7.5% abv, 500ml

A - Jet black, 2 and 1/2 finger light brown head, alot of lacing, tons of yeast floating around.

S - Oatmeal, dark chocolate, bourbon, oak.

T - Coffee, oats, milk chocolate, light bourbon, oaky finish.

M - Medium-full bodied, smooth, slightly chewy.

O - A very balanced barrel aged beer, glad I tried it!

Serving type: bottle

01-11-2012 00:50:36 | More by Rickythejeweler

ChrisPro

Illinois

3.85/5  rDev 0%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Bottle thanks to bosse, shared by me at the Mikkeller Sour Bitch release.

A - Dark black, a little mocha head.

S - Strange carob aroma. A bit chemically on the nose as well. Coffee is there, but it's muted.

T - Wow, pretty solid and much better than the aroma wouild indicate. Some nice roasted cofee and ash with sweet milk chocolate and vanilla. Not bad at all.

M - Medium bodied, light carb, no heat.

O - I almost wanted to pour this out after smelling, but the taste more than makes up for it. Pretty solid brew, but I think the base beer suffers from the barrels.

Serving type: bottle

01-09-2012 17:14:51 | More by ChrisPro

Stoffel

Texas

4/5  rDev +3.9%

01-05-2012 21:03:31 | More by Stoffel

mulder1010

Australia

3.43/5  rDev -10.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

500 ML bottle, European version. Waxed and served into a wine glass

Just a normal find at the Big Bargain Discount Bottleshop @Burnie, Tasmania.

A-- Poured a dark, murky, brownish black. Settled black. One finger dark brown/ Mocha colored head. Faded to a light milk chocolate film. Good Head retention but no alcohol legs or lacing with this.

S-- Dairy milk chocolate, some oak, little bit of bourbon and some coffee. Alcohol is much more obvious in the nose and gives off a sort of nail polish smell.

T-- Dairy milk, coffee, oats, slight amounts of bourbon, oak and quite thin.

M-- Slick and finishes slightly acidic dry in the mouth. Do get notes of burnt tires in the mid palate. Barrel notes are pretty well reserved. Better feel than the nose and taste as the oats do help the beer along

O-- Stylistically correct but missing something. maybe that the body is thinner, or maybe the oats make too late a run in this. Just missing something that makes this more than a decent beer.

Serving type: bottle

01-05-2012 11:44:59 | More by mulder1010