Mikkeller / Grassroots Wheat Is The New Hops - Mikkeller ApS

lavellen

Michigan

4.76/5  rDev +21.1%
look: 5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75

The label reads Brett and I have to say that sets a precedent in my mind, but the aggressive often farm-yard or oddly tart flavors typically offered by Brett beers weren't offensively presented. In fact, this beer tastes very much like the brett was just the yeast choice and the beer itself was fermented normally. A very a-typical IPA from start to finish. If you know citra hops you know what you're getting into with the slight lemon-lime and grapefruit flavors often associated with it. Add to that Centennial hops with cut like a laser through the brett and this could be a gold medal IPA. The complex nose from the clove phenolics, hops, and brett are all easily distinguished making this one of the most interesting beers I've ever smelled with a hard bright finish and a beautiful golden persistent haze that I only expect from the best wheat beers. Refreshing, weird, and incredibly unique. I wish I had a case of this stuff.

Serving type: bottle

04-19-2013 18:36:17 | More by lavellen

Brad007

Vermont

4.68/5  rDev +19.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours a nice light gold with a one-finger head into my glass. Very light. Looks crisp.

Holy Wheat, Batman! And it's complimented by a mix of pungent, fruity brett and hops.

Ditto on the flavor. The Brett and the hops mix well, creating a salty pretzel facade (think the saltiness of a pretzel...the dough that created that pretzel). The hops drown out the Brett more than I'd like.

Lingering "saltiness" from the hops and brett mixing. Lest I forget about the wheat, it is barely here. More of an enhancer at this point.

Excellent collaboration between Mikkeller and Grassroots. Might I add that wheat IPAs/white IPAs seem to be the "style du jour". Better to have the pros do it and do it well!

Serving type: bottle

04-18-2012 03:24:59 | More by Brad007

Skrip

South Carolina

4.54/5  rDev +15.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

On tap at Parker's Pie Co. poured into a pint glass.

A~ light slightly hazy orange, with a nice head and crazy lacing. Also constant bubble motion.

S~ crazy citrus! A peppery saison sensation followed by more and more lemon/grapefruit citrus.

T~ overpowering citrus hops up front, followed by pepper, and a nice finish of some wheat characteristics.

M~ very nicely carbonated, dry, yet still smooth.

O~ how is this rated so low!? Maybe it's better on draft, but this is seriously an incredible brew. If you have a chance to try it, do it without hesitation! Glad I also bought a bottle at HF.

Serving type: on-tap

04-13-2013 19:04:31 | More by Skrip

4thelvofbeer

Virginia

4.5/5  rDev +14.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Wow, this beer brings back some memories from my teenage years, lol! I swear, there is a smell of some good high quality bud in the nose of this beer, and better yet, there is even a taste of a faint bud flavor! (I am not talking Budweiser...I'm talking grass, smoke, doobs, marajuwanna!!!) Nice! Grassy, big, big grassy flavors and smells...this beer has a super fresh smell and taste, nothing like I have had before. Pours nice light yellow with a very easily drinkable nice smooth flavor and taste. All around, this is a really nice beer, nice for a summer night, nice for a fall evening, all around, really, really good.

Serving type: bottle

09-20-2012 23:35:56 | More by 4thelvofbeer

jlindros

Massachusetts

4.5/5  rDev +14.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours a big pasty white fluffy 2 finger head that fades fairly slowly with nice pillowy lacing, semi clear bright golden yellow-orange color.

Nose brings a nice Brett funk, light lemon, grassy, little horsehair, lemongrass, hay, wheat, earthy, touch of fruity zest like hops,

Taste brings more Bretty funk right off, little horsehair and earthy bready doughy funk, light yeasty flavor from the funk as well. Then grassy flavors, some wheat and hay, grainy, bready and grainy. Then light grassy and lemony hops, little citrus like rind and fruity hops, nice bitterness, floral and bright. Finish is dry and funky, more bready malt flavors, lingering barnyard funk, decent bitterness and light floral grassy citrus hops.

Mouth is med bodied, lots of carb.

Overall very nice, very tasty, great Brett funk, hops blend nicely with it without overpowering adding nice floral, grassy, lemony and bit citrus hops, and the wheat adds subtlties to the underlying beer, without being too drowned out. mikkeller makes some great beers, just wish they weren't so expensive.

