Ris A La M'ale - Mikkeller ApS

TheBrewo

Michigan

3.64/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

This beer was served on tap at The Old Toad in Rochester, NY. It arrived in a snifter glowing a reddish cider coloring. It held a film of a white head, leaving creamy spots of lacing as the beverage disappeared. There was a thick haze throughout, with no sediment noted. Carbonation appeared active. The aroma gave pale and chalky grain, light grassy hops, and juicy cherry sweetness. With warmth came additional sweetness of candied apples, brown sugared walnuts, honey, and cooked caramel maltiness. White wine grape musk added sourness to the blend. Our first impression was that there was surprising bitterness to the front, but with a nicer feel and froth accompanying the finish. As we sipped, red apples with a lightly browned quality, big sugary juiciness, cooked brown sugar malts, warming cinnamon, and lactic creaminess started things. The swallow came to a peak of raw honey sugars and green apple skin pucker to balance, with must and mineral water to pull to the finish. Here we were met with paler malts, caramel saltiness, raw cinnamon stick, stark metallic yeastiness, and more and more funky bitterness to the yeast as it warmed. The aftertaste breathed of almond skins, fermented apple bitterness, light oakiness, vanilla bean metallics, and all the dryness, muskiness, and bitter grapeability of a long forgotten Chardonnay in the back of your dusty cellar. The body was light to medium, and the carbonation was higher. There was decent slurp and smack to the sip, with better froth and cream on the follow through of the swallow. Booze dried the tongue with a cooling air, following an initially wet coating. The abv is appropriate, and while this was definitely more of a sipper, it was refreshing by the end.

Overall, the best thing about this beer was the feel, which was actually quite dynamic. At the start things felt a bit thin, which isn’t helped by the tugging pucker of the fruit and musk. By the end of the swallow, however, there was great froth and foam to the back of the throat, helping bolster not only the body, but the fullness of the flavoring. The sourness was also a nice surprise, helping to not only cut, but to help curb that inherent heavy sugariness to the fruit. This is an interesting beer to try, but not something we would reach for every day.

Serving type: on-tap

01-26-2013 00:59:52 | More by TheBrewo

dansmcd

Australia

3.8/5  rDev +7.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

A - Unusual colour, dark pink peach/blodd orange flesh with a thin head and snall fine sheets of lacing.

S - Cherry, bread, vanilla, cream, nuts. Not too powerful but complex.

T - Nice measure of tartness, sour cherry, ginger, almond. Well balanced.

M - Low carbonation, too low it would seem for the style. Light to medium body.

O - Great idea from the gypsy. Worth a go as a desert beer.

Serving type: on-tap

05-17-2012 08:07:04 | More by dansmcd

mltobin

Connecticut

3.85/5  rDev +8.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Served on-tap at Spuyten Duyvil.

Appearance is a light red with pink head. Its` nose has strawberry, malts, a few spices. An interesting aroma, but very fruity and sweet. Taking a sip and I taste strawberry, some raspberry, a bit of sourness . Mouthfeel is medium, some carbonation. Overall, a pretty solid beer and one that I would recommend ordering for a girlfriend that enjoys rose champagne.

Serving type: on-tap

03-04-2012 02:22:03 | More by mltobin

onix1agr

Pennsylvania

3.53/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

On Tap at Khyber Pass Pub for their 1st (56th??) Anniversary party. Poured into a tulip glass.

Mikkeller Ris A La M'ale goes in the glass easy like with a deep red hue bordering on ruby with a white head with the slightest tint of pink, fades quick leaving nothing. The beer looks dead after a bit. Smell is cherry, a lot of it. Some other fruit in the mix with some hard coated candy in the nose after a while. Also get some cream and Indian/Diaper scent with significant wsrming. This is a good representation of the style, similiar in taste like other fruited beers. A vanilla/cream component in the iddle, malt towards the end. Feel is medium with very light carb yet not on the dead side. Sweetness lingers for a bit, almost like a puree sitting on the tounge. A good beer, yet not my style. I would never cop a expensive ass bottle of this, even if I had the money.

Serving type: on-tap

12-01-2011 04:26:58 | More by onix1agr

Knapp85

Pennsylvania

4.33/5  rDev +22.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This poured out on tap at the Trapp Door, it gives off a reddish orange color with a decent looking head on top. The head fades and just leaves a slight ring around the glass. The smell of this beer reminded me of sweet apple cider and some spice. The taste is also sweet and spicy, really nice for a finisher or a night cap. The mouthfeel has a medium body to it along with a light carbonation. Overall I feel that Mikkeller strikes again with another really interesting brew. I can people not enjoying this but if you have it at the proper time of the day I feel that it will not the spot. I would be interested in having this one again some day.

