Mikkeller Mexas Ranger
Style: Flavoured Porter
Alcohol Content: 6.6%
From: Copenhagen, Denmark
Purchased from: Real Ale Shop, Richmond Upon Thames
http://mikkeller.dk/
Mikkeller is a so-called "phantom" or "gypsy" microbrewery founded in 2006 in Copenhagen, Denmark. The brewery was founded by two homebrewers, a high school teacher Mikkel Borg Bjergsø and a journalist Kristian Klarup Keller, with the intention of bringing their home-brewed beer into public awareness, and to "challenge their beer friends with intense new tastes". The two also found some inspiration for their widely-varied, edgy brewing approach from the American breweries that "aren't afraid to play and break all the rules". In craft beer circles, the Mikkeller brewery is considered to be one of the innovative and well thought of breweries in the world. During its history, unlike many other microbreweries, Mikkeller has brewed over 600 different beers in a wide variety of styles. As of 2013, their annual output is 8,500 hectolitres of beer. This is a review of Mikkeller's Mexas Ranger. A porter made with a whole host of additional ingredients including Almond Milk, Chillies and Avocado leaves.
Colour: This porter pours ink black topped with a dark tan coloured head. Like a black hole, no light can penetrate thought this temptingly thick beer. Truth be told, this has to be the most beautiful looking porter I have ever seen before. I cannot wait to dive into its mucky depths!
Aroma: Just like its appearance, the bouquet of this beer also oozes quality. Served in two halves, bold notes of cocoa and coffee dominate before giving way to a combination of sweet lactose and a subtle smokiness mixed with a warming chilli spice. This beer is literally begging me to have a sip, so what's the point in waiting any longer.
Body: The thick and smoky body will wash over your palate like a tidal wave. As the swell dies down, a slightly odd drying sensation will remove all the moisture from your mouth. This will naturally force you to have another sip as the feeling can be a little unpleasant.
Taste: Finally the Pièce de résistance, the tasting! Upfront notes of dark chocolate playful mix with the additional almond milk. This milky sweetness soon gives way to hints of bitter coffee and a slight herbal flavouring. It climaxes with a finish that is very dry yet slight warming due to the addition of chillies (cascabel, de arbol, guajilo, mulato and pasilla to be more precise) to the brew kettle. Whilst these chillies will not blow your head off, you certainly know they are there. Personally, I feel that the chillies help to dial down the sweetness and help to round out the beers flavour profile perfectly. In summary, this is an excellent porter that blends the traditional Fab Four ingredients with some playful new additions. You can certainly never say Mikkeller's beer are boring!
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