Mikkeller / Grassroots Wheat Is The New Hops - Mikkeller ApS

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

f4zZ3

Sweden

3.53/5  rDev -10.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3.25

On tap at de Klomp, Linköping, Sweden.

A: pours a light yellow, somewhat hazy light beer. Light foam and some lacing on the tulipglass. Very nice apperance.
S: smell of grass and brett. Some citrus from the hops and also some floral notes. The brett gives it a kind of funky smell which I like but I know some don't.
T: spicy taste. Notes of citrus and brett. The wheat gives it a taste that I personally don't like but I guess it's what people likes. Some bitter notes at the end.
M: light IPA. Some carbonation, but not lot. A bit of oily feel. Brett!
O: good beer. Not the best Wheat-IPA I've had, but a nice touch with the brett. I enjoyed it.

Serving type: on-tap

03-02-2013 22:15:32 | More by f4zZ3

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

Rifugium

Pennsylvania

3.8/5  rDev -3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

First had: on tap at Teresa's, Wayne, PA

Poured a hazy straw-yellow color with a nice cap of foamy white head that retained and laced well. Big wheat profile on the nose, musty yeast, grass, and a bit of an uncomfortable ammonia presence that was just teetering outside my tolerance level. There was actually an uncanny tea-like sensation in the taste up front, giving way to pale malt sweetness, wheaty acidity, spicy yeast, notes of citrus zest and earth. Medium body, and aside from the questionable aroma, a pretty solid brew overall.

Serving type: on-tap

06-11-2012 02:16:23 | More by Rifugium

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

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

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

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

UCLABrewN84

California

3.93/5  rDev 0%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Thanks to GRG1313 for sharing this one at his tasting.

Pours a clear yellow with a foamy white head that settles to wisps of film on top of the beer. Small dots of lace form around the glass on the drink down. Smell is of malt, wheat, and citrus zest aromas. Taste is much the same with some Brett flavors on the finish. There is a mild amount of Brett bitterness on the palate with each sip. This beer has a good level of carbonation with a crisp mouthfeel. Overall, this is a good beer with a nice Brett presence.

Serving type: bottle

05-07-2013 03:56:22 | More by UCLABrewN84

Chazari99

Massachusetts

2.43/5  rDev -38.2%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

This is an example of a beer that has such a poor aftertaste that a craft beer lover might think twice and say "am I missing something". The truth is no, the aftertaste that resembles cough syrup is legitimately awful. I must say that the $5.99 I spent on this bottle would have be better spent on a fast food meal.

Serving type: bottle

05-02-2013 18:38:40 | More by Chazari99

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

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

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

jzeilinger

Pennsylvania

3.65/5  rDev -7.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

A - Pours a bright, vibrant gold color with no sediment and a fluffy white head.

S - Wheat, bright lemon citrus, grass, earthy, some slight funk.

T - Bright citrus flavor predominantly from grapefruit and lemon rind, grass, earthy funk, and a lingering bitter citrus/brett finish.

M - Light medium body with a slight oily coating left in the mouth.

O - It's alright, not great, not bad. I'm not digging the combination with the wheat.

Serving type: bottle

04-11-2013 21:37:08 | More by jzeilinger

emerge077

Illinois

3.89/5  rDev -1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bright pale gold with a billowing head of soapy white foam that slowly recedes after a few minutes. Some soapy suds stick to the edges in a sparse spotty pattern. Bright clarity with a slight haze.

Nice Brett aroma with some dried fruit and damp stable hay aromas.

Dry with a hint of astringency, lots of Brett in the taste as well. Doesn't come across like an IPA, more of a Brett Saison or BPA. Some earthy bitterness in the aftertaste. Grassy, yeasty, very dry. Hint of dried pineapple, a little horseblanket. This is a nice beer, not as out there as funkier bottles of Burton Bridge Empire IPA, more clean and well balanced. Worth a try, good intro to Brett for a novice.

Serving type: bottle

04-06-2013 00:58:36 | More by emerge077

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

davey101

Connecticut

3.91/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

12 oz bottle purchased at Hill Farmstead. Cap reads "9341212" which I would assume means it was bottled on December 6, 2012? Poured into a tulip glass.

A - Although the bottle had a visible layer of yeast/sediment a careful pour produces a crystal clear straw yellow body. This is light lager territory. Plenty of rising carbonation. Two fingers of fluffy white foam thins down to a neat cap. Really great lacing and sticky retention.

S - Papaya and grapefruit with lots of grass and a touch of malt. An interesting earthiness rounds it out. From the aroma alone I would never have guessed this has brett or wheat in it, perhaps just an odd ball hop variety and a nice bit of malts.

T - Papaya, grapefruit, lemon rind, and a bit of earthy musk. Finishes dry with some pepper and spice. Very odd beer as it starts off very IPA like and then takes a turn towards a witbier. Has a wheat bite on the very end.

M - Medium bodied and creamy with high carbonation. Very drinkable but a lasting spice lingers for a while.

O - Can't say I've ever had an IPA like this before. The brett is relatively fresh and clean now, I can't even imagine which direction it will take with some age. As a fresh beer its a slightly hop forward witbier hybrid with some tropical and lemon notes and a nod towards the earthy side of things. Cool beans.

Serving type: bottle

03-03-2013 03:57:05 | More by davey101

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

DrinkSlurm

Connecticut

3.38/5  rDev -14%
look: 3.75 | smell: 2 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Poured from Bottle into tulip. Paid $6 at deciccos ardsley. Pours a clear golden color with nice head and lacing. Smell is just bad...very bad. Urinal cake is the way to describe it. Lemony and bad.
Taste is decent. Citrus hop with wheaty malts. Hold your nose when you sip this.
Its a good beer with an absolutely horrible aroma...so...not my fav here. Not worth it except for pure curiosity.

Serving type: bottle

02-20-2013 02:55:03 | More by DrinkSlurm

TallSaint

New York

3.85/5  rDev -2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.75

Feb 17th, 2013

Wheat esters dominate the nose with notes of fruit loops, grass, and cloves as well a a bit of hay. Crisp wheat esters upfront on the palate - clove and grass. (I'm assuming the grassiness is pronounced by both the unmalted wheat and the brett.) In the mid-palate the hops begin to show with some dense, juicy citrus notes but this quickly dissipates and gives way to a dry back with hay, some subdued funk, and a touch of tartness underneath a pronounced hoppy bitterness.

An interesting beer. Not so much an IPA as a American Pale Ale with a lot of wheat. Hops are not as present as i thought however the balance is fitting as it helps to emphasize every aspect and flavor from the hops, brett, and wheat.

Serving type: bottle

02-17-2013 19:28:13 | More by TallSaint

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

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

mountdew1

New Hampshire

3.95/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured into an imperial pint. Color was a pale golden color, with a thck bubbly head. Head quickly faded down to thin wispy bubbles with occasional spots stuck to the sides. Fair amount of carbonation rose from the bottom. Aroma was definitely hoppy with strong herbal scents as well. Can't place it exactly, but something like sage or rosemary. Nicely nuanced without being overpowering. Flavor was tangy hops, with a tad of weak orange in the back. A little too sticky in the mouth, not so much coated, but tacky. Nicely tingly on the tongue. Overall a nice twist. Good flavors and interesting.

Serving type: bottle

11-02-2012 23:50:23 | More by mountdew1

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

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