Serving type: on-tap

11-23-2011 00:38:48 | More by Knapp85

MsRif

Pennsylvania

2.98/5  rDev -15.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Had on-tap at the Trapp Door in Emmaus, PA. Poured an orange-red color that sort of reminded me of a Shirley Temple. Thin off-white head that quickly fizzled away leaving no lacing. Had an aroma of sour fruits, yeast and sugar. Taste was not very impressive. Sweet, yeasty, and tart fruits. I seriously did not get any almond taste from this brew.

Light to medium in body, with a bit of a syrupy feel. High carbonation. I pretty much left my husband to drink this one as I was not a fan, really. Not terrible, but not really worth it.

Serving type: on-tap

11-20-2011 15:26:31 | More by MsRif

Rifugium

Pennsylvania

3.08/5  rDev -13%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

First had: on tap at Trapp Door, Emmaus, PA

Poured a hazy orange-red with a small layer of off-white bubbles straggling on the top; no real head/retention/lacing to speak of. Tart aroma of ripe fruits, bready yeast, and light sugars. Taste was...not quite as good as I'd expect from the description, really. Sweet sugars up front, melded with bready yeast, tones of subdued cherries, over-ripe melon, and perhaps a touch of almond essence as an afterthought. Medium-bodied, chewy, a bit filmy. Maybe good for a one-time glass, but not something I'd see myself getting again.

Serving type: on-tap

11-20-2011 15:21:32 | More by Rifugium

glid02

Georgia

3.58/5  rDev +1.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

On-tap at Leon's Full Service in Atlanta.

Pours a slightly hazy golden-copper color with a 1.5-finger slightly off-white head. The head recedes into a thin layer on top leaving solid lacing.

Smells interesting - light malts with a good deal of ripe and slightly tart cherries. Also present are hints of nuttiness, but it's not something I'd associate with almonds specifically.

Tastes similar to how it smells. Light pale malt flavors kick things off and are joined quickly by solid amounts of slightly tart cherry flavors. Midway through the sip the yeast cleans things up a bit and smooths out the flavor profile as the cherry flavors fade and it becomes more like a BSPA. Near the end of the sip hints of shaved almond flavors come into play, quickly fading into a moderately bitter ending.

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

Drinkability is OK. I didn't have any problems finishing this beer however I'm not sure about another.

Overall the cherries and almonds were not as intense as I was expecting and the base beer was actually quite good - it reminded me slightly of USAlive. Worth seeking out for curiousity's sake but don't get your hopes up.

Serving type: on-tap

01-21-2011 14:18:01 | More by glid02

johnmichaelsen

Oregon

3.63/5  rDev +2.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

On tap at Max's tonight.

The beer pours a slightly reddish amber orange color with good head retention and considerable lacing. The nose is likewise attractive, showcasing sprite, orange citrus and light cherry. The flavors replicate the nose fairly closely, though its a bit light and watery. There's also something of a metallic taste on the finish that I don't understand and don't really like. Mouthfeel is fairly light, and as already noted, it has something of a watery finish. Drinkability is OK, but this beer just isn't interesting or fun enough to be called very drinkable. Mehhh...

Serving type: on-tap

12-16-2010 23:51:30 | More by johnmichaelsen

WVbeergeek

Ohio

4.21/5  rDev +18.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

Pink tinted head and body more cherry brown hues in the body with hints of glowing amber....fine bubbled Belgian style lacing. Aroma has tart cherries malt forward bread and a mild nutty finish. It's one you sip when you really taste the almond skins, and earthiness with tart cherries in the finish complex fine ale I'm glad this was my locals last bottle. Brewed at De Proef, you can smell and taste the BELGIAN influence here friends. Earthy cherry cider with hints of almond think a high class amaretto liquor blended in your favorite Belgian sour ale. Mouthfeel is fine with the carbonation light flowing bubbles with a textured hint of syrup from residual sugars left behind in fermentation overall classic sour ale, I'm glad Mikkeller showed that he does have some finesse.

Serving type: bottle

05-04-2013 01:09:52 | More by WVbeergeek

ngeunit1

California

4.16/5  rDev +17.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Hazy copper-brown with a finger of frothy off-white head. Fades fairly slowly.

S - Sweet caramel malts, cherries, almonds, and some bready malts.

T - Sweet caramel and biscuity malts, cherries with a touch of sourness, almonds, some residual sugars.

