Mikkeller Koppi

Mikkeller Koppi

Style: Coffee IPA

Alcohol Content: 6.9%

From: Copenhagen, Denmark

Purchased from: Real Ale Shop, Richmond Upon Thames

http://mikkeller.dk/

What a weekend! Not only did I get to eat an amazing lobster roll at the Big Easy, I also visited the White Horse in Parsons Green. The selection of craft beer was quite frankly remarkable. From Rouge to Windsor and Eton, the White Horse had them all. After spending an eternity looking at the craft beer menu, Emma and I plumped for the following: Stone Levitation Ale, Goose Island Honkers ale, Kona Big Wave, Rouge Hazelnut Brown Nectar, Beaverton Black Betty Black IPA, Westbrook White Thai, Blanche De Bruxelles and Windsor and Eton Zinzan's Drop. You must agree, a very drinkable line up indeed. Couple this with a fantastic atmosphere and friendly staff, make the White Horse a winner. Whilst there, I noticed a number of Mikkeller beers were available. Rather than pay £20 for a bottle of their Geek Breakfast beer, I remembered I had bottle of Mikkeller Koppi sitting in my cupboard at home. So without further ado, here is the review.

Mikkeller is a so-called "phantom" or "gypsy" microbrewery founded in 2006 in Copenhagen, Denmark. The brewery was founded by two home brewers, 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 the 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. So onto the tasting.

Colour: Pours a dark chestnut brown which when held up to the light, produces a slight hazy orange hue. The head is very minimal and does not stay around long, so catch it if you can.

Aroma: The use of tomahawk hops helps to create aromas of elderflower and orange blossoms. The addition of Ethiopian Guji coffee adds bitter, lightly roasted coffee notes to the nose. Both these flavours will perform a merry little dance in your nose, leaving you wanting more.

Body: Very smooth in the mouth, but the heavy hopping and the addition of coffee causes a bitterness which clogs the back of your throat.

Taste: Firstly, bitter coffee will fill your palate, this slowly mutates into notes of crunchy biscuit and smooth, creamy fudge. The finish is long and bitter, with the continuation of coffee, cream and bitter hop resins. As the drink warms, the coffee notes will slightly fade into the background. The tomahawk hops compliment the coffee to ensure neither overpowers this beer. This helps to create a very enjoyable beer that I would return to over and over again.

Similar to: http://beefsbrewery.blogspot.co.uk/2013/10/beavertown-8-ball-rye-ipa.html

Different to: http://beefsbrewery.blogspot.co.uk/2013/07/einstok-icelandic-white-ale.html

For the latest news on reviews follow me on twitter @beefsbrewery or like me on Facebook at Beefsbrewery

Meantime Coffee Porter

Meantime Coffee Porter

Style: Coffee Porter

Alcohol Content: 6%

From: Greenwich, London, England

Purchased from: Meantime Brew Shop, Greenwich

http://www.meantimebrewing.com

After months and months of badgering my girlfriend, she finally relented and agreed to accompany me on a tour of the Meantime brewery. When we arrived, I was quickly accosted by a proper London cockney known only a Big Al. This lemon squeezer (geezer) was certainly loud and proud of his East end roots. He dropped beautifully crafted one liners followed by ever so charming compliments. Quite frankly this man was a stand up comedian with a passion for craft beer and well worth the entrance fee alone! After a hour of his routine and several samples of beer (including my favourite Yakima Red), we embarked on a tour around the brewery escorted by the extremely knowledgeable Jack. It was certainly the most entertaining brewery tour I have ever attended and is well worth a repeat visit. Emma enjoyed it especially due the fact that Big Al asked her for some fashion advice. Turns out they are both big fans of Aquascutum (what ever that is?).

Meantime Brewery was founded by Alastair Hook in 2000. The originally Greenwich brewery was originally located 0° 2' 12" east of the Greenwich Meridian, moving to a site on nearby Blackwall Lane in 2010. This mission driven company aims to help the consumer rediscover their cultural and culinary beer heritage, which it believes has, in the UK at least, largely been lost as beer manufacture has been concentrated in the hands of a smaller number of ever bigger brewers, who do not wish the consumer to have any great understanding or appreciation of beer. Since opening the brewery has gone from strength to strength and their Coffee Porter won a gold medal at the world beer cup in 2008. Does the 2014 version hold its own? Let's find out.

Colour: Pours a thick, sticky jet black with a light tan head. The foamy head will stay around for the duration (always a good sign in my book).

Aroma: As you would expect for a beer with the word coffee in the label, the dominate aroma is bitter coffee. This aroma is underpinned with notes of dark chocolate from the blend of chocolate and roasted malts. Sublime stuff! 

Body: Slightly lighter than Meantime's original London Porter, but this could be due to the fact I drank this rather promptly after removing it from the fridge. A noticeable thickening effect takes place after fifteen minutes in the glass. Note to self, always serve you drinks at the correct temperature.

Taste: Full of very heavy americano notes which linger longer due to the bitterness of the hops. An extra coffee kick is provided by the addition of freshly ground coffee during the mashing process. These beans help to add the essence of dark fruit whilst the roasted malts provide sweet chocolate notes on the dry finish. Each sip will have you gasping for more. Meantime really know how to make great beer and make me proud to say I'm a Londoner.

Similar to: http://beefsbrewery.blogspot.co.uk/2013/06/dark-star-espresso-beer.html

Different to:http://beefsbrewery.blogspot. co.uk/2013/07/hogs-back-hop-garden-gold.html

For the latest news on reviews follow me on twitter @beefsbrewery or like me on Facebook at Beefsbrewery