Hoppy Lovin' Christmas - Mikkeller ApS

Mikkayller

Colorado

3.58/5  rDev -9.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.75

I felt like this beer could have been a little bit stronger in the pine and ginger, although I did get more of an herbal pine flavor than a ginger one. However the nose was more of a ginger than pine. The ginger gave it a bit of a citrus tone that was quite bitter but sweet. The taste would linger on the back of your tongue and slowly melt down your throat. Smell was ok, it smelled like an IPA, nothing special. I would have liked to have more of the pine sense come through. Overall it was a good beer though.

Serving type: bottle

05-13-2013 23:20:04 | More by Mikkayller

StonedTrippin

Colorado

3.73/5  rDev -5.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

a curious ipa brewed with ginger and pine needles for Christmas time, probably a little bit past its prime. the pour is a pretty clear golden to orange color with an inch or so of thick white froth that laves some spider web lacing as it drinks. the nose is sweet like hop resin, but the bitterness and hop intensity appears to have decayed a bit. the ginger is present, but im struggling to pick out the pine needles in the aroma. the flavor is a big sticky west coast style ipa, lacking mikkellers usual interesting use of yeast. its pretty straightforward with a touch of fresh ginger on the front of the tongue and a faint pine flavor that could easily be attributed to the hops themselves and not the addition of pine needles. the flavor is good and all, I was just hoping for a uch more accentuated pine element. fuller body, sappy and wet from the hops, slow moving carbonation keeps it that way. finish is a little sweet and quite long. I might have liked this more around holiday time and when it was fresh, but for now its a very confused ipa with the alcohol strength boring a big hole right through the center of it. good not great.

Serving type: bottle

05-13-2013 19:16:05 | More by StonedTrippin

mick303

Ontario (Canada)

4.15/5  rDev +4.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Poured a bright orange gold colour, good finger or so of soapy white head. Good lacing and retention, nice carbonation. Looks good.

Smell is full of hops, juicy grapefruit, lot of fresh pine comes across. Some damp malt, damp towels and smoke? Some spiciness, pepper, ginger blends into the pine, some smoky charcoal. More towards the hops, but tons of interesting stuff here. Dry ginger spice as it warms.

Taste has a satisfying pine and grapefruit, orange, banana, medicinal hops. Malt is biscuity and moderate, providing a balance to the intense hops. A sort of gingery smokiness comes through that is mildly medicinal. A nice dry bitterness at the end, with a good deal of herbal and slightly medicinal hops.

Mouthfeel has a slick alcohol feel, with a strong carbonation, a pretty big body, but it drinks quite smoothly. Finish is dry. The alcohol doesn't really come through too much, and this has a good classic IIPA slick hoppy feel. Delich.

A really nice all-rounder IIPA, great flavours coming across and while it is perhaps a bit unbalanced, I quite enjoy it. A big bold beer, with the pine quite prominent and the ginger playing a background spicy role, all works quite well together. Agree that the carbonation could be decreased, it is a really enjoyable IPA that I hope to have again. Outstanding.

Serving type: bottle

03-01-2013 16:59:23 | More by mick303

ngeunit1

California

4.16/5  rDev +5.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Slightly hazy golden-orange with a finger of frothy white head. Fades medium.

S - Grapefruit, orange, floral, pine hops, pine needles, caramel and biscuit malts, ginger, lemon zest.

T - Grapefruit, orange, citrus, pine, floral hops, some mildly resiny bitterness, caramel and biscuit malts, pine needles, lemon zest, ginger, hint of booze.

M - Medium-plus bodied moderate carbonation. Smooth with a dry, bitter, and sweet finish.

D - Nice hoppy IPA. Pine needles are a nice addition.

Serving type: bottle

01-19-2013 23:42:05 | More by ngeunit1

JednoPivoProsim

Maryland

4.4/5  rDev +11.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a 1 PT 9.4 FL OZ bottle into a pint glass. No discernible bottled on/best by date although plain white bottle cap has printed number 8901209. INDIA PALE ALE BREWED WITH GINGER AND PINE NEEDLES.