M - Medium bodied with moderate carbonation. Smooth with a sweet, warming finish.

D - Nice fruit beer. Good overall balance and mouthfeel.

Serving type: bottle

01-31-2013 04:00:51 | More by ngeunit1

StonedTrippin

Colorado

4.05/5  rDev +14.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

super cool beer, like no other that i am aware of in existance. it has a pleasant pale pink color to it, with majorly active carbonation accumulating a few inches of bubbly almost see through head. the nose is more cherry than anything, yeasty too, with a saison sort of wildness to it, and an essentially nonexistant malt smell and taste. the almonds kind of vill the void left by the light malt, adding a unique and not so subtle nutty quality, with almost a vanilla and wood essence, although the cherry is the star of the show here, not sweet, not tart, just very flavorful and ripe. the yeast ties everything together, and the alcohol is barely there. it has a mouthfeel like champagne, effervescent, light, semisweet, but dry also. could gladly drink a bunch of these, which i rarely say of a fruit beer. classic stuff from mikkeller here, worth the price (i hate to say), of 15 odd bucks for a 12.7oz. bottle. its too interesting to pass up. also a beer your non hop loving girlfriend might get into...

Serving type: bottle

01-26-2013 20:19:54 | More by StonedTrippin

AgentMunky

Alabama

3.93/5  rDev +11%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a paper-wrapped 375mL bottle into an Allagash cervoise glass. Brewed at De Proef Bouwerj. Stamped 8891208.

A: A careless pour nets an overflux of lightly pinkish head which I'm compelled to siphon away. The beer is clear golden-brown, the color of unfiltered honey. Heavy, sticky lacing.

S: This smells like something, though what I could not say. No, wait, it actually smells like Heineken. Ugh.

T/M: The head taste great! Light yeast, tart cherries, and a subtle aftertaste of amaretto. The beer is similar, with a light tang and noticeable almond flavor. The beer is smooth and light, almost wine-like. The finish is moreish and smackworthy.

O: I really enjoyed this Mikkeller effort, and don't really understand the low ratings. I would have another, recommend, and generally approve. Well-made and interesting!

Serving type: bottle

01-04-2013 06:40:09 | More by AgentMunky

Mebuzzard

Colorado

3.45/5  rDev -2.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Note: This bottle is about 1 year old, kept in cold fridge

Pours a dark pink with pinkish white head. Foamed up to about 2 fingers, laced a bit as it drank.

Aroma of black cherries, Bing cherries, soft biscuit and some nuttiness.

Flavors are just as the nose. Cherries and nuts. The fruit isn't all up in yo face, and the sweetness is subtle. The almonds tame this down a bit and give a smoothness. Quite the contrast to those fruit beers that use syrups.

Feels a tad flat. A bit more bubble would help liven up that smoothness on the end.

Serving type: bottle

12-06-2012 21:12:26 | More by Mebuzzard

DoktorZee

Alberta (Canada)

3.58/5  rDev +1.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a 375ml bottle into a tulip. Best before date is 31/08/14 on the back of the bottle.

A - red-amber hued beer, slightly cloudy, with a fluffy tan head that erupts fairly large, and then dissipates quickly leaving some head around the edge of the glass and some thin contiguous lacing

S - sweet fruit on the nose; hard to place as it's intermingled with some cakey malt, perhaps sour cherry

T - definitely some sour cherry notes in the initial attack, and less of a sweet malt finish than I would have expected. It's slightly tart in the finish with cherry and gooseberry without a significant malt breakthrough. More subtle and sour than I had expected. This does change slightly as it warms and it becomes a bit richer and sweeter in the finish.

M - light medium body with medium carbonation. No hint of alcohol at all, which is impressive given it's an 8% beer.

Not quite what I expected, as I was thinking this would be a "sweet pudding" beer, with a hint of almonds, but I couldn't find them, and instead the overall flavor was powered large by sour cherry notes. Not a bad beer by any stretch, but somewhat less complex than I had expected. It did improve with some warming, so don't be shy about letting it sit for a while. A decent Christmas beer, but not one that will keep you warm at night.

