Entry 89: Mikkeller It's Alive

Mikkeller

Copenhagen, Denmark
(Brewed @ De Proef Brouwerij, Lochristi-Huefte, Belgium


Style: Belgian Strong Pale Ale
Availability: Limited - (Brewed Once)
Format: 750ml
ABV: 8.0%


Bottle text & Info:

"It's Alive! is Mikkellers answer and tribute to the trappist beer Orval. It's Alive is an easy-to-drink beer, with a lot of hops. The color is amber, the foam is high, white and dense. The potent Brettanomyces culture makes It's Alive continue to develop in the bottle.

Ingredients :
Water, malt (pale and cara), light candy, hops (hallertauer and styrian goldings), yeast and brettanomyces."

Tasting Notes:
Pours a rusty copper with a huge, voluminous antique white head, leaving sticky lacing and craggy rock like foam structures behind. Smells of some sweet dark fruit, caramel malts and candied figs. Incredibly smooth medium mouthfeel burst forward with a hop snap mellowing seamlessly into a sweet, chewy caramel center. Deftly handled bretts bring the funk but are not at all off putting nor dominant. An absolutely phenomenal representation of the great Belgian Wild Ales. 

Day 66: 03.07.10 BrewDog/Mikkeller Devine Rebel

BrewDog Ltd.

Fraserburgh, Scotland


in collaboration with:
Mikkeller

Kobenhaven, Denmark


Devine Rebel


Style: English Barleywine
Availability: Limited - Brewed Once
Format: 330ml
ABV: 12.1%


Bottle text & Info: 
"In a rock n' roll collaboration, 2 of Europe's most extreme, experimental brewers have combined forces, talents and ideas to produce this innovative ale. Uniting inspiration, ingredients and people from around the world this beer was brewed and aged at BrewDog in Scotland. This rebellious beer is partially aged in oak Spayside whiskey barrels and partially aged in stainless steel, combines an ale yeast and a champagne yeast and showcases a single hop variety."


Tasting Notes:
Pours a deep copper with little to no head.  Smells of candied dark fruit, prune/fig, dried peach and that classic caramel - butterscotch note. Nice nose on this one. Mouthfeel is smooth and heavy with some great toffee, caramel and vanilla notes along with slight marzipan and scotch whiskey all backed by warming alcohol. An absolutely chewy barleywine that has a great dynamic between honey-like sweetness on fruit ending with some slight tartness. I have to admit, English-style Barleywines aren't my favorites. I usually find them too malty and cloyingly sweet - however, the whiskey and the tart end hold my interest. If you enjoy big, malty, night cappers - I'd definitely recommend checking this out. A solid offering produced by two of Europe's most innovative breweries.