Better Half | Mikkeller ApS
Brewed by:
Mikkeller ApS
Denmark
mikkeller.dk
Style: American IPA
Alcohol by volume (ABV): 6.80%
Availability: Rotating
Notes / Commercial Description:
No notes at this time.
Added by BrettRobinson on 03-08-2014
Ratings: 312 | Reviews: 58
Reviews by cjgiant:
3.75/5 rDev +0.5%
cjgiant, Jun 11, 2014
More User Reviews:
4/5 rDev +7.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
12 ounce can into tulip glass; no can dating, but was just released into the state. Pours moderately cloudy deep orange/copper color with a 1-2 finger fairly dense light khaki head with good retention, that reduces to a nice cap that lingers. Nice spotty soapy lacing clings around the glass, with a light amount of streaming carbonation. Aromas of big grapefruit, tangerine, pineapple, lemon zest, orange peel, citrus rind, pine, caramel, toasted bread, herbal, and floral/grassy earthiness. Damn nice aromas with great complexity and balance of citrus/piney hops and moderate dark malt notes; with good strength. Taste of big grapefruit, tangerine, pineapple, lemon zest, orange peel, citrus rind, pine, caramel, toasted bread, herbal, and floral/grassy earthiness. Large amount of pine/citrus rind bitterness on the finish; with lingering notes of grapefruit, tangerine, pineapple, lemon/orange peel, citrus rind, pine, and herbal/floral/grassy earthiness on the finish for a while. Damn nice complexity, robustness, and balance of citrus/piney hops and moderate dark malt flavors; with a good malt/bitterness balance and minimal lingering hop astringency after the finish. Very dry finish from the large amount of bitterness. Medium carbonation and body; with a very smooth, sticky/resinous, and lightly creamy mouthfeel that is nice. Alcohol is very well hidden with minimal warming present after the finish. Overall this is a damn nice IPA. All around great complexity, robustness, and balance of citrus/piney hops and moderate dark malt flavors; and very smooth and easy to drink. A very enjoyable offering.
1,614 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
12 ounce can into tulip glass; no can dating, but was just released into the state. Pours moderately cloudy deep orange/copper color with a 1-2 finger fairly dense light khaki head with good retention, that reduces to a nice cap that lingers. Nice spotty soapy lacing clings around the glass, with a light amount of streaming carbonation. Aromas of big grapefruit, tangerine, pineapple, lemon zest, orange peel, citrus rind, pine, caramel, toasted bread, herbal, and floral/grassy earthiness. Damn nice aromas with great complexity and balance of citrus/piney hops and moderate dark malt notes; with good strength. Taste of big grapefruit, tangerine, pineapple, lemon zest, orange peel, citrus rind, pine, caramel, toasted bread, herbal, and floral/grassy earthiness. Large amount of pine/citrus rind bitterness on the finish; with lingering notes of grapefruit, tangerine, pineapple, lemon/orange peel, citrus rind, pine, and herbal/floral/grassy earthiness on the finish for a while. Damn nice complexity, robustness, and balance of citrus/piney hops and moderate dark malt flavors; with a good malt/bitterness balance and minimal lingering hop astringency after the finish. Very dry finish from the large amount of bitterness. Medium carbonation and body; with a very smooth, sticky/resinous, and lightly creamy mouthfeel that is nice. Alcohol is very well hidden with minimal warming present after the finish. Overall this is a damn nice IPA. All around great complexity, robustness, and balance of citrus/piney hops and moderate dark malt flavors; and very smooth and easy to drink. A very enjoyable offering.
1,614 characters
3.74/5 rDev +0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
Incredibly somber and pure, Mikkeller's canning efforts debut with either a more malt-balanced IPA or a very hoppy Pale Ale. But its elevated alcohol allows the ale to trend IPA.
Its bronzen-copper hue indicates that toasted caramel and nutty flavors that introduce to the tastebuds but its acute citrusy aroma tells a more hoppy tale. Its highly attenuated sweetness allows the taste of caramel, toast and pecan to emanate, but without much of their associated sweetensses.
As the middle unfolds, its malt sweetness turns steely and dry, which elevates its nutty, husken and toasted taste. Blooming hop flavors become vivid with white grapefruit pulp, under-ripened orange, and a soft sassafras herbal taste. With the peppery bitterness of hops and seemingly rye on the palate, its looming finish in certain to shift the taste forcefully toward the hops.
As expected, the beer's taste continues to dry as its caramels dissolve and its hops gain steam.- all working toward a hop-dominant finish with malty-dry resinous bittering, a spicy bite and an earthy husken aftertaste that's just shy of tannic.
1,104 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
Incredibly somber and pure, Mikkeller's canning efforts debut with either a more malt-balanced IPA or a very hoppy Pale Ale. But its elevated alcohol allows the ale to trend IPA.