Serving type: bottle

09-22-2012 00:53:18 | More by jlindros

popery

California

4.48/5  rDev +14%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours pale gold, almost straw. There's a bit of haze, but it's clearer than I was expecting. Nice white head. Dissipates a bit quickly, but that's no big deal. Some lacing.

The aroma is an excellent mix of juicy, tropical fruit hops, wheat spice and barnyard brett funk. Hops are the main component and contribute freshly cut grass mixed with pineapple juice, mangoes and meyer lemons. The yeast aroma is rich with tasty brett notes. The funk blends into the hops well, and there's a dry, clean, almost lager-ish note in there, as well. Though it takes a backseat to the other flavors, there's also a sugarcane malt backbone with a healthy dose of wheat berry spiciness.

Like other brett IPAs, this is a nice dry beer, and I suspect it would get drier over time. There's an initial dose of sweetness flavored by wheat spice and bright hoppiness, but the beer dries out quickly and the hops and yeast take over. There's more tropical fruit hop flavor with some more fruit notes - sort of a grape-apricot blend - and lots of dry yeast funk. The finish is spicy, bitter and dry. Very drinkable stuff.

Mouthfeel is light. Lots of fine bubbles. Lasting finish.

I did not expect anything quite so good, but this is a really nice beer. It reminds me of Green Flash Rayon Vert, though it's hoppier, has wheat, and the yeast profile is a bit different. In my opinion, White IPAs and brett IPAs are excellent trends, and this beer combines good qualities of both. I'd love to see an American brewery put something similar into year-round six packs.

Serving type: bottle

05-22-2012 05:23:27 | More by popery

jazzyjeff13

United Kingdom (England)

4.33/5  rDev +10.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A 330ml bottle with a BB of Feb 2014. Picked up recently from my local beer specialist (they've been getting quite a bit of Mikkeller recently). From what I can make out on the label, it's an IPA brewed with wheat and fermented with brettanomyces. Should be interesting!

Poured into a Duvel tulip. Bottle-conditioned. A pale golden hue with faint haze and low carbonation. Produces a large head of brilliant white foam that lasts for a few minutes before subsiding to a surface layer. Aroma of bright citrus hops with undertones of earthy wheat and a vinous hint of yeast in the background.

Tastes of aromatic citrus hops with a mildly acidic character and a dry finish. Notes of citrus, grainy wheat and earthy, vinous yeast. Subtle bitterness upon swallowing, and a hint of lactic/vinegary sourness in the background. Mouthfeel is smooth, tingly and dry. A slight acidity on the tongue, and mild astringency. A tad undercarbonated. Aftertaste of sour wheat malt with citrus overtones.

Impressive - a subtle IPA with fantastic balance. Despite the novel ingredients and yeast, the finished article is tasty and very drinkable. The brett adds a distinctive note to the background, but doesn't overpower or clash with the other flavours. The aroma/taste has a dry, lactic - almost lemony sourness that complements the citrus hops perfectly. If it weren't for the price tag I'd grab another one (or two). Excellent - well worth trying if you encounter it.

Serving type: bottle

04-15-2012 23:54:59 | More by jazzyjeff13

lacqueredmouse

Australia

4.3/5  rDev +9.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

330ml bottle purchased from Berkeley Bowl West in Berkeley, CA. Brett-fermented wheat IPA? Yep, I'm game.

Pours a mildly hazed bright pale yellow colour, with a rocky, large-bubbled head of white that settles down to some messy aerated lace and chunky film. Body is light and the carbonation is fine. Looks good.

Nose is lovely. Fresh citric and sweet hop aromas mingle with a greenness and an organic brightness from the brett. Plenty of apple skin, a little pepper, with some earthier organics coming through when it's swirled. It's quite pungent as well: the funk in particular is direct and slightly sharp. Lovely.

Taste matches very nicely with the other areas. Bright tart fruit characters on the front, softly diving into a pillowy wheat fullness like you get with a full-bodied hefeweizen. A prickle of hops on the back provides the next layer of interest, but it bubbles along with the funk to the end, leaving organic weirdnesses to foment and crash right through to the finish. It's anarchic but tamed.

Feel is relatively full, but subdued by the hop bite and a prickle of carbonation.

Overall, this is a really lovely beer. I really love the complexity, and I love the fact that the complexity is coherent. Moreover, it's extremely interesting: all of the characters that work together in such balance provide something unique at the same time. Marvellous stuff.

