Stillwater / Mikkeller Two Gypsies: Our Side - Stillwater Artisanal Ales

tobelerone

New Jersey

4/5  rDev +1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap at Top Hops, NYC. Hazy dark orange body with a decent sized white head that settles slowly. Nice lacing.

Aroma is yeasty and spicy; has a Belgian character supplemented by citrus hoppiness. Notes of black pepper and grass.

Flavor is close to the nose; hoppier than expected, with assertive citrus, floral, and grassy notes. Well balanced and blended with yeast flavors and phenols; black pepper and clove; general spiciness. Mildly lingering bitterness in the aftertaste; very moderate sweetness, drying finish.

Medium bodied with medium to slightly high carbonation giving a little life in the mouth. Lightly creamy. Not bad; pretty interesting effort, hoppier than a traditional saison to be sure.

Serving type: on-tap

06-28-2012 18:32:06 | More by tobelerone

GarthDanielson

New Hampshire

3.65/5  rDev -7.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Poured on-tap and served in a tumbler pint, the beer is a cloudy, opaque, yellow-peach coloring with a slight film coating the surface. Aromas are sweet citrus, with lemon and grapefruit in the forefront, with a solid dose of resiny hops on the edges of the nose. Flavors are smooth and tangy, with a more tropical fruit backbone joining the citrus fray, including pineapple and melon highlights. Roasted notes throughout, with a dry-hopped overtone of green grass and basil. The fruit character drives a tangy, sweet, and tart aftertaste, with a slick, slightly bitter and astringent finish. Unique brew.

Serving type: on-tap

05-29-2012 17:18:44 | More by GarthDanielson

FreshHawk

Illinois

4/5  rDev +1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Hazy, deep apricot color with a large, smooth, creamy, foamy, white head. Average retention and some sticky lacing left. Looks the part of a Saison-IPA mix.

S - Definite yeasty funk coming from this beer. Lemony hop aroma along with a whiff of citrus. Touches of apple and other orchard fruit. Yeast aroma is pretty dominate though.

T - Starts with that funky yeast kick leading into a more pronounced lemon zest. Some citrus along with a bit of orchard fruit. Banana ester flavors show up a bit mid sip as well. Subdued spice/pepper flavor along with pine. Finishes with a touch of funk and some more yeast flavors and just slightly bitter.

M - Medium body with a bit below average carbonation for a saison. Fairly smooth.

D - Pretty easy to drink. Alcohol is well hidden and a nice spectrum of flavors.

Notes: This is somewhere inbetween a Saison and a Belgian IPA but is closer to a Saison. Yeast provides a good portion of the flavor with the hops accentuating the yeast. Nice funk that is definitely there but not an overpowering funk. Not something I'd particularly crave or reach for but nice overall, especially if you are in the mood for a funky IPA.

Serving type: on-tap

05-23-2012 22:00:49 | More by FreshHawk

thagr81us

South Carolina

3.95/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Served from tap into a Trappe Door tulip. Poured yellow-orange with a two finger white head that subsided to a minimal amount very slowly. Maintained excellent lacing throughout the glass. The aroma was comprised of sweet malt, citrus, lemon zest, lemon rine, spices, floral, and floral hop. The flavor was of sweet malt, fruit, citrus, citrus hop, earth, floral, and floral hop. It had a light feel on the palate with medium-high carbonation. Overall this was a fairly good brew. This was a fairly well balanced brew on both the aroma and flavor. The citrus and floral aspect in this one really made it quite interesting and enjoyable. While being well balanced it still managed to be quite complex quite was a very refreshing aspect. Definitely worth trying if you get the chance.

Serving type: on-tap

04-17-2012 10:58:59 | More by thagr81us

Hopdaemon39

Massachusetts

4.53/5  rDev +14.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Had on tap at the otherside- pouts. Hazy golden orange with a one finger head, nice retention, no lacing.

Smell is wonderful- some nice tart wild yeast smell, a little sweet pale malt and a little citrus hops (barely noticeable).