Serving type: bottle

11-21-2012 04:42:18 | More by DoktorZee

Infamous7100

Ohio

3.48/5  rDev -1.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A:Pours a beautiful deep ruby with huge off white head. Great lacing. Hazy body.
S: Spot on what the label says. Notes of sliced almonds and cherries are easily detected. Seems to get a tad nuttier as it warms. Kinds reminds me of cherrie pie.
T: very complex. The tart cherries are evident throughout and plays nicely with the almond overtones. Slightly bittersweet finish. Interesting to say the least.
M: Kudos! Thick and creamy. Very smooth. Fair amount of cabonation. It's got an above average body.
O: interesting brew. I dig the cherry/almond nose a lot, but can't quite decide on the taste. Seems to get more sour/tart as it warms, but I feels it need a little more sweetness. Worth a try, but not sure I will keep coming back to it.

Serving type: bottle

11-17-2012 03:22:15 | More by Infamous7100

GONZALOYANNA

Spain

4/5  rDev +13%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

375ml bottle. Timmermans Flute glass. Enjoyed on jul´12 -funny no-planned tasting session in good company at the Freiburg- (Thanks to Robert -the best nose on this side of the bar- & Manolo –deluxe barman). Pours bright reddish amber, cherry-like to the light. Chill haze. White crown. Nice spots & fairly good retention. Aromas of rice, lactis, vanilla, berries & green almond. Funny sweet maltiness & raspberry hues. Low hoppiness. Gentle & refreshing sensation. Light body. Moderate to high carbonation. Watery but flavorful texture. Undelying warming alcohol masked by fruitness in the middle. Mildy toasted malty & sweet finish. Well balanced beer.

Serving type: bottle

08-01-2012 01:07:30 | More by GONZALOYANNA

superspak

Michigan

3.8/5  rDev +7.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

375 ml bottle into tulip glass, 2011 release. Pours lightly hazy reddish orange color with a nice 2-3 finger dense cream colored head with great retention, that reduces to a nice cap that lasts. Some decent spotty lacing clings to the glass. Aromas of cherry skin, cherry juice, toast, biscuit, caramel, earth, nuttiness, herbal, and light yeast spiciness. Pretty nice and pleasant aromas, but they are a bit weak. Taste of cherry juice, toast, biscuit, nuttiness, caramel, herbal, earth, pepper, and yeast spiciness. Light fruity tartness on the finish; with lingering notes of cherry, toast, biscuit, nuttiness, earth, herbal, pepper, and light yeast spiciness on the finish for a bit. Very nice balance of malty fruit flavors with peppery spiciness. Medium carbonation and body; with a fairly slick, syrupy, and lightly prickly mouthfeel that is nice. Alcohol is very well hidden with only a slight warming noticed after the finish. Overall this is a very nice Belgian style fruit beer. Nice balance and complexity; and very smooth to sip on. Very pleasant and enjoyable offering.

Serving type: bottle

07-22-2012 06:14:11 | More by superspak

facundoCNB

New Jersey

3.43/5  rDev -3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

an odd looking pour - a deep ruby in color with 2 fingers of foamy off white head and great lacing from it. very subtle scent of cherry.. somw wine like grape smell as well, not really getting much else out of it. tastes fruity sweet up front, definitely tasting cherries (tart) with an almond paste (marzipan) backbone... i LOVE marzipan! as far as fruit beers go, i've had better cherry flavored ones (belgian red, cerise, hanami ale), however this one is unique with its slight nuttyness in the background.
medium body with a nice creamy feel to it, low carbonation makes for a very easy pour down the hatch. slightly tart as well, which makes you a bit thirstier!

this is my first beer from mikkeller, and i'm not ALL THAT impressed. i was expecting a lot more almond flavor, but i don't really taste it. it does come in a cool looking bottle though with a fancy white paper wrap around. we'll see how their other beers pull through.

Serving type: bottle

07-07-2012 05:36:07 | More by facundoCNB

dbrauneis

New Jersey

3.83/5  rDev +8.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A: Pours a slightly hazy garnet red with orange highlights in color and some very light amounts of visible carbonation. The beer has a finger tall creamy pinkish off-white head that has great retention properties - the head reduces to a thick film and a thicker ring at the edges of the glass. Significant lacing is observed.

S: Aromas of sour cherries along with a strong presence of almonds. Slightly sweet with some extremely light amounts of funkiness.

T: The beer starts out kind of sweet with some cherry fruit, then the cherry sourness takes over. The almond presence comes out in the finish with some light bitterness. There is a very slight amount of funk and vinous notes.

M: On the lighter side of medium bodied with moderate to heavy amounts of carbonation. Creamy and smooth which is unexpected for the style.

O: Very unique in appearance with an unusual combination of flavors that was successful. Enjoyable and I'm really glad that I tried this one even if it is not the easiest to drink.

