Nuclear Hop Assault
Mikkeller ApS
Beer Geek Stats:
| Print Shelf Talker
- Style:
- IPA - Imperial
- ABV:
- 8%
- Score:
- 90
- Avg:
- 4.04 | pDev: 7.92%
- Reviews:
- 27
- Ratings:
- From:
- Mikkeller ApS
- Denmark
- Avail:
- Retired (no longer brewed)
- Wants
- 3
- Gots
- 20
SCORE
90
Outstanding
90
Outstanding
Notes:
Reviews: 27
| Ratings: 114
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Reviews by JackieKu:
JackieKu from Taiwan
4.16/5 rDev +3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
330ml bottle.
A: Cloudy pale amber. Poured 4 fingers high of foam with medium retention.
S: Intense lemon (zest), piney, and grassy aroma.
T: Lemon and honey. Slightly tropical fruits (like pineapple). Off-dry. High bitterness. Long, dry, and bitter finish.
M: Medium body. High carbonation.
O: Great refreshing IPA.
Feb 11, 2016
4.16/5 rDev +3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
330ml bottle.
A: Cloudy pale amber. Poured 4 fingers high of foam with medium retention.
S: Intense lemon (zest), piney, and grassy aroma.
T: Lemon and honey. Slightly tropical fruits (like pineapple). Off-dry. High bitterness. Long, dry, and bitter finish.
M: Medium body. High carbonation.
O: Great refreshing IPA.
Feb 11, 2016
More User Reviews:
StonedTrippin from Colorado
4.18/5 rDev +3.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
one of my favorite beers from my visit to mikkeller bar in san francisco, its an enormous ipa, but done with mikkeller grace, bitter and oily and yeasty and all of these things you think cant go well together, but somehow do, and spin expectations into divine satisfactions in a way few can. its almost harsh to smell, fresh raw hops, bold and assertive to say the least, wheezey and pungent almost to a fault. there is enough grain structure and sweetness to make it work though, and his weird danish yeast or whatever he uses, maybe just less cleaned up than others, but its common in so many hoppy mikkeller beers, and its here again. it makes it almost dry, and somehow real drinkable, especially with the alcohol being so well hidden. i think the name suggests a much more punishing beer, this is not sloppy but instead a beautifully engineered huge ipa. not sure which hops are in this, i imagine quite a few, but it doesnt feel like an assault so much as a really intense and borderline painful massage. beers like this are few and far between. it reminds me of a little cousin of 1000 ibu, which stands as one of the best ipas of all time for me.
Aug 21, 2015
4.18/5 rDev +3.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
one of my favorite beers from my visit to mikkeller bar in san francisco, its an enormous ipa, but done with mikkeller grace, bitter and oily and yeasty and all of these things you think cant go well together, but somehow do, and spin expectations into divine satisfactions in a way few can. its almost harsh to smell, fresh raw hops, bold and assertive to say the least, wheezey and pungent almost to a fault. there is enough grain structure and sweetness to make it work though, and his weird danish yeast or whatever he uses, maybe just less cleaned up than others, but its common in so many hoppy mikkeller beers, and its here again. it makes it almost dry, and somehow real drinkable, especially with the alcohol being so well hidden. i think the name suggests a much more punishing beer, this is not sloppy but instead a beautifully engineered huge ipa. not sure which hops are in this, i imagine quite a few, but it doesnt feel like an assault so much as a really intense and borderline painful massage. beers like this are few and far between. it reminds me of a little cousin of 1000 ibu, which stands as one of the best ipas of all time for me.
Aug 21, 2015
travolta from California
3.67/5 rDev -9.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Sep 17, 2015
3.67/5 rDev -9.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Sep 17, 2015
BEERchitect from Kentucky
4.06/5 rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Cramming as much hoppy goodness as you can into a 12oz bottle can be quite challenging. But Mikkeller's insistence pays off with this imperial IPA that drops quite a bomb on the tastebuds.
Nuclear Hop Assault's creamy, peachy-gold color is commonly hazy for the stye and carries a creamy white froth and uniform lace across the session. Its bright aromatics come alive with a host of tropical, citrus and berry fruits to tease and tantalize the senses. Once the hoppy elixir hits the tongue, its the sweetness that resonates first with mild caramel, honey and the breadiness of angel-food cake.
But then the taste explodes on the middle palate, delivering on promises of tropical pineapple, mango, passionfruit and kiwi; then citrusy pink grapefruit, mandarin orange and lemon; then following with the tang of gooseberry and juniper- all en route to a smooth bitter finish of soft pine resins and pleasant herbaceous grasses.