Taste is consistent with smell- nice tartness, well balanced with sweet pale malt, taken over by citrus hops towards the end; lemony.

Mouthfeel is also excellent- nice light body with exceptional carbonation. This is a great beer and you should get it if you can.

Serving type: on-tap

04-11-2012 02:06:30 | More by Hopdaemon39

Auracom

Illinois

3.93/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

On-tap at Poor Phil's. 9 oz. in a generic tulip/flute on March 22nd, 2011.

A - A bit dark for a Saison. Hazy brown/deep golden coloring. Very little head or retention. Marginal white lacing.

S - Grass, spring leaves, light hay, crisp fruit skins combined with faint hop notes. Soft backend honey malts. Not a ton of depth but it is inviting.

T - Touch of spice, more gentle honey, lemon, clove, herbs, grass. Bready, graham-cracker backend. This is a bit better than the aroma overall.

M - Pretty smooth for the style. Medium body, good carbonation. Appealing crisp herbal and spice finish.

D - Drinks very easily even @ 7.5%. Good feel, in some ways this drinks more like a subtle and herbal DIPA. Would revisit and hopefully I'll get a chance to try one of the barrel versions.

Serving type: on-tap

03-27-2012 21:49:30 | More by Auracom

Mahlik

Oregon

3.13/5  rDev -21%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

On-tap at Bridgetown Beerhouse. Poured into snifter.

A- Pours a hazy apricot-like color with a small fluffy head. Head dissipates pretty quickly. Almost no lacing.

S- Spicy phenols, apple, pear, Belgian yeast and some peppery and floral/perfume undertones. All the saison elements are there. It's just a little bland to me. Nothing really grabs my attention.

T- At first, I wasn't sure how I felt about the taste. I feel like the grassy hops are competing with the fruity, yeasty components. And no one is really winning. It's starts by being spicy (not heat-wise) and phenolic with notes of pear, apple and yeast. But then the grassiness from the hops come in and kind of wash everything else out. Not terrible but it's just not working IMO.

M- The light, crisp body you would expect from a saison. Plenty of carbonation. Finishes bone dry.

O- A little disappointing. The aroma is forgettable. There is a clash of flavors in the taste. There are much better options out there. If you are a real fan of either brewery, go ahead and grab some. If not, then feel free to overlook this beer.

Serving type: on-tap

02-18-2012 03:34:10 | More by Mahlik

Rifugium

Pennsylvania

3.73/5  rDev -5.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

First had: on tap at Pinocchio's, Media, PA

Served in a stem glass, a golden-amber color with a slight haze, and a small delicate cap of white head. Light aroma, grassy, organic, crisp and lightly citrusy. Light and crisp on the tongue as well, sweet with light sugar, grassy and floral, with hints of citrus zest. Not overly flavorful, but definitely nice, with little to no aftertaste. Light-medium mouthfeel, moderate carbonation, and quite drinkable overall.

Serving type: on-tap

12-25-2011 01:55:15 | More by Rifugium

tempest

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Had a glass at Queens Alewife, it appeared a hazy amber. The aroma reminded me a bit of Saison Dupont, but there was an extra fruity edge. The esters come out with cherry with almost a black licorice. It's not juicy, just a slight complement to the spicy, herbal farmhouse character. By herbal, I mean it tastes and smells like there's a hit of fresh garden herbs, but not over the top, that works in with the dry Belgian yeast. It lacks the deep, complex character of the best saisons, but it's a very tasty, well-balanced beer.

Serving type: on-tap

12-11-2011 04:45:12 | More by tempest

zeff80

Missouri

4.22/5  rDev +6.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap at Uprise Bar, Columbia, MO.

A - Poured a cloudy, orange color with a one-finger, tan head of bubbly, off-white foam. It left patchy trails of lace on the glass.

S - It smelled funky and slightly phenolic with some fruity notes - apple and pear.

T - It tasted spicy with touch of funk. Good caramel flavor with a nice green apple fruitiness.

M - It was crisp, sharp and crackly on the tongue. A medium bodied ale with a dry finish.

