Beer Geek Brunch Weasel - Calvados Edition - Mikkeller ApS

birchstick

Missouri

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

A - pours black with a small chocolate head on top

S - apple brandy, dark chocolates, rich coffee all ascend out of the glass into my nose

T - sweet brandy upfront moves on to rich, dark chocolates. These move on to a bitter, rich coffee flavor and a touch of vanilla. Big and bold flavors in this one.

M - smooth, watery, and full

D - pretty good barrel-aged stout. This has very rich coffee flavors, almost too much to make the coffee distracting from the rest of the flavors present. Worth the price? It's a Mikkeller beer...

Serving type: bottle

11-12-2012 00:23:03 | More by birchstick

bkonk10

Indiana

3.75/5  rDev -11.1%

05-22-2013 01:47:12 | More by bkonk10

hopsputin

California

4.31/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

a: black, almost dark dark brown at the bottom of the cup. dark tan 1/2 finger head

s: smells amazing. a lot going on here. smooth roasted coffee beans, sweet milk chocolate, roasted malts, tons of oak, something almost charred in there as well. maybe a hint of alcohol. also some figs, and what i assume is the calvados. smells quite warming

t: initial sips are all milk chocolate and some alcohol. then the smooth coffee flavor washes through with something thats almost like an apple bite. figs , berries, and plums are there in the background. some slight oak and vanilla here too. the aftertaste is real nice: roasted malt, coffee, and juicy red apples

m: medium - lighter than i expected. not much carbonation

o: ok, probably not worth the price. still GOOD though. the more you sip on it, the nicer it gets and the more you pick up. i think the barrel might just be a little too much for me as i would have liked a little more coffee here. the aftertaste is really nice though, and that apple flavor is something that is really tasty

Serving type: bottle

05-19-2013 02:41:34 | More by hopsputin

soccerfancooch

Wisconsin

5/5  rDev +18.5%

05-17-2013 04:13:51 | More by soccerfancooch

Bonko_the_sane

North Carolina

4.75/5  rDev +12.6%

05-13-2013 05:58:17 | More by Bonko_the_sane

Stinkypuss

Pennsylvania

4.33/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.25

LOOK: Pours an opaque very dark brown with a light tan head. Lots of tiny bubbles make this a viscous looking brew, it has legs. Appearing to be a big bad barrel aged stout, but the looks can't quite prepare you for this unique ale.

SMELL: Oaky and earthy. Roasted malts, coffee and sweet alcohol are very present. As it warms a suggestion of chocolate emerges. Very wood centered, mildly fruity, boozy and complex. A bit of ocean breeze saltiness

TASTE: Greeted by a smooth mocha coffee note, along with waves of vanilla, oaky tannins, fruit and calva. This is good shit, literally earning that designation by using coffee beans that were partially digested by a weasel. Big oak, sweet chocolate, warming booze; robust flavors, a treat for beer geeks as advertised. A hint of berry and hard cider notes emerge to compete against the roast. Mild acidity, partially from hops and most more than likely from the calvados, as there is more than a pinch of aged calvados making itself known.

FEEL: Full bodied, silky smooth with a moderately low level of carbonation. There is a small heat in the semi dry finish.

OVERALL: A sipper for sure, especially since every sip cost me about $ 0.75-1.00. I dig this beer for its originality, but I wouldn't return to it unless I was really at the right place at the right time. Still worth seeking out, for sheer novelty if nothing else. It is seriously good though, I enjoyed the nip.

Serving type: bottle

05-11-2013 20:37:09 | More by Stinkypuss

shagens

Wisconsin

4.75/5  rDev +12.6%

05-01-2013 22:06:53 | More by shagens

bsinger45

Colorado

4/5  rDev -5.2%

04-29-2013 21:12:46 | More by bsinger45

mendvicdog

Maryland

4/5  rDev -5.2%

04-12-2013 23:30:00 | More by mendvicdog

AlexChillton

Arizona

4.5/5  rDev +6.6%

04-06-2013 05:23:32 | More by AlexChillton

ewhugh

Colorado

4.5/5  rDev +6.6%

04-01-2013 03:30:17 | More by ewhugh

GreatBloomer

Texas

4.5/5  rDev +6.6%

03-30-2013 15:34:11 | More by GreatBloomer

bobhits

Kentucky

3.48/5  rDev -17.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 1

GIven the tiny bottle, I figured why not use a Utopias glass for this one.