Appearance: Pours a pilsneresque golden body with a HUGE soap bubble doughy head. This one almost bubbled over. Ever so slightly cloudy. Consistent carbonation. Great lacing.

Smell: Immediate pine and hoppy aroma upon popping the bottle cap. Smells very fresh, but the pine aroma dominates. Is this coming from the standard DIPA hop dosage or the pine needles? I have yet to detect any ginger in the aroma.

Taste: Not as piney as the aroma would suggest. Still no ginger as far as I can tell. It tastes great, I'm just having a hard time identifying specific flavors as the mouthfeel is a little wacky. Wait, I do get some pine needle flavor and bready pale malts as this warms up little by little. Reminds me a bit of Dogfish Head brews that tend toward the experimental with experimental ingredients. Drinkability is great though for a 7.8% ABV beer. I always love me a pale ale or pale lager that drinks easy.

Mouthfeel: This is the only area where this beer falls down for me. Way too carbonated, almost soda-like, which masks a lot of the flavor in my opinion. Some increase in temperature and aeration helps out a lot. The other issue is an initial slight medicinal aftertaste.

Overall: Overall I really like this and I am so happy to have tried this. I received this 750ml as a gift for Christmas. I have read a fair amount here and there about Mikkeller and what fascinates is both the fact that this is a gypsy brewer, but also a foreign (specifically European) brewer that is making great American-style craft and experimental beers. My only other direct experience with gypsy brewing is having bought some Stillwater 750ml bottles as gifts for others, obviously a more "local" brewer however. As I final note as I put away the second half of this bottle, I recently reviewed my 110 or so BA beer reviews and the top 10+ or so are all pale ales and pale lagers. Give me bready malts and plenty of hops or give me death!

Serving type: bottle

01-05-2013 00:45:08 | More by JednoPivoProsim

hosehead83

Ohio

4.33/5  rDev +9.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a "bomber" bottle into a wine goblet.
Cloudy apricot in color, with a billowy head of off-white foam
Aroma-Big whiff of juicy citrus hops
Taste-Mango/tangerine/ruby red grapefruit with a subtle malt base for balance. Ginger and earthy Belgian spices add character and nuance. A citrus-rind bitterness follows to the end, reminding you that yes, this is an IPA after all. Very tasty and drinkable, a hop-head must-try.

Serving type: bottle

01-01-2013 16:25:18 | More by hosehead83

beergoot

Colorado

4.45/5  rDev +12.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Solid gold body crowned with a thick, rocky, creamy white head; lots of sticky lacing on the glass. Finely balanced malt and hop aroma; caramel, biscuit; sourdough toast, honey; lemon. Smooth caramel and soft, roasted malt flavors with a great hop bitterness from the middle to finish. Smooth, creamy texture; medium-body; semi-dry finish.

A well-rounded, very fine IIPA. Malt and hops work well together and keep the alcohol presence well-hidden in the background.

Serving type: bottle

01-01-2013 00:07:20 | More by beergoot

tempest

Pennsylvania

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

On-tap at Spuyten Duyvil. I'll admit I usually favor DIPAs that are all hops, but this is a well-crafted DIPA that makes the most of its barley. The hops are big, but a little old school in the sense that it's classic American grapefruit-citrus hops without super bright juice or floral notes. It sort of tastes like a stronger SN Celebration Ale. The malts bring a smooth, slightly bready taste, which by my palate put this closer to an American barleywine than any other style. It's a little thick for the strength, but it's also nice to have a sip-worthy beer that doesn't knock you out with alcohol after a second glass. Check it out if you can.

Serving type: on-tap

12-31-2012 22:13:51 | More by tempest

jzeilinger

Pennsylvania

3.38/5  rDev -14.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

A - Pours a clear, medium orange color with moderate carbonation and a dense one fingered frothy head.

S - Aroma is weak - light oranges, caramel, and floral.

T - Light caramel and pine with some light orange tang at the very end with mild pine bitterness, overall well balanced.

M - Medium body with mild carbonation and a smooth finish.

