Sort Gul - Mikkeller ApS

DocJitsu

California

4.03/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

Pours a horehound hard candy brown with a huge, foamy, washing machine has way too much soap head. Bouquet is grassy and lemon zest. Moutfheel is extraordinarily smooth and soft with a bit of carbonation bite at the finish. The flavor is a hybrid between a porter and a gigantic hop presence throughout. The hop burn makes up for the lack of carbonation. It's a decent beer, for the uniqueness if nothing else. But, it is a pleasant beer.

Serving type: bottle

01-19-2013 01:49:57 | More by DocJitsu

Bubbles

California

4/5  rDev +1.5%

05-21-2013 18:15:37 | More by Bubbles

BuddyE

Louisiana

3.25/5  rDev -17.5%

05-14-2013 14:59:48 | More by BuddyE

CowsandBeer

Kansas

3.48/5  rDev -11.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5

Purchased from Liquor Mart in Boulder, CO. Poured quite cold from a bottle into a snifter. Lots of sediment at the bottom of the bottle.

Appearance: Delicate pour resulted in a one finger khaki colored head. After a while it faded to some bubbles and a thin cap. Looks almost like greasy dish water. Really dark brown, almost black body.

Smell: Piney hops followed by roasted chocolate malts, tart/sour stone fruits, and cheap coffee.

Taste: Follows the nose. Bitter, citrusy and piney hops, nice chocolate malts, sourish plums and cherries, floral hops, coffee with a little bit of cream, and a drying hop bitterness. Chocolate malts linger for a while. No alcohol warmth.

M: As has been said, great fizzy carbonation. Really helps the beer.

Overall: More of a bitter, fruity porter than anything else. The hops came out a lot more as the beer warmed but I expected it to be hoppier than it was. My favorite thing was the chocolate/coffee notes from the malts. Not my favorite BIPA but an interesting experience nonetheless.

Serving type: bottle

05-10-2013 05:59:06 | More by CowsandBeer

northyorksammy

Ontario (Canada)

3.96/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Met my expectation of a tasty black ipa. Bottle from Village Beer Merchant. The roast and hop balance was very good. The hops lead, would it be as good another 2 months? I do not know, good malting aided great drinkability. Somewhat expensive but worth it for me.

Serving type: bottle

05-05-2013 02:46:39 | More by northyorksammy

pelicon

Slovenia

5/5  rDev +26.9%

04-29-2013 21:04:13 | More by pelicon

wesley14

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev +1.5%

04-12-2013 13:32:33 | More by wesley14

Eric908

South Dakota

4.25/5  rDev +7.9%

04-04-2013 01:34:05 | More by Eric908

animal69

Louisiana

4/5  rDev +1.5%

03-24-2013 01:00:08 | More by animal69

rolltide8425

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +1.5%

03-23-2013 15:01:18 | More by rolltide8425

tuckerlikesbeer

Minnesota

4/5  rDev +1.5%

03-14-2013 02:41:29 | More by tuckerlikesbeer

kojevergas

California

3.56/5  rDev -9.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Mikkeller "Sort Gul." 7.30% ABV confirmed. "Black India Pale Ale." I've had a great black IPA from Mikkeller before, so I'm hoping this is up to par. Mikkel's my favourite brewer; expectations are high. 11.2 fl oz brown glass bottle with standard black pressure cap served into a conical Samuel Smith's pint glass in me gaff in low altitude Los Feliz, Los Angeles, California. Reviewed live. Brewed and bottled at De Proef. Imported by the Shelton Bastards.

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

A: A light bubble show at the bottom of the head as foam seems to run down towards the body. Pours a 5+ finger head of biege-khaki colour. Foamy and a bit frothy. Lacing is sticky and heavy; wow. A bit creamy. Great thickness. Great (10+ minute) retention for the high ABV; that's damned impressive. Body colour is very dark solid brown-black; it's not quite a consistent full jet-black; there's some restraint there. No yeast particles are visible. All around it's pretty impressive.

Sm: Caramel, chocolate malt, dark bittering malts, floral hops, fennel, raisin, light coffee, and light grapefruit citrus. No hop bitterness or bite. It's pretty good for the style. A bit of roast. A subtle aroma of mild strength. I'm excited to try it.

I couldn't wait on the head any longer after five minutes, so I just started drinking through the head - which was still a good 4 fingers in thickness.

T: A marriage of dark bitter malts, light coffee, light roast, and timid caramel with well executed floral hop notes, a touch of grapefruit citrus ester zing, and a bit of biscuity yeast. They don't clash at all. It works surprisingly well. Nicely balanced and built. The coffee in particularly has a delightfully subtle part to play which really helps bring out the roast and hop bitterness; they play off and complement eachother. Its strength is in its subtlety; it isn't amazingly complex but there's plenty going on here. I don't get any alcohol. Any chocolate malt is minimal. One of the better Black IPAs I've had, but Mikkel has done other better ones.

Mf: Soft, chewy, smooth, and wet. Carbonation is perfect. It's light and soothing on the palate, yet presence is still full. It doesn't lack body, but the mouthfeel really aids drinkability. A fine texture that so few brewers seem able to deliver. Complements the flavour profile rather well.