Serving type: bottle

05-12-2012 23:56:52 | More by dbrauneis

metter98

New York

3.53/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A: The beer is hazy red in color and has a light amount of visible carbonation. It poured with a quarter finger high light pink/beige head that has excellent retention properties and consistently left a small head covering the surface.
S: There are light to moderate aromas of almonds and cherries in the nose.
T: The taste is similar to the smell and has some malty sweetness.
M: The feels medium-bodied and very smooth and a bit creamy on the palate with a moderate amount of carbonation.
O: This beer hides its alcohol and has some nice flavors that make this an interesting beer to sip.

Serving type: bottle

05-12-2012 20:54:43 | More by metter98

biboergosum

Alberta (Canada)

2.83/5  rDev -20.1%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

375ml bottle. Brewed with cherries and almonds, though you would have to decipher the Danish-only labeling on the bottles shipped to Canada to know that. Not Mikkeller's fault, however, the distributor, WTF?

This beer pours a cloudy, sediment-specked medium orange-amber hue, with two fingers of puffy, rocky pink-tinged head, which leaves some crooked webbed lacing around the glass as it evenly subsides.

It smells mildly of sauced cherries, and a bit of caramel maltiness - nothing very much to reel you in. Anyways, the taste is sugared sour cherries, bready caramel malt, some earthy woody notes, perhaps a but nutty, but indistinct at that, and a very subtle gurgling booziness.

The bubbles are not present in any appreciable amount, the body a dodgy medium weight, and a bit too cloying to deserve any smoothness accolades. It finishes off-dry, the seemingly artificially sweetened cherries still running the show, tempered mostly by an herbal hop dryness.

After the initial sleuthing required to determine just what this beer is intended to be, I anticipated the almond adjunct greatly - would it be straight ahead oily nuttiness? Some nice marzipan notes? Nope, just a muddled, if inoffensive and ambitious, example of a fruit beer. Not really worth the $10+ this goes for around here.

Serving type: bottle

03-31-2012 21:59:37 | More by biboergosum

redleaves

Maine

4.35/5  rDev +22.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Funny red color, never seen a beer that's red, amber and cloudy all at the same time. Lots of yeast came through even on a careful pour. Nose isn't really there, I expected more than a light grain smell. Taste is wonderful, cherries but not tart, I think this is thanks to the almonds. Others say they don't taste the almonds but the creamy edge the cherries get is from that. I'm glad I drank this for dessert though. Very full flavor, amaretto, caramel, and grain. Like a cake of some sort. Carbonation is perfect full enough to keep off any cloying sweetness, no detectable hops apart from offsetting sweetness, but maybe that's the almonds. Well done, my first mikkeller due to the prices but this one is certainly worth it!

Serving type: bottle

03-19-2012 05:06:59 | More by redleaves

tobelerone

New Jersey

3.8/5  rDev +7.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Seems like I liked this one a bit more than the community as a whole; it’s pretty simple, easy drinking, and went well with pizza after a long and tough day on all accounts.

Pink-hued body, nearly clear, smallish head that falls pretty quickly. Spritzy carbonation, light body; thin cherry tartness; both sweet and sour aspects are fairly restrained. Almonds are nearly undetectable, which was unfortunate, would have liked to taste them a lot more assertively. Cherry is stronger in the nose than in the taste. Almonds emerge very subtly in the slightly bitter finish. Refreshing but a little forgettable; my biggest complaint about this beer is probably the 7-8 dollar price tag; if this was a 2 dollar beer I’d buy it often. It’s not going to blast your tastebuds with cherries, sourness, or anything else; perhaps a bit watery overall. I still liked it.

Serving type: bottle

03-14-2012 16:26:45 | More by tobelerone

wordemupg

Alberta (Canada)

3.58/5  rDev +1.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

375ml bottle poured into tulip 12/3/12

A murky pinky orange with a slightly pink foam two fingers deep, just enough clarity too see loads of pin prick bubbles feeding the foam that leaves random spider web lacing

S smell like a nutty cherry tootsie roll, that's the best description my mind can grasp

T some earthy twiggy notes that I just can't place with a little tea bag perhaps on top of the nutty cherry tootsie roll I could smell, I wont lie I don't quite understand this one but its decent

M slight heat, a little sticky and sweet, slightly sour and a little syrupy

O something different that's for sure, not really sure what this brew is supposed to be but I didn't mind it

like I just mentioned I really don't know what type of beer this is but I found it interesting nonetheless, I won't be stocking up on this one but it was worth a shot

Serving type: bottle

03-13-2012 06:11:59 | More by wordemupg