Medium-bodied but trending dry and crisp, the tangy-sweet fruitiness carries the refreshment of sherbet with a gentle zing on the late palate. Lasting flavors of freshly shaven pine and citrus out duel all others with an extended bitter grassines.
Jan 30, 2016
4.06/5 rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Cramming as much hoppy goodness as you can into a 12oz bottle can be quite challenging. But Mikkeller's insistence pays off with this imperial IPA that drops quite a bomb on the tastebuds.
Nuclear Hop Assault's creamy, peachy-gold color is commonly hazy for the stye and carries a creamy white froth and uniform lace across the session. Its bright aromatics come alive with a host of tropical, citrus and berry fruits to tease and tantalize the senses. Once the hoppy elixir hits the tongue, its the sweetness that resonates first with mild caramel, honey and the breadiness of angel-food cake.
But then the taste explodes on the middle palate, delivering on promises of tropical pineapple, mango, passionfruit and kiwi; then citrusy pink grapefruit, mandarin orange and lemon; then following with the tang of gooseberry and juniper- all en route to a smooth bitter finish of soft pine resins and pleasant herbaceous grasses.
Medium-bodied but trending dry and crisp, the tangy-sweet fruitiness carries the refreshment of sherbet with a gentle zing on the late palate. Lasting flavors of freshly shaven pine and citrus out duel all others with an extended bitter grassines.
Jan 30, 2016
TurdFurgison from Ohio
4.31/5 rDev +6.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Jul 19, 2015
4.31/5 rDev +6.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Jul 19, 2015
zeff80 from Missouri
3.99/5 rDev -1.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Poured out a clear, amber color with a small, off white head of foam. It smelled of grapefruit and other tropical and citrus fruits. There is a burnt toast aroma, too. It tasted of sharp bitter hops with grapefruit/orange peel and a toasty maltiness.
Aug 10, 2015
3.99/5 rDev -1.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Poured out a clear, amber color with a small, off white head of foam. It smelled of grapefruit and other tropical and citrus fruits. There is a burnt toast aroma, too. It tasted of sharp bitter hops with grapefruit/orange peel and a toasty maltiness.
Aug 10, 2015
Slatetank from Pennsylvania
4.13/5 rDev +2.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
thanks to my brother for the share enjoyed from the bottle in a glass chilled
the color is amber with slight haze and thick white head with fine bead. The smell is fruity grapefruit -like hops with mild herbal aroma and gentle tropical fruit accent with slight mango and gentle orange quality
to be continued
Jun 01, 2016
4.13/5 rDev +2.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
thanks to my brother for the share enjoyed from the bottle in a glass chilled
the color is amber with slight haze and thick white head with fine bead. The smell is fruity grapefruit -like hops with mild herbal aroma and gentle tropical fruit accent with slight mango and gentle orange quality
to be continued
Jun 01, 2016
tykechandler from Kentucky
4/5 rDev -1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Feb 17, 2016
4/5 rDev -1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Feb 17, 2016
birchstick from Colorado
4.05/5 rDev +0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
May 10, 2016
4.05/5 rDev +0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
May 10, 2016
Beer-Zombie from Oregon
4.01/5 rDev -0.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Aug 06, 2015
4.01/5 rDev -0.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Aug 06, 2015
enelson from Illinois
4.32/5 rDev +6.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Dec 07, 2015
4.32/5 rDev +6.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Dec 07, 2015
CPAles from Illinois
3.87/5 rDev -4.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Jan 22, 2017
3.87/5 rDev -4.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Jan 22, 2017
spycow from Illinois
4.34/5 rDev +7.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Nov 04, 2015
4.34/5 rDev +7.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Nov 04, 2015
oriolesfan4 from Maryland
4.1/5 rDev +1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
May 27, 2016
4.1/5 rDev +1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
May 27, 2016
snaotheus from Washington
4.03/5 rDev -0.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
2016-04-23
330ml bottle served in a tulip. Best Before is on the cap, 2016/04/17. So, just past the date.
Pours hazy pale golden with a medium head and medium carbonation. Smell is pine and catpiss, very very piney. A hint of floral sweetness in the background.
Taste is bitter hoppy resin and pine with a stronger emphasis on the floral sweetness. This is the older school non-tropical style, and I like it.
Mouthfeel is dry and resinous. Good beer. I like it. I'd probably like it even more if it was fresher.