O - This was fantastic on tap. I really enjoyed this one!

Serving type: on-tap

12-05-2011 03:07:45 | More by zeff80

rfgetz

Pennsylvania

4.2/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Hazed golden amber, moderate cap of white soapy bubbles with decent rings of lace. Scent is filled with fruity hops over top of musty grain, lightly funk defied and bready yeast, faint spiciing. Taste brings a very American rush of juicy citrus before the musty and earthy saision characters take over, quite sweet and bready. Lighter side of medium bodied, bubbly. Overall, quite unique and full flavored.

Serving type: on-tap

10-10-2011 02:42:21 | More by rfgetz

Beerandraiderfan

Nevada

3.03/5  rDev -23.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Cool peach colored beer. Nice, but some head or lacing would have been even better. Muted aroma, didn't pull much out of it other than standard belgian yeast.

Taste was full of carbonation, didn't make sense based on the appearance, but ok, weird bitterness. Too medicinal at times. Went from ugh, to not bad, to, eh, there it is again. Seems like it is trying to hard to be complex, with all sorts of competing flavoroids that don't jive with each other. Is there tea leaves and toffee here? Seems more like a DFH let's do something weird for the sake of being weird type of collaboration, but yeah, Mikkeller does a lot of that too, they just have a better overall track record than this with me for their other stuff.

Serving type: on-tap

09-28-2011 00:04:35 | More by Beerandraiderfan

cneville

Ohio

3.75/5  rDev -5.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured into a tulip glass.

Appearance: huge, white head that fell verrry slowly.
Smell: orangey and yeasty at first, very complex.

Taste: orange again, but not as complex and exciting as the smell and look had indicated. Could feel the alcohol here.

Overall: a good saison, but not my favorite. Taste wasn't totally there for me.

Serving type: on-tap

09-01-2011 00:26:21 | More by cneville

mltobin

Connecticut

3.9/5  rDev -1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap at The Publick House in Brookline.

Appearance is a lighter golden hue with a one finger white head. Its` smell was a mix of belgian yeast, citrus, and flora. 2 Gypsies tasted fairly earthy; sourdough bread, lemon, honey, malt, faint hops too. MF is medium with nice carbonation levels. This collabo between Mikkeller and Stillwater is worth checking out if you enjoy saisons.

Serving type: on-tap

07-16-2011 00:48:56 | More by mltobin

biegaman

Ontario (Canada)

4.33/5  rDev +9.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

On-tap at Public House, in San Francisco.

The beer looks like a ripe peach when held to the light, condensation on the glass even doubling for fuzz. Indeed, it looks like something I'd like to take a bit out of. The beer's complexion is transparent but foggy, owing, I imagine, to a protein haze on the behalf of an ample maltiness. Its head leaves lacing with bigger veins than a bodybuilder.

The beer smells like God's own secret batch of peach lemonade. Its bouquet has the super distilled essence of apricots, millions of them. I suppose that it's yeast and hops that account for this blossoming, slightly sour fruitiness and the floral overtones that pair with it. Assuming so, they've done their job perfectly. Heck, why drink it when I can keep smelling it?

Clean, toasty, Belgian-esque malts make up the foundations and they're instantly recognizable, even over-top the tart fruity notes. What takes more time to show is all the green, candied hoppiness. These ales that combine rich, quality continental maltiness with brazen, zesty American hops have become quite fashionable, and with good reason.

This relatively potent beer is disguised with a pleasant overall floral quality, akin to an herbal tea. There is some bitterness - which should be expected anytime the name Mikkeller is on the label - and what's there is surprisingly assertive. A rash of yeasty spice, subtle until this point, washes up on the finish with a hide tide of (well contained) alcohol warmth.

"Two Gypsies" refers to the fact that neither brewer - Mikkel Borg Bjergsø (Mikkeller – Denmark) and Brian Strumke (Stillwater Ales – Baltimore, USA) - actually has a brewing facility of their own. They're just a couple of mooches that go around the world borrowing other peoples' stuff. And it's a damn good thing they let them! It'd be a crime not to.