Pours impressively black and opaque, I only see a twinkle of light when pouring, once in the glass this is a black hole of epic darkness. A nice tan cream cap barely forms at the top.

Apples from the brandy barrels gives this one a sour note at the top followed by coffee and chocolate, roasted malt, and brandy sugars.

Dark chocolate, dark dry fruits, coffee, brandy, sour notes from apples. This beer could so easily turn to the sweet and sugary side with calvdos barrels used, but thankfully that is not the case. While plenty of sugar is in here the roasted and bitter elements from the malt, coffee, and chocolate all keep things in line.

Very warm, very hot, and very dry. This isn't creamy nor overly heavy. it's an interesting mix of all these elements.

I thought the normal brandy version of this was great, so great I bought two bottles has these comically high and absurd prices. I like the beer but can't imagine ever coming back for another bottle at 118.59 per normal six pack.

Serving type: bottle

03-24-2013 19:35:00 | More by bobhits

MarkyMOD

Colorado

4/5  rDev -5.2%

03-18-2013 02:58:02 | More by MarkyMOD

jaasen64

Massachusetts

3.94/5  rDev -6.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

8.5oz bottle poured into Founders snifter.

A- Pours a completely opaque jet black with a very thin mocha brown head that recedes almost immediately. Decently carbonated and leaves very light faint layered lacing.

S- Light coffee, dark chocolate, dark fruits of figs and light prunes, fairly light barrel presence with a hint of apple and oak from the calvados, light booze. Not overly aromatic, but smells pleasant.

T- Fudge, Chocolate, coffee, finishes with more of a thick creamy presence of fudge, dark fruits such as figs, molasses, and light oak. Aftertaste of dark fruits and fudge. The initially taste isn't anything spectacular, but I like how the fudge and dark fruits really come out on the finish.

M- At first feels a tiny bit watery but finishes fairly thick which goes well with the fudge flavor, lightly creamy, easy drinking, smooth.

O- This was a pretty nice beer, my only complaint is that it could have had a little bit more barrel presence but perhaps that's faded after being in my cellar for almost a year. I really liked the fudge-like presence and how the dark fruits really came out in this beer. Overall I really enjoyed this beer, however I'm not sure I'd pay $11 for only 8.5oz even if it's made of weasal shit coffee (not that I let that affect my review).

Serving type: bottle

03-17-2013 23:21:38 | More by jaasen64

CB_Crowe

Vermont

4/5  rDev -5.2%

03-17-2013 19:39:57 | More by CB_Crowe

CruisaC

Ohio

3.45/5  rDev -18.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Picked this up a few months back. Have to say I was a smidge irked at the cost per ounce factor with this one. I'm trying to remember how many Mikkeler beers I've actually purchased---not many.

Pours standard stout ish with a mocha head. Nice coating of the glass.

Smell is really....unique. Some worchestshire/soy, some coffee, raisin, and oak barrel. Not sure what I think of this.

Hmmm. Unfortunately I'm getting more of the savory aspects off the aroma--not a good thing. Could I have an off bottle? Can't imagine this being a mainstream flavor. Some coffee sneaking in towards the end but the sweetness for the barrel im not getting.

A little carbonation forward for my preference.

Meh, I'm not loving this. I feel like I could have been a little more harsh as well, just not my thing.

Serving type: bottle

03-14-2013 00:46:11 | More by CruisaC

wyatt13

Illinois

2.7/5  rDev -36%
look: 2 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 1 | overall: 2.25

Poured from a tiny little bottle into a snifter.

A - Pretty disgusting looking, to be honest. The pour was really viscous and sludgy, like when I wash out my French press after I brew coffee in the morning. It is a very dark brown that leaves a heavy, gritty residue over the entire glass. The appearance makes it impossible to forget that you are drinking civet dookie.