Apr 23, 2016
4.03/5 rDev -0.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
2016-04-23
330ml bottle served in a tulip. Best Before is on the cap, 2016/04/17. So, just past the date.
Pours hazy pale golden with a medium head and medium carbonation. Smell is pine and catpiss, very very piney. A hint of floral sweetness in the background.
Taste is bitter hoppy resin and pine with a stronger emphasis on the floral sweetness. This is the older school non-tropical style, and I like it.
Mouthfeel is dry and resinous. Good beer. I like it. I'd probably like it even more if it was fresher.
Apr 23, 2016
teamwiggum from Wisconsin
4/5 rDev -1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
May 07, 2016
4/5 rDev -1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
May 07, 2016
NightINgale from Russian Federation
4.01/5 rDev -0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Feb 22, 2016
4.01/5 rDev -0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Feb 22, 2016
LiquidAmber from Washington
4.25/5 rDev +5.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Poured into a Seattle Beer Week pint glass. Pours a hazy, medium caramel amber with a fine, one finger white head with great retention and lacing. Aroma of bready malt, citrus and dank hops, tropical fruit (good pineapple), orange family citrus, inviting. Flavor is light caramel malt, citrus and lightly piney hops, excellent orange and tangerine, light pineapple and mixed tropical fruit. Starts citrusy but develops much deeper, resinous citrus hops with a long, lingering quite resinous and intense finish that actually gets more intense a little while after the taste. Medium bodied with great carbonation and mouth feel. A very nice imperial IPA that is deceptively fruity and moderate to start, but has quite a kick in the finish and aftermath. Less like a nuclear assault and more like a sneak attack, but in a good way. The hop bitterness is flavorful and satisfying. Really nice orange citrus flavors to start and interesting herbal flavors to the linger hops. This is a very flavorful and tasty big IPA. I liked this a lot.
Mar 30, 2016
4.25/5 rDev +5.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Poured into a Seattle Beer Week pint glass. Pours a hazy, medium caramel amber with a fine, one finger white head with great retention and lacing. Aroma of bready malt, citrus and dank hops, tropical fruit (good pineapple), orange family citrus, inviting. Flavor is light caramel malt, citrus and lightly piney hops, excellent orange and tangerine, light pineapple and mixed tropical fruit. Starts citrusy but develops much deeper, resinous citrus hops with a long, lingering quite resinous and intense finish that actually gets more intense a little while after the taste. Medium bodied with great carbonation and mouth feel. A very nice imperial IPA that is deceptively fruity and moderate to start, but has quite a kick in the finish and aftermath. Less like a nuclear assault and more like a sneak attack, but in a good way. The hop bitterness is flavorful and satisfying. Really nice orange citrus flavors to start and interesting herbal flavors to the linger hops. This is a very flavorful and tasty big IPA. I liked this a lot.
Mar 30, 2016
JamFuel from Sweden
3.63/5 rDev -10.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Aug 02, 2015
3.63/5 rDev -10.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Aug 02, 2015
Chico1985 from Massachusetts
3.84/5 rDev -5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
More new Mikkeller. Label describes it as an "imperial IPA brewed with hybrid hops".
A - 330ml pour to a snifter. Beer is hazy+glowing orange with a finger or so of white head. Patchy cap+thick ring remain at the end along with bits of lace.
S - Mango, earthy dank grass, root veggies, tangerine, sugar cookie malt. Nice but a bit on the faint side, and kind of a weird fusel-alcohol thing going on.
T - Decent tropical citrus flavors going on like pineapple, grapefruit and mango, but lots of herbal/earthy/grassy hops take more of a lead here. Sugar cookie and slightly biscuity malt remains substantial.
M - Very smooth, good body. Light-feeling and quite drinkable for a DIPA. Carbonation and bitterness are both a bit on the low side.
O - Kind of curious what the 'hybrid' hops consist of but overall a pretty solid DIPA. Seems a bit on the fainter side, maybe some more bitterness would've been nice too, but a good mix of earthy+tropical hops and remarkably smooth.
Aug 11, 2015
3.84/5 rDev -5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
More new Mikkeller. Label describes it as an "imperial IPA brewed with hybrid hops".
A - 330ml pour to a snifter. Beer is hazy+glowing orange with a finger or so of white head. Patchy cap+thick ring remain at the end along with bits of lace.
S - Mango, earthy dank grass, root veggies, tangerine, sugar cookie malt. Nice but a