Serving type: bottle

05-12-2013 00:31:52 | More by lacqueredmouse

cfrances33

Illinois

4.24/5  rDev +7.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

Bottle poured into a Hill Farmstead tulip.

Pour: Completely clear golden yellow, with a nice two finger white head. Head hangs around for most of the glass. Very nice sticky lacing.

Smell: Huge brett earthiness up front. Some very nice floral hops. Some light lemon zest. Clears out with a heavy dough and earth.

Taste: Follows the nose with a huge floral hoppiness up front, and then a very heavy floral hoppiness. Next, brett takes over with earth and transforms the floral hops into grass. More earthiness and a very nice dough sweetness finish.

Mouthfeel: Insanely drinkable. A perfect dinner drink to be honest.

Overall: This beer took me by surprise. A really nice earthy beer... like a cross between Gumballhead and Seizoen Bretta, while retaining the drinkability of Gumballhead. Great beer.

Serving type: bottle

01-15-2013 03:06:23 | More by cfrances33

Mora2000

Texas

4.23/5  rDev +7.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Thanks to my brother for sending me this bottle.

The beer pours a yellow color with a white head. The aroma is very heavy on the brett and orange citrus, with some wheat thrown in as well. The flavor is more of the same. The leathery brett and orange citrus notes really come through and stand out. The wheat provides a nice malt backbone and keeps the bitterness fairly low. Medium mouthfeel and medium carbonation. A very nice beer, glad I got to try it.

Serving type: bottle

07-01-2012 04:42:40 | More by Mora2000

vonnegut21

New York

4.18/5  rDev +6.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

From notes. On tap at Hill Farmstead's E and Art release. Poured into HF stemware. Cloudy, hazy golden straw in color. The smell is a mix of bready wheat malt and bright floral hops. There's a hint of grassiness as well. The first sip is bright and citrusy, but hops don't dominate. There's significant notes of hay and a bit of funk in there as well. The wheat malt provides a nice backing to the grassy, fruity notes and give the beer a surprisingly thick, solid body for an IPA. Overall this is an excellent collaboration and an interesting take on the style, well worth seeking out.

Serving type: on-tap

05-09-2012 02:24:12 | More by vonnegut21

ngeunit1

California

4.16/5  rDev +5.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Hazy golden-yellow with a finger of frothy white head. Fades normal.

S - Orange and citrus hops, sweet wheat and grainy malts, lemon zest, tart and funky Brett.

T - Orange, grapefruit, citrus, and light floral hops, mild bitterness, sweet wheat and grainy malts, tart lemon zest, funky brett and other farmhouse flavors.

M - Medium bodied, moderate carbonation. Smooth with a dry, tart finish.

D - Nice funky IPA. Could use a bit more hop character, but the balance is nice.

Serving type: bottle

01-25-2013 03:15:45 | More by ngeunit1

HuskyinPDX

Washington

4.14/5  rDev +5.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

Bottle opened on 5.14.13

A - Pours a hazy yellow with a one inch off-white fluffy head that slowly fades.

S - Sweet candy, corn, spice, very welcoming and nice.

T - Sweet wheat, honey, candy, a touch of hop bitterness.

D - Good carbonation with a light body.

O - A very nice sweet-candy wheat forward brew. Very welcoming and nice.

Serving type: bottle

05-20-2013 04:54:08 | More by HuskyinPDX

StonedTrippin

Colorado

4.13/5  rDev +5.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25

this is one clever and complex glass of beer. some may say its just stupidly bretted out, overdone and in need of refinement, but I would passionately disagree. this beer is fantastic, like nothing else, and an example of the genius that is mikkeller. it pours a really hazy lemonade color, almost like a Berliner, with whisps of tiny yeast particles in suspension and a massive bone white lacey head, airy and fluffy. the nose is like wet animal, goats milk, and hyperactive saison yeast. the brett factor here is through the roof, but underneath the funk is a nice wheat malt body and a oily bitter hop presence that drive it forward. the flavor is a perfect mix of he three, really. I don't think this beer lacks balance at all, although I could identify with those who critique it on the brett overdose grounds. its the dominant flavor, which I happen to love. the what is harvest fresh, like freshly milled, and has a certain earthy character to it, while the hops is brutal and bitter, aggressive, but with some lemon notes and a lot of alpha acid. One of the more complex wheat based beers ive ever tasted. the feel could stand a touch more carbonation to lighten things up a bit, but the body is smooth and not filling at all. I would happily drink a 6er of this any day. overall this is another challenging beer by mikkeller, one that demands careful attention to detail, and an appreciation of the journey it leads.