S - Despite the off-putting appearance, the smell is pretty nice. Definite coffee and roasted malts, with a significant barrel presence as well. Some oaky vanilla. It is definitely apparent that a Calvados barrel was used here -- acidic twang in the nose that is a little harsh.

T - Nice notes of chocolate and roasted coffee, with the barrel adding a lot of complexity over the top. However, I find it hard to hold this in my mouth long enough to get a full impression due to the extremely offputting mouthfeel.

M - Clumpy like pudding or greek yogurt. Almost like a gritty milkshake. I almost gagged, this is frankly pretty gross.

O - I'm not sure if I got a bad bottle, but unfortunately this might be a drainpour. Sort of tastes like beer, but doesn't look or feel like beer. Really disappointed here.

Serving type: bottle

03-06-2013 03:03:46 | More by wyatt13

derkfromwi

Wisconsin

4/5  rDev -5.2%

03-05-2013 06:06:53 | More by derkfromwi

Hultkrantz

Sweden

3.75/5  rDev -11.1%

03-02-2013 01:31:10 | More by Hultkrantz

Gotti311

Wisconsin

4.5/5  rDev +6.6%

02-27-2013 11:32:41 | More by Gotti311

Dreadnaught33

District of Columbia

4.5/5  rDev +6.6%

02-26-2013 01:19:37 | More by Dreadnaught33

emyers

Illinois

4.68/5  rDev +10.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75

8.5 oz. bottle poured into a Founders snifter. No bottled on date.

Appearance: Black with a thin light brown head. Head dissipates quickly into a thin lacing.

Smell: Apple brandy, oak notes, coffee, chocolate, and underlying tones of caramel. Deep, complex, and very smooth. The smoothness of the aroma is extremely impressive. Normally I think of that as a mouthfeel descriptor, but this beer smells...velvety. Coffee is pretty mild in the aroma but definitely present and integrated wonderfully into the rest of the nose.

Taste: Yep, that's pretty damn awesome. Oak and brandy lead the charge, with the coffee coming in next (definitely more intense than it was in the aroma), followed by rich dark chocolate and roasted malt, which is accentuated by some more charred oak. Bittersweet finish. Every bit as complex and delicious as the smell would suggest, and then some. There is a noticeable alcohol heat on the finish and an ever-so-slightly harsh acidity (probably from the coffee?), but those are very minor complaints (and the only reasons this doesn't get a 5 for taste).

Mouthfeel: Thick, rich, and velvety, with a light touch of carbonation. Excellent. Coats the palate with brandy/coffee deliciousness as you swallow it.

Overall: I had the cognac-barrel aged version a while back (well before I was reviewing beers on BA), and I remember it as one of the best beers I ever had. I expected this to fall far short of my memories, but it stood up to the challenge. An absolutely phenomenal beer in every respect

Serving type: bottle

02-24-2013 23:00:16 | More by emyers

spoony

Colorado

3.96/5  rDev -6.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

From a 250 ml bottle into a snifter.

A-This beer pours heavy, like maple syrup. A normal pour produces no real head, just a ring of dark brown mist around the edge of the glass. Color is pure black.

S-This brew smells intensely of bitter coffee (my notes say "day-old espresso grounds"), with similarly intense whiffs of roasted, charred, smokey malts. There is a fair amount of booze heat, as well, and a little bit of sweet, dark fruit underneath the bitter scents.

T-The taste is less bitter than the smell, with roasted coffee flavors being more noticeable than the old espresso I found on the nose. There is still some smokey, acrid charred flavors and a pretty substantial boozy heat, too.

M-The feel is heavy with very little carbonation. Feel is well-matched to the style and flavor.

O-This is a big, intensely flavored beer. The flavors are complex and concentrated, and the mouthfeel is well-suited for sipping slowly. Fans of coffee would do well here. That being said, this brew was a touch on the bitter side for me, and I have found other coffee stouts that I enjoy more (especially when price is factored in).

Serving type: bottle

02-18-2013 17:09:37 | More by spoony

Pecan

California

4.5/5  rDev +6.6%

02-18-2013 05:42:26 | More by Pecan