O - Meh. Mikkeller continues to disappoint, especially for the price point.

Serving type: bottle

12-31-2012 02:06:35 | More by jzeilinger

OWSLEY069

Pennsylvania

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

Pours a hazy orange-ish to yellow color with an off white head. In the aroma, citrus hops and a small candy sugar presence. In the taste, orange citrus to pine like hops. A small hop bite and a medium bodied mouthfeel, with a dry citrus hop in the aftertaste. Big hops, especially citrus, very good!

Serving type: bottle

12-29-2012 18:00:10 | More by OWSLEY069

thefilmcake

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

This beer pours with a hazy amber body and a thick head. It offers a hoppy smell with an emphasis on the scent of pine needles. Those same pine notes return in the taste. The brightness of the ginger is followed by the hoppy bitterness in the end. The mouthfeel starts out with a very carbonated start but then ends with a creamy smoothness by the end. This beer feels like a cold winter evening amid a forest of pines.

Serving type: bottle

12-28-2012 14:02:26 | More by thefilmcake

Gavage

New Jersey

3.93/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance: pours a clear orange color with a big 3" head that lasts a long time. Nice lace sticks to the glass during the session.

Smell: orange and floral hops are the main aromatic components.

Taste: big caramel, orange, some grapefruit, a hint of pine, and a nice bitterness creates a well balanced beer.

Mouthfeel: medium-heavy in body. Lightly crisp to start, a bit smoother at the finish. Long lasting aftertaste here.

Overall: this is a slow sipping DIPA that warms and refreshes. A very drinkable beer.

Serving type: bottle

12-27-2012 01:35:24 | More by Gavage

kojevergas

California

3.1/5  rDev -21.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

750ml brown glass bottle with standard pressure cap served into a conical Guinness pint glass in me gaff in high altitude Castle Rock, Colorado. Reviewed live. Expectations are above average given the brewery

Served straight from the refrigerator. Side-poured with standard vigor as no carbonation issues are anticipated.

A: Pours a beige colour head of slight cream, okay thickness, and decent retention. Body colour is a transparent pale copper. No yeast particles are visible. No bubble show.

Sm: Good. Hoppy with floral character. Nectary. Citrus injection. An above average strength aroma.

T: Floral hop notes, nectary hops, some orange citrus notes. A bit simple for the style, but balanced and enjoyable. Pale malts.

Mf: Smooth and wet. Complements the flavour well. Good carbonation and palate presence.

Dr: Drinkable and enjoyable. Hides its ABV well. I wouldn't get it again, but it's a tasty refreshing flavorful IPA.

Low C+

Serving type: bottle

12-24-2012 02:37:03 | More by kojevergas

northyorksammy

Ontario (Canada)

3.9/5  rDev -1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Aromatic and Substantive hoppiness buffered by spice particularly ginger. Bitterness from pine needles. I am well near spice tasted-out, and so the drinkability is just Ok. Still a decent and complex beer. Above average mouthfeel. Foamy head and lace.

Serving type: bottle

12-23-2012 03:35:17 | More by northyorksammy

BEERchitect

Kentucky

3.95/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Mikkel will use any excuse to release another IPA. This time, Christmas isn't only the season, but also the reason.

With a somewhat murky pour which leads to a dense appearance, the beer releases a creamy off white foam that caps the beer with tremendous staying power and strong lace. Its coppery orange color only reinforces the stern IPA look.

Much like many other Mikkeller IPAs, the aromas captures a deeply earthy scent with citrus, pine, and grass. Backed by floral-fruity sweetness and biscuit, the malts seem to make a big mark on the beer and nearly pulls the hops into balance. Lightly peppery, some Belgian-esque roots start to show.

Rich malt taste coats the mouth with notions of light caramel, honey, and starchy biscuit malt. Hop flavor rises close behind with the taste of white grapefruit, dried lemons, and tropical melon and mango. As the malt-hop balance crosses the middle palate, the hop bitterness develops with the resinous taste of pine, sharp grasses, and cannabis. Its late palate continues to bring out earthy and spicy notes of lemon pepper, cumin, and weathered woods. It's a complex taste that is certainly hop-focused but there's a lot of rustic taste that seems born out of Belgium.

