Hop Burn High
Mikkeller ApS

Hop Burn HighHop Burn High
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From:
Mikkeller ApS
 
Denmark
Style:
Imperial IPA
ABV:
10%
Score:
88
Avg:
3.91 | pDev: 12.53%
Reviews:
40
Ratings:
134
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Aug 18, 2019
Added:
Dec 27, 2011
Wants:
  4
Gots:
  12
The same malts and hops were also used for the imperial pilsner "Hop Burn Low".
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Ratings by CalgaryFMC:
Photo of CalgaryFMC
Reviewed by CalgaryFMC from Canada (AB)

3.95/5  rDev +1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Bottle (cute label) poured into a tulip glass. A dark orange-bronze hue with the typical Mikkeller rich and creamy beige head, and an assertive aroma of bitter, spicy hop oils and resins, fresh cut grass, citrus preserves, grape juice, and rather sweet doughy malts. On the palate these malts taste much like those found in an imperial pilsener (which makes sense given the Hop Burn Hi and Hop Burn Lo "dyad" concept being delivered here), notably doughy and grainy but with some co-occurring caramel/toffee and molasses notes. The hops are all over the map in terms of flavor specifics but pungent and forceful across the board. Nectarine, lemon, pomegranate, currant, unripe pear, bitter salad green, and tangerine are discernible but only if one is willing to plumb past the overall massive sharp spice onslaught. This really does heat up the mouth a little, presumably due to the sheer volume of oils and resins present, although interestingly enough the beer comes off less bitter than the massive IBU rating might suggest: The malts are sweet and there is some noticeable yeasty character as well. Still, its pretty darn bitter. Rather thick of body and low in carbonation, with a finish that includes some sour fruit and spice flavors along with a ton of green weedy bitterness. Its a heady, flavorsome, and interesting ride, this. The expected citrus and tropical flavors were decidedly downplayed in favor of a more homogenized weedy, peppercorn-like, piney spiciness. Mikkeller does not seem to do an IPA or DIPA that truly showcases the hops at the expense of the malts ... The latter always manage to keep up. This is OK by me. Here, however, on this occasion, the hops really do provide some burn.
May 18, 2014
More User Ratings:
Photo of aleigator
Reviewed by aleigator from Germany

2.58/5  rDev -34%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.25 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.25
Pours a clear amber color with a huge white head.

Smells of cakey sweet malts, herbal hops and sugared orange. Offers a lighter aroma of blueberries and overripe papaya.

Drinks with a medium body, lower carbonation and an unpleasant alcohol burn, which becomes especially evident during the finish.

Tastes of toffee, glazed caramel and oranges, tied together by bitter lime pulp. Has an alcoholic middle part with a hop bitterness, arising from the prominent booze burn, together with more caramel malts. Finishes with big chunks of lime, sweet oranges and even sweeter malts with a whole lot of booze to them.

Completely unnecessary to make this a 10 abv beer, since the overly high alcohol level harms the beer more anything else and makes it pretty hard to drink.
Aug 18, 2019
 
Rated: 3.83 by samEBC from Belgium

Aug 02, 2019
Photo of jazzyjeff13
Reviewed by jazzyjeff13 from England

3.17/5  rDev -18.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.25
A 330ml bottle with a BB of April 2020 (insane). Acquired ages ago from the Brewdog webshop. This promises to be an insanely hoppy DIPA.

A: Poured into a tulip. Bottle conditioned. A rich orange-amber hue with good carbonation and plentiful floating sediment. Produces a large head of creamy white foam that lasts for a few minutes before reducing to a persistent surface layer.

S: Aroma of insanely dank hops with notes of weed, pine resin, citrus peel, sweet caramel malt, barley sugar, yeast esters and earthiness. The hops are exceptionally intense and have an oxidised quality to them. To style (I guess) but seriously unbalanced.

T: Tastes of overwhelming aromatic hops with notes of pine resin, dank weed, citrus peel, caramel malt, barley sugar, yeast esters and a twinge of oxidation. An extreme bitterness upon swallowing. As unbalanced as the aroma.

M: Mouthfeel is smooth, tingly and dry, with spritzy carbonation and good body. Hop oils stimulate the palate. Aftertaste of exceptional hop-driven bitterness, resinous hops, caramel malt and yeast.

O: I'm inclined to say that this is too hoppy (and I love hops) - the aroma and bitterness are just nuts. It's also fairly old; I'm not sure how long I've had this but my impression is that the hop aroma has faded, leaving just the most resiliant components. It looks alright, while the aroma and flavour are off the charts - the hops are savage, oily and somewhat vegetal in character. Body is OK; decent for the strength. I just find the character unbalanced and messy, but perhaps when fresh it was more nuanced. I'll never know.....
Jul 31, 2017
Photo of Marius
Reviewed by Marius from Netherlands

3.9/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
33cl bottle. Semi-hazy pale orange with a thin white head. Notes of grapefruit, pineapple, passion fruit, honey, spices, floral hops, alcohol. Medium body, smooth mouthfeel, medium carbonation and a bitter-sweet and alcohol-spicy finish.
Dec 20, 2016
 
Rated: 4.35 by stephenlee from England

Jul 17, 2016
 
Rated: 4 by dcmchew from Romania

Feb 02, 2016
Photo of pat61
Reviewed by pat61 from Minnesota

4.5/5  rDev +15.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
L: Hazy gold to amber under a finely bubled 3” cream colored foam cap that grips the side of the glass.
S: Grassy, citrusy hop aromas with caramel malt in the background.
T: Rich malt palate seasoned with light fruit with long lingering bitter aftertastes.
F: Very creamy medium body with fine, soft carbonation.
O: Big flavored beer with a nice balance.
Jun 19, 2015
 
Rated: 4.61 by Hjalti

May 31, 2015
 
Rated: 4 by Zonian1 from Ohio

Mar 22, 2015
 
Rated: 3.61 by tbryan5 from Louisiana

Mar 05, 2015
 
Rated: 4 by nathanmiller from New York

Feb 17, 2015
 
Rated: 3.75 by gnikola from Serbia

Dec 15, 2014
 
Rated: 3.5 by olradetbalder from Sweden

Nov 25, 2014
 
Rated: 3.17 by fureousangel from California

Nov 24, 2014
 
Rated: 3.64 by Apartment5 from Alabama

Nov 23, 2014
Photo of Samp01
Reviewed by Samp01 from New Jersey

3.89/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
330ml bottle. Pours a cloudy dark amber with a large long lasting off white head with very good head retention and lacing. Aroma and taste of sweet caramel malt, Belgian yeast, brown sugar,some dark fruit notes with hops bitterness. Palate is full body, smooth with good carbonation. This brew finishes with a full flavored caramel malt sweetness, a good amount of Belgian yeast, dark fruit and a fairly sharp lingering bitter hops flavor on the end with some brown sugar and molasses and yeast. Alcohol seems well hidden. Overall a very good, balanced and tasty brew.
Sep 26, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by HoppyBastard1 from Pennsylvania

Sep 10, 2014
 
Rated: 3.5 by Stinger80OH from Ohio

Aug 30, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by rogerdandy from Canada (AB)

Aug 28, 2014
Hop Burn High from Mikkeller ApS
Beer rating: 88 out of 100 with 134 ratings