Serving type: bottle

04-26-2013 16:46:23 | More by StonedTrippin

smakawhat

Maryland

4.1/5  rDev +4.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from the bottle into a stemless wine glass.

A real nice orb glowing lemon yellow, slow rising carbonation crawling. Head is big and fluffy white, hints of creamy with lots of retention and clumps. Aggressive, and light colored. Great look.

Great nose. Lemon citrus hop, salty brett. Dry yeast and bread punch, real nice. Some faint garden floral notes also, and lots of barnyard earth stench cowpie going on. Really like where this is going.

Taste is a quasi mix of saison hot and hop power. Quick hot sharp hop bitter blast, but quickly fleeting. Long lasting brett finish and dry. Crisp with a weird hop bite, but kind of fun.

Overall the beer is kind of all over and sort of fools you a bit style wise, but it's pretty tasty.

Serving type: bottle

08-29-2012 02:41:37 | More by smakawhat

silentjay

Massachusetts

4.05/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

was expecting a hazier pour from the description, but there is a slight haze on an otherwise golden straw colored beer that produces a pure white head that retains and laces well.

definite wheat, definite funk, a bit of lemongrass/herbal/floral, and a bit citric hops. tart, but not sour in the aroma. more funky and barnyard aromas than anything.

again, lots of tart, barnyard flavors that combine with the wheat to taste like hay. grassy, floral hops come behind that with lots of brett character, but without barrel-aging they add more funk than sourness.

fluffy medium bodied with a nice lingering tickle of wheat.

not as hoppy as I expected, not as sour either. probably one of the "funkiest" and "rustic" beers I've ever had.
very good collab.

Serving type: bottle

05-02-2012 02:36:35 | More by silentjay

chanokokoro

Illinois

4.05/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

12 oz. bottle purchased at West Lakeview Liquors and poured into a imperial pint glass.

Pours a hazy pale gold. Huge three finger head, pillowy and creamy, great retention and abundant lacing. Light citrus, Brett funk, and bready notes on the nose. The taste mirrors the nose, opens with crisp light citrus hops joined by light bready notes immersed in a wash of brett funk that is present, but never overpowers the other aspects of the brew. A creamy mouthfeel carries throughout until a very crisp and clean finish. Such a well-balanced brew, the American hops, wheat, and Brett are all easily discernable and all equally contribute to a brew that is perfect for a hot summer day.

Serving type: bottle

07-11-2012 04:43:06 | More by chanokokoro

ATLbeerDog

Georgia

4.05/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Pours a slightly hazy bright yellow/orange with a super frothy 2 finger white head. Smells of zesty lemon and brett dominate the aroma with some nice pepper notes too. First sip is super refreshing with plenty of hops and brett upfront leading the charge with wheat and citrusy lemon just adding to what is a really fine beer. Mouthfeel is superb as this puppy is almost perfectly carbonated. I am blown away how balanced this beer is. Very nice indeed.

Serving type: bottle

09-02-2012 05:41:40 | More by ATLbeerDog

ghostwalker

Massachusetts

4.04/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

11.2 oz bottle purchased at Hunger Mountain Coop.

Clear golden body with a frothy white head.

Nose is tart vinegar brett with a "wheaty" malt note.

Flavor is crisp, tart, grapefruit citrus, tasty and quenching. Not much malt to note. I'm not sure that the wheat is doing much here, but the combination of hops and brett are even better done than Orval.

Mouthfeel is tart, stripping, zesty.

A very interesting brew. I bought it on the Grass Roots name alone, but well worth the taste.

Serving type: bottle

04-24-2013 00:56:36 | More by ghostwalker

MasterSki

Illinois

4.03/5  rDev +2.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bottle purchased from West Lakeview Liquors. Served in a pint glass.

A - Giant creamy white foam settles to a thick cap and splotchy lace. Hazy pale golden body.

S - Tropical brett, citrus hops, unmalted wheat, some light herbal and grassy notes.

T - Taste is similar, with hefty brett funk and tropical flavors, some stone and tropical fruit malt sweetness, and a mildly sour and bitter finish.

M - Lower carbonation, smooth texture, medium body, slightly dry, quite refreshing. No discernible alcohol.

D - Pretty enjoyable stuff that delivers exactly what it promises. Easy to drink and great for a hot summer day. Surprisingly affordable for a Mikkeller offering. I'd drink this one again if it was on-tap somewhere.