Medium bodied, the beer's biscuit quality offers a dry-bitter mouthfeel that keeps the hops from complete dominance, as is typical from American versions. But as the creamy carbonation recedes, so does the malt presence- leaving the beer to finish resinous, dry, warm, and mildly acidic.

Hoppy Lovin' Christmas is a very pleasant and comforting ale with multitudes of complexity to entice the palate. But if you are looking for a different taste than any other Mikkeller IPA, then its not likely to be found. With little actual "Christmas" taste, the beer is simply very similar to all others from the gypsy brewery.

Serving type: on-tap

12-22-2012 18:24:40 | More by BEERchitect

CrazyDavros

Australia

3.85/5  rDev -2.8%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Pours amber with a small head.
Nose shows heavy caramel and resinous hops. Pine underneath. Very malty aroma.
Pretty malty flavours too. More pine and resin, but lots of sweet clean malt balancing things out. Assertive bitterness in the finish but the malt wins out.

Serving type: on-tap

12-20-2012 11:47:25 | More by CrazyDavros

StaveHooks

Oklahoma

3.83/5  rDev -3.3%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Pours a hazy apricot with a thick and dense white head. The foam is dense and has stellar retention lacing.

S - Ginger, perfume floral notes, dried pine needles, citrus peel, honey bread,

T - Strong pungent hops are heavy handed, pine oils, spicy ginger, citrus zest, bitter citrus pith, strong bready yeast presence as well. Honey malt sweetness, spicy and bitter on the finish.

M - Full bodied, thick velvety feel, creamy carbonation.

Good use of ginger, it adds without overpowering. Thick yeasty mouthfeel makes this feel homey and great balance of hop flavor, bitter, and aroma. Good stuff.

Serving type: bottle

12-19-2012 23:22:22 | More by StaveHooks

joemcgrath27

Alberta (Canada)

4/5  rDev +1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - lightly hazy bright golden, two fingers of head retained nicely and left some random spot lacing
S - tropical citrus followed by pine, floral, light grain and spice
T - perfume and piney hops up front with some citrus, hint of ginger bread sweetness, definitely a unique spin
M - light with solid carbonation, mild bitterness, alcohol is sneaky, just a tad dry
O - the ginger spice is gentle but does make this a unique DIPA, not mind blowing but a solid drinkable brew that is worth a try or two

Serving type: bottle

12-17-2012 00:54:50 | More by joemcgrath27

russpowell

Oklahoma

4.18/5  rDev +5.6%
look: 5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours amber/honey with 3+ fingers of rocky cream colored head. Superior head retention & lacing

S: Grapefruit rind, light breadyness & pine, nose was a little subdued

T: Big citrus up front, grapefruit, orange peel lemons & then some piney & a bit bready sweetness & some ginger sweetness/spicyness. Tons of grapefruit & pine as this warms, some pineapple as well, a little bit of mineral dryness, a touch of honey sweetness. Big pine needle bite in the finish, grapefruit & little ginger snap, just a little aspirin leaking in at the end to make me not give this a 5.0

MF: Medium bodied, light carbonation, good balance to this

This lives up to its billing, very hoppy. I really enjoyed this one

Serving type: bottle

12-16-2012 03:37:05 | More by russpowell

stephens101

Oklahoma

3.33/5  rDev -15.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

An off-white billowy head fills up the tulip quickly; jumping beyond the rim with a flurry of bubble activity. After a slow fade a significant lacing is all that is left atop the this pale orange brew.

Has a striking herbal and citrus hoppiness to the nose. Tastes malty and grainy with the bitterness enveloping afterward. A little gummy sweetness at the bottom and some light fruits at the end. Aroma and flavor profile is quite nondescript.

Medium bodied with little to no discernible alcohol heat. Goes down way smooth for a DIPA.

Nothing to get worked up about here either way, and sometimes playing it safe is the best approach.