Its bronzen-copper hue indicates that toasted caramel and nutty flavors that introduce to the tastebuds but its acute citrusy aroma tells a more hoppy tale. Its highly attenuated sweetness allows the taste of caramel, toast and pecan to emanate, but without much of their associated sweetensses.
As the middle unfolds, its malt sweetness turns steely and dry, which elevates its nutty, husken and toasted taste. Blooming hop flavors become vivid with white grapefruit pulp, under-ripened orange, and a soft sassafras herbal taste. With the peppery bitterness of hops and seemingly rye on the palate, its looming finish in certain to shift the taste forcefully toward the hops.
As expected, the beer's taste continues to dry as its caramels dissolve and its hops gain steam.- all working toward a hop-dominant finish with malty-dry resinous bittering, a spicy bite and an earthy husken aftertaste that's just shy of tannic.
1,104 characters
3.21/5 rDev -13.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 2.75
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 2.75
4.12/5 rDev +10.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Very good but not what I expected. Reminds me a lot of dales deviant ale. Redder than most IPAs and has a very big "feel". around here mikkeller is just too expensive to drink often.
182 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Very good but not what I expected. Reminds me a lot of dales deviant ale. Redder than most IPAs and has a very big "feel". around here mikkeller is just too expensive to drink often.
182 characters
3.5/5 rDev -6.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
Has an interesting bitterness happening in the end I can't place. Not bad.
74 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
Has an interesting bitterness happening in the end I can't place. Not bad.
74 characters
3.87/5 rDev +3.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
3.81/5 rDev +2.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
4.81/5 rDev +29%
look: 4.75 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
I had given two of my co-workers each a can of Better Half. Both of them LOVED it. I went back and purchased 4 more 4 packs. Then I tried it again, this time in a glass.
That beautiful orange hue with resin, pine tar , grapefruit and orange noise was so very present.
The first taste again so very big and full, crisp, but not too crisp, malty, but not too malty, hoppy, but yes hoppy.
The aftertaste was even better than the start. This beer is slowly moving up on my best list
The pour was on the golden amber side with just a hint of an orange hue. I was expecting this to be a Double IPA, but was surprised it is not labeled as such.
There was little in terms of that grassy pine resin nose that I was expecting from an this IPA. There was also little in terms of that typical grapefruit hoppiness.
It was pleasant enough. The after taste was the best. It left a perfectly dry finish.. Great way to end, just was hoping that the beginning was as good.
970 characters
look: 4.75 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
I had given two of my co-workers each a can of Better Half. Both of them LOVED it. I went back and purchased 4 more 4 packs. Then I tried it again, this time in a glass.
That beautiful orange hue with resin, pine tar , grapefruit and orange noise was so very present.
The first taste again so very big and full, crisp, but not too crisp, malty, but not too malty, hoppy, but yes hoppy.
The aftertaste was even better than the start. This beer is slowly moving up on my best list
The pour was on the golden amber side with just a hint of an orange hue. I was expecting this to be a Double IPA, but was surprised it is not labeled as such.
There was little in terms of that grassy pine resin nose that I was expecting from an this IPA. There was also little in terms of that typical grapefruit hoppiness.
It was pleasant enough. The after taste was the best. It left a perfectly dry finish.. Great way to end, just was hoping that the beginning was as good.
970 characters
3.54/5 rDev -5.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
4.25/5 rDev +13.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
3.77/5 rDev +1.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
4.46/5 rDev +19.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
3.83/5 rDev +2.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
3.83/5 rDev +2.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
There's a date code on the bottom, just don't understand it...
Pours an effervescent copper with 3 fingers of cream colored head. Good head retention & lacing
S: Pineyness & grapefruit, leafy hops as this warms
T: Pineyness, leafy, &woody hops & a bit of caramel up front, plus dryness. A little caramel & astringency as this warms, plus dryness, plus a little bit of floral hops. Very dry finish with some juicy & leafy hops
MF: Medium bodied with firm carbonation, pretty nice balance
Drinks easy, a solid AIPA, hop mix isn't totally in my wheelhouse, but tasty enough
575 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
There's a date code on the bottom, just don't understand it...
Pours an effervescent copper with 3 fingers of cream colored head. Good head retention & lacing
S: Pineyness & grapefruit, leafy hops as this warms
T: Pineyness, leafy, &woody hops & a bit of caramel up front, plus dryness. A little caramel & astringency as this warms, plus dryness, plus a little bit of floral hops. Very dry finish with some juicy & leafy hops
MF: Medium bodied with firm carbonation, pretty nice balance
Drinks easy, a solid AIPA, hop mix isn't totally in my wheelhouse, but tasty enough
575 characters
3.54/5 rDev -5.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
Better Half from Mikkeller ApS
3.73
out of 5
based on 312 ratings.