Dr: A success from Mikkel. One of the better beers I've tried in this style. Mikkel's are the only black IPAs I can remember really enjoying. A solid Black IPA that helps remind me why Mikkeller is my favourite 'brewery'. Hides its ABV well. I'd probably get this again, especially when out at a bar. I do wish the price were better as an import, but Danes have no excuse not to try this.

Low B

Serving type: bottle

03-08-2013 05:49:50 | More by kojevergas

Beer-A-Lot

Virginia

4.18/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Thoroughly enjoyable and easy-drinking beer. From the first appearance to the last drop, this was very satisfying and impressive. I could get used to this style. Although there is some bitterness and hoppiness, it is much less prominent than typical IPAs, with a more prominent dark fruit flavor. Some subtle roasted flavors make it more appealing as well. This also is less expensive than most Mikkeller beers, so that's a good thing too.

Serving type: bottle

02-26-2013 01:21:44 | More by Beer-A-Lot

petluo

Finland

3.25/5  rDev -17.5%

02-25-2013 14:07:52 | More by petluo

Arborescence

Finland

3.84/5  rDev -2.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.75

Batch no. 011112

Appearance: Almost pitch black. Pours a massive thick head with a dark tint -- perfect head.

Aroma: Aromatic hops, reminiscent of strong American IPAs. A little bit of citrus-like sweetness.

Taste: Not an insane hop attack, but the hops bitterness is especially present in the aftertaste, which is sharp. Other than there's some intense grapefruit, but not all that much depth.

Mouthfeel: Moderate carbonation, feels rather prickly, light to medium body.

Overall: Nothing amazing in the end, but perfectly reasonable version of the Black IPA style. A little too sharp though, especially in the aftertaste.

Serving type: bottle

02-24-2013 16:39:14 | More by Arborescence

tswater

Colorado

4/5  rDev +1.5%

02-11-2013 15:10:47 | More by tswater

bluesplit63

Connecticut

4/5  rDev +1.5%

02-07-2013 17:21:13 | More by bluesplit63

fatmusic14

Colorado

3.75/5  rDev -4.8%
look: 2.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25

11 oz bottle poured into a pint glass.

A - very dark, not quite pitch black, great creamy head, super foamy and overflowing. actually pours nicely, but there is stuff floating around in mine (sediment or something) - kinda turned off from that.

S - smells like a chocolate stout, mocha, pine, coffee

T - tastes great, really melds the flavors of an IPA and a stout well. Really robust flavors of coffee, chocolate, tiny hint of sweetness as an aftertaste. ABV well hidden

M - Eh, nothing to write home about.

Probably would not buy another.

Serving type: bottle

02-02-2013 21:33:43 | More by fatmusic14

sendbeer

Georgia

3.75/5  rDev -4.8%

02-01-2013 17:49:27 | More by sendbeer

durlta

Iowa

3.5/5  rDev -11.2%

01-26-2013 15:29:25 | More by durlta

ngeunit1

California

4.11/5  rDev +4.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Dark black, touch of brown, finger frothy khaki-tan head. Fades normal.

S - Roasted chocolate and caramel malts, grapefruit, citrus, pine hops, some coffee.

T - Roasted chocolate and caramel malts, grapefruit, citrus, pine hops, bitterness, coffee, bit of black licorice.

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

D - Nice black IPA. Good hop profile and balance.

Serving type: bottle

01-20-2013 04:39:31 | More by ngeunit1

DrinkSlurm

Connecticut

4.14/5  rDev +5.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

Purchased 11.2 oz bottle at Calandro's in baton Rouge while on business for around $6. Pours a deep brown to black color with a finger of off white creamy head. Seriously intense hop aroma, super hot and sharp. Mixed with some roasted black bitter malts and a slight amount of vanilla. Really crisp black bitter malt, piney sharp hop and a tad of creamy vanilla flavor. Its slightly bitter but smooth and creamy at the same time. There is such a war of the senses going on here...but it all evens out. Thed alcohol is completely hidden. This is another great brew from Mikkeller.

Serving type: bottle

01-17-2013 02:39:26 | More by DrinkSlurm

Mirrorful

Illinois

3.75/5  rDev -4.8%

01-12-2013 06:38:58 | More by Mirrorful

StonedTrippin

Colorado

4.08/5  rDev +3.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

this was an xmas present from my wonderful girlfriend. small bottle poured into a wine glass. as always, mikkeller can do no wrong. its nearly black in color with a gorgeous cream colored head just under an inch tall, and lasting the whole glass. simply stunning appearance. the nose is well hopped, zesty and piney at the same time, just right on christmas day. big roasty malt profile, even spicy mixed in with the bitter. i can pick out some rye malt i think, like the wookey jack from firestone in terms of the malt bill. flavor is really hoppy, much more so than expected, with a few notes of coffee on the back end as well. the remaining yeast provides excellent texture and mouthfeel to this beer, which is full enough bodied and brightly carbonated. i love mikkeller beers, every single one of them, and this one to me was very special. the alcohol was felt but not heard from, and the overall vibe of this beer is outstanding. look forward to my next one of these!

Serving type: bottle

12-26-2012 03:10:56 | More by StonedTrippin

MarkyMOD

Colorado

4/5  rDev +1.5%

12-20-2012 03:15:37 | More by MarkyMOD