Serving type: bottle

07-05-2012 15:25:03 | More by MasterSki

mdfb79

New York

4.03/5  rDev +2.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

From 02/23/12 notes. Big thanks to nimbleprop for picking this up for me in VT. 12 oz. bottle poured into a tulip.

a - Pours a hazy yellow straw color with one and a half fingers of fluffy white head and moderate carbonation evident. There is a lot of lacing on the glass and nice head retention.

s - Smells of brett, wheat, spices, tropical fruits, floral hops, and some citrus hops. Very nice nose; lot of brett and fruit/hops.

t - Tastes of pepper, spices, brett, tropical fruits, fruity malts, earthy malts, some citrus hops. Taste is nice but has more spice and pepper than the nose, and less brett. A slight step down for me.

m - Medium body and moderate to high carbonation. Overall pretty easy to drink and just a touch overcarbonated.

o - Overall a really nice beer; one of the better non-stout Mikkeller beers I've had in a while. Nose is awesome and has a ton of brett, with a little more spice in the taste. Definitely worth checking out and would have it again.

Serving type: bottle

02-25-2013 18:41:47 | More by mdfb79

Knapp85

Pennsylvania

4.01/5  rDev +2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

This poured out as a slightly hazy yellow color with a small white head on top. The retention was pretty good, the lacing was a bit on the weak side. The smell of the beer gives off plenty of Brett on the nose, it's got a pretty good blend of hops in there as well. The taste is tart and bitter, it's hard to get any wheat or grains from this beer at all. The mouthfeel is well carbonated and light bodied, very drinkable even for a wild IPA like this. Overall I liked the beer, I found it to be quite impressive even though the grains are a bit hidden under the hops and Brett. Worth looking into in my opinion.

Serving type: bottle

03-05-2013 03:17:53 | More by Knapp85

mrfrancis

Kentucky

4/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Pours a clear gold with a puffy, thick white head.

S: Aromas of brettanomyces, citrus, and wheat fill the nose.

T: Notes of brettanomyces funk, oak, wheat, cream, minerals, white pepper, lemon, grapefruit, kumquat, and mandarin orange fill the mouth. The finish is clipped and lactic with plenty of lemon, mandarin orange, wheat, and brettanomyces flavors.

M: Very light-bodied, prickly, and slick. Carbonation is very active.

O: This is a very interesting take on an American IPA. It's surprising that the brettanomyces, wheat, and citrus hop flavors work together so well. Definitely recommended for fans of quirky ales in general.

Serving type: bottle

07-12-2012 14:27:08 | More by mrfrancis

corby112

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Draft at The Boilermaker in Philadelphia, PA.

Pours a faintly cloudy golden yellow color with a two finger frothy white head that slowly settles into a lasting ring.  Large rings, streaks and chunks of soapy lacing left behind.

Floral, perfume like aroma that mixes earthy, piney hops with funky yeast, light fruit, citrus and bread. Really interesting nose. Dank, earthy hops that smell as fresh as could be with grass, pine needle and citrus fruit notes.  Just a touch of funky brett and sweet booze as well.  Wheat elements get kind of overshadowed with some bread and banana flavor.  Subtle zesty spice as well.

Medium bodied with a nice balance of earthy, bitter hops, funky bretted yeast, sweet alcohol, zesty spice, citrus and light fruit.  Really complex and unique.  Strong hop presence up front with dank, dry bitterness, grass and pine needle countered by sweet tropical and citrus fruit notes.  There's also some subtle brett there to give it some dry, musty funk without taking over.  Toward the end of the palate there's some peppery spice,  maybe clove or coriander before finishing with some boozy sweetness.

Serving type: on-tap

08-27-2012 01:37:36 | More by corby112

Tucquan

Pennsylvania

3.98/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Had this on 2012-06-09 in Wayne, PA at Teresa's Next Door during Philly Beer Week.

A - Hazy straw with a 1.5-finger white head with good head retention and very nice, stratified lacing.

S - Brett, straw, horse blanket, lemon flesh and light hop floral.

T - Somewhat odd juxtaposition of a funky saison and a wheat beer with some lemon flesh and a touch of hop bitterness coming in at the end. An adventurous flavor indeed.

M - Light body and medium carbonation.

O - Tasty but the least favorite of all the HF brews I tried at the event today.

Serving type: on-tap

06-10-2012 16:49:36 | More by Tucquan