Serving type: bottle

12-13-2012 00:49:50 | More by stephens101

Jayli

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev +1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Had on tap at Stout 12/5
Served in a tulip

A: This beer pours a hazy copper, amberish color with a two finger of frothy off white head. Head retains nicely on this one leaving big, sticky sheets of lacing behind.

S: Nose is orange peel citrus, some ginger notes, and a good deal of piney hops.

T: Taste starts with a healthy doseage of big juicy, piney notes. Orange peel, and a touch of mango and apple come in through the middle. Finish has a nice caramel sweetness with just a hint of grapefruit bitterness.

M: Medium body, medium carbonation, nice smooth feel with a dry finish.

O: Goes down easy, very tasty, somewhat fillnig, decent kick and a very nice representation of style. I was hesitant to try this beer, but the bartender offered a taste and I had to have it.

Serving type: on-tap

12-11-2012 17:34:45 | More by Jayli

wordemupg

Alberta (Canada)

3.68/5  rDev -7.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

330ml bottle poured into tulip 26/11/12 from notes

A hazy copperish orange with lots of tiny suspended particles and a massive 3 finger foam that leaves a random chunky mess on the side of my glass before it turns to an eraser top island

S apple juice is the first thing that hits my nose, some pine, grapefruit and ginger followed up with a little caramel, some yeast as it warms

T citrus and pine work well with the toffee but the ginger takes away from the IPA aspect if that makes any sense, some spice I can't place

M a little gritty with a bitter kick, well carbonated with a rindy finish

O I want to love the taste and smell but there's something holding it back, strong spicy ginger and a strange yeast profile, that being said the booze is well hidden and its an interesting take on an IPA

I think the novelty of this one is holding it back, leave the "Christmas" out of this one and I might really like it

Serving type: bottle

12-11-2012 06:32:44 | More by wordemupg

smcolw

Massachusetts

4.15/5  rDev +4.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Huge (4/5 of glass) head. Steadily settles with a tight dome and plenty of large spots of lace. The liquid is hazy with a gold color

Relatively mild, floral hop aroma, particularly for this style.

Solid malt start, but a strong grapefruit-like bitterness takes over, leading to a long, long aftertaste. The body is full and the carbonation is below average. Classic full-flavored
DIPA.

Serving type: bottle

12-02-2012 19:28:05 | More by smcolw

biboergosum

Alberta (Canada)

3.95/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

330ml bottle. It's technically December now, so Christmas beer it is!

This beer pours a mostly clear, medium golden yellow hue, with two fingers of tightly foamy, somewhat creamy off-white head, which leaves a decent array of specked painted lace around the glass as it slowly abates.

It smells of pineapple, orange cream, aged grapefruit flesh, a bit of sugary caramel malt, and that pine tree you just dragged up the stairs, to the 'special' corner in the living room. The taste is bitter tropical fruit, kind of a mash-up between pineapple rind and grapefruit pith, velvety pine needles, like when you first unzip the tent on a cool mountain morning, a sturdy caramel/toffee malt backbone, and some tame sugary alcohol warming.

The carbonation is a bit crackling at first, but settles down soon enough, the body a wavering medium weight, and smooth, but with a hoppy ride-along, which really isn't all that supportive in that regard. It finishes mostly sweet, the rather saccharine malt carrying the day, even with the lingering pine and citrus notes.

A nice, beginner's DIPA, with a more than slight Christmas forest essence. Drinkable, right alongside the rum and eggnog, for a more boreal seasonal experience.

Serving type: bottle

12-01-2012 19:39:49 | More by biboergosum

RaulMondesi

California

3.3/5  rDev -16.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Yep! Did it again. Out of a bottle at tha joint: The Playground in DTSA.

Yeah, so the Great Dane done brewed him some spruce juice. N yeah, I had some. I get it; a lil different, a lil crazy, a lil good. But that maeks Raul think... Yeah, it's aite. Yeah, it's defi different. But overall, it don't make me want to come back. Glad I tried it, but peace!

Serving type: bottle

11-30-2012 07:13:34 | More by RaulMondesi