Serving type: on-tap

07-10-2011 04:59:49 | More by biegaman

rudzud

Massachusetts

3.9/5  rDev -1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

From notes taken at the Armsby Abbey.

A - Poured into a generic tulip a hazy copper/gold with a one finger head that leaves big, creamy side lacing.

S - Light floral hops and grass along with rather light funk.

T - Basicaly the nose just amped up. There are more of those soft floral hops and grass notes along with that typical saison barn and funk.

M - Low in carbonation and quite creamy.

O - This wasnt a bad saison, but, I had better ones that night. Wonder how this would be from the bottle with a little time on it...

Serving type: on-tap

07-06-2011 01:13:37 | More by rudzud

thegodfather2701

North Carolina

4.33/5  rDev +9.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

I had this on tap at Barley's in Asheville a few weeks ago and the review is from my notes.

A-Honey with an off-white head. There is some lacing and cascading as well.

S-Piney, earthy hops as well as some citrus hops. Belgian yeast is present and caramel malt in the background.

T-Citrus and pine hop notes up front followed by a honey and caramel malt backbone. Delicious and fresh oranges flavor is present. The Farmhouse yeast strain becomes more present as it warms. Delicious and complex beer.

M-Thick with a nice amount of carbonation.

D-I could drink this all day. Truly delicious and complex.

Overall, this is a great beer and I'm glad I had I was able to try it.

Serving type: on-tap

07-04-2011 19:01:21 | More by thegodfather2701

SubpoenaDeuces

California

3.43/5  rDev -13.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Stillwater/Mikkeller Two gypsies Saison

A honey golden with huge carbonation, nice lacing with mild middle body

S some Belgian sweetness, clove, citrus, and classic saison spiciness

T: This is a nice dryness with mellow hops. The taste has a type of great pepper notes to it with some coriander. That makes it sound far more herbal than it is but overall very crisp and refreshing with great wheat notes.

M: there is a very light character with great crisp character. However, in the realm of saisons it gets subsumed by many other iconic brands. It is not exceptionally memorable overall unfortunately.

D Like many Saisons, it is a very light and refreshing beer, but if it were not, it would be a pretty unsatisfactory saison. The light brett funk is good but ultimately forgettable.

Narrative: Life was pretty consistent for Carl Cirrus. He was born from coastal pressure as a cirrus cloud, no surprise there, but he always longed for more. He would often glide along without purpose and refresh airplane passengers in a mild way. Ultimately, he wanted so much more. He wanted to live a life of excitement and pizzazz like his humulus and stratus brethren. They would toss and turn, flip into funnels, destroy Midwest towns; and yet here he was, just a placid long bed of evapotranspiration that no one gave a thought to. “I create those healthy jet streams for travel and the currents for watering cro-” PSsFFHFHHHSSHHH:::: a new satellite was launched trough Carl’s cirrus sternum: MTV3 just went live.

Serving type: on-tap

07-02-2011 07:45:50 | More by SubpoenaDeuces

DoubleJ

California

3.88/5  rDev -2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

On-tap at Bruery Provisions, on to the beer:

It looks like fall with its autumn orange color. A little lace it brings clings to the glass. At first, the nose hits hard with the hops. Given some time to air out, we start to get a little rusitc. More specifically, the aroma is piney, toffee, and a little rustic.

It's a weird one, but I like it. This IPA meets saison has got it. Pine juice and rustic saison characterstics to taste, and while I like it, I wouldn't want many helping of it

Serving type: on-tap

07-01-2011 02:55:52 | More by DoubleJ

CoalPorter

North Carolina

4.05/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Half pour from a tap to a Palm goblet

A - very cloudy, deep orange amber as the sun comes through it. Almost no head and a ring of large bubbles around the perimeter, leaving little residue

S - sweet orange candy notes and and alcohol come first, with and underpinning of floral and pine hop presence

T - In reverse of the aroma the hops are at the fore here. Grapefruit and pine giving way to a bitter finish with hints of caraway

M - very bubbly, light feel initially, but then leaves a resiny hop coating in the mouth

O - Despite being aggressively hop flavored I found this beer dangerously drinkable. Then again I like hops.

Serving type: on-tap

06-28-2011 15:49:35 | More by CoalPorter

FosterJM

California

4.33/5  rDev +9.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

590th Review on BA
Draft to Taster
@Bruery Provisions

App- Its a mix of orange and amber with a nice bit of bubbles to it. Even in a taster it was nice and clingy.

Smell- Smelled like a very citrusy DIPA. I got more fresh squeezed oranger juice with a little hops than any of the yeast of the saison

Taste- This is where it shined. It was simple, balanced and flavoful. The two flavors were paired in a way that each one shined on their own but were harmonious.

Mouth- Medium bodied and medium carbonated. left that orange juice flavor on the aftertaste.

Drink- It was too bad, I didnt see a bottle on the shelf. I wouldve grabbed one. Was a very easy drinking beer. Ill have to have this again.

Serving type: on-tap

06-27-2011 02:42:45 | More by FosterJM

corby112

Pennsylvania

3.5/5  rDev -11.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Draft at Farmers' Cabinet.

Pours a hazy bright golden orange color with pale yellowish orange hues and a frothy two finger white head.  Good retention slowly fading to a lasting cap/ring that leaves rings and chunks of lace.  

Slightly earthy aroma with subtle barnyard notes. Lots of bready yeast and crisp, light fruit.  Hints of orange and apple with subtle crisp hops, grass and straw.

Medium bodied and slightly creamy with a zesty, peppery spice presence up front that lingers into a slight dry finish.  Full bready yeast body with subtle earthy hops countering the saison yeast.  Hints of coriander, pepper and light fruit with lots of citrus/orange peel.  

Serving type: on-tap

06-24-2011 05:06:09 | More by corby112

womencantsail

California

3.68/5  rDev -7.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On-tap at Beachwood

A: The beer pours a hazed golden amber color with a finger of white head.

S: Smells sort of saison-like with a nice grass and yeast profile, as well as some citrus peel. It is on the sweet side, though. Somewhat sugary with a bit of caramel. Some floral hops and a hint of pepper.

T: Sweet up front with a big time candi sugar flavor. Floral and grassy notes, a bit of lemon zest, and a slightly perfumey feel to the beer. A bit of bready malt and some bitterness on the finish. As it warms, some apple comes out.

M: Medium in body with a medium carbonation.

O: If it wasn't so sweet, I would have liked this one significantly more.

Serving type: on-tap

06-13-2011 17:41:12 | More by womencantsail

Halcyondays

California

3.6/5  rDev -9.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

On-tap at Beachwood BBQ,

A: Pours a medium orange with an impressive frothy white head. Average head retention and solid lace.

S: Very grassy and herbal, notes of the American influence.

T: Grass, pine and white pepper type flavours, with some good estery notes. Hoppier than the style would usually indicate but well made.

M: Medium-bodied, smooth, creamy feel, soft carbonation.

O: Kind of middle of the road for me, though the flavours are there. I'm pretty tough on this style, but still worth seeking out.

Serving type: on-tap

06-12-2011 22:06:13 | More by Halcyondays

tbeckett

Ontario (Canada)

4.05/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap at Mikkeller Bar. From notes.

A - Dark gold in colour. Medium carbonation visible. One finger white head gone quite quickly to a thick cap and then is gone. Hazy.

S - Kinda funky with lemon and grassiness. Fruity and quite hoppy as well. Very nice.

T - All the same with the funk, lemon, grassiness, fruit, and hops. A musky element comes out too too add a new aspect and make things more interesting.

M - Nice bubbly carbonation with a medium body that seems appropriate. Oh so smooth and refreshing.

D - Quite high. I like this quite a bit. Like an IPA without the bitterness in a way. Interesting and very worth seeking out.

Serving type: on-tap

04-12-2011 19:40:25 | More by tbeckett