I'm John LeMasney, and I love great beer. I'm always looking for co-commentary, guest reviews, and dissenting opinions, so feel free to comment or subscribe to my RSS feed. I love hops and Belgian styles, Rogue, Victory, Flying Fish, Flying Dog, Dogfish Head, Founders and other American Craft breweries. I like to photograph and broadcast my tastings, and I'm very interested in the calories in beer. I'm glad you stopped by, please add my site to del.icio.us, friendfeed, or your own favorite social site. I'm trying to spread the word about great beer, and I hope you join me. I'm on twitter, friendfeed, facebook, linkedin and lots of other places as lemasney.
Pale yellow body under a bright white, sticky head with strong lacing.
Aroma is faint, but enticing, banana, cloves, wheat, pepper.
Flavor is cinnamon, banana, arugula, and peppercorns.
Texture is dry, crisp, active, and lightly biting.
Overall, a great hoppy take on the style, and a delicious example of a witbier.
Style; glass: Strong Porter; snifter
25.4 fl oz x 8% ABV = 203.2 / 60 = 3.38 beers * 150 C = 507 calories (est.)
Purchased at: The Foodery. #rd and Arch, Phila, PA for $25.00
Aroma: citrus, cocoa, alcohol, roasted malts,
Visuals: fun, interesting, and intriguing packaging, the color of the remaining ashes of a burnt hearth, brown to black with a tan head, wholly opaque with a nice lace.
Taste: Sweet, then bitter, very much about coffee, chocolate, and dark roasted malts.
Visuals: world class packaging, blackness, midnight, deep woods, solid, thick, viscous, staying tan head, intricate lace.
Taste: nicely balanced, off the charts in malt and hops, a new level of strength. Superb.
Palate: highest quality, syrupy texture, long dark finish.
Overall: The DFH 120 minute IPA of the world of imperial stouts. All others pale. It is without a doubt the best beer I have ever tasted in my life. I will go and clear the shelves of it, whatever the cost. It’s not only a favorite, it is my new superlative standard. Highest value for the highest craft. Mikkeller is only posing as a human.
A second tasting: I often say that this beer or that beer is ‘one of my favorites’ but this beer is, by far, my favorite brew. I forst had this in November of 2008, and wondered when I declared that it was my favorite how long it would hold the title. Many beers since have been very good, very complex, flavorful, and rewarding, but this one has all of that, plus personality, style, and an aroma, that is at once chocolatey, peppery, and full of booziness. The complex mixture in the flavor and texture includes maple syrup, alcohol, vodka, coffee, licorice, candy, dust, and chalk. The heft is intimidating, and the alcohol effects about halfway through makes you respect and quietly sip and contemplate it. This is an amazing brew, and would pair well with the most powerfully spicy or sweet dishes. It would overpower almost anything else, and for me, that’s right on. Play on, Mikkeller, you rock it hard.
Style and Glass: Imperial Stout; snifter
ABV, Volume & Calories: 13.1% in 12.7fl oz. estimated at 250 C
Purchased at: Canal’s Lawrenceville, NJ for $10.99
Style and Glass: American Pale Ale, Shaker
ABV, Volume & Calories: 6% in 17 fl oz. estimated at 175C
Purchased at: Canal’s Burlington, NJ for $8.54 after discount
Aroma: nice, pine, citrus. 7 out of 10.
Visuals: beautiful, simple design, red golden color, brilliant, persistent white head, great lace. 5 out of 5.
Taste: well balanced, high malt, medium hops, medium strength, high craft. 9 out of 10.
Palate: high quality, medium texture, medium finish. 3 out of 5.
Overall: A fantastic brew, like all Mikkellers, I’d love the opportunity to repeat, but not necessarily a favorite, overtly expensive, superlative craft. 18 out of 20.
RateBeer Rating, Style and Glass: 94, IPA, Shaker, tulip
ABV, Volume & Calories: 7 % in 16.9 fl oz. estimated at 300 C
Purchased at: Canal’s Lawrenceville, NJ, for $9.19
Aroma: sweet, moldy, musky, basement, pine, citrus. 8 out of 10.
Visuals: hazy, sandblasted bronze, thin white head, lightly laced. 4 out of 5.
Taste: barley, specialty grains, hops, water, craft. out of 10.
Palate: loose, juicy, long dark bitter finish. 5 out of 5.
Overall: deeper and darker than the average IPA. I’d seek it out. It’s great. It’s a favorite IPA for a devoted hophead. It is masterfully crafted. 19 out of 20.
RateBeer Rating, Style and Glass: 93, European Strong Lager, Lager Glass
ABV, Volume & Calories: 8 % in 22.4 fl oz. estimated at 400 C
Purchased at: Canal’s Lawrenceville, NJ for $14.99
Aroma: heavy malt, syrupy, coke syrup, caramel. 10 out of 10.
Visuals: cloudy, misty bronze, beautiful white long lasting head, intricate lace. 5 out of 5.
Taste: hoppy, roasted grains, dark, beautifully crafted. 10 out of 10.
Palate: solid, heavy, long bitter finish. 5 out of 5.
Overall: Makes me think of what a lager could be if any attention or care was put to it. Absolutely beautiful. I’d have it again in a second. It’s not a favorite because the style isn’t a favorite, but if more lagers were like this, I’d seek them out. Beautifully crafted. 18 out of 20.
RateBeer Rating, Style and Glass: 94, Brown Ale, Dimpled Mug
ABV, Volume & Calories: 6% in 16.9 fl oz. estimated at 200 C
Purchased at: OakTree Buy Rite, South Plainsfield, NJ for $14.99
Aroma: faint, spicy, hoppy, caramel, root beer, nice. 8 out of 10.
Visuals: brilliant, red-brown color, thick foamy off-white, persistent head, impressive lace. 4 out of 5.
Taste: roasted, coffee, ginger, garlic, celery, intense hops, interesting, well crafted.10 out of 10.
Palate: mouthfeel is crisp, drying, texture is peppery, finish is long, bitter, and enjoyable. 5 out of 5.
Overall: Reminded me of a dark and delicious root beer. I’d have it again as a gift, but the price was very steep. Browns in general are not a favorite style for me. This one was very well done, as are all Mikkelleri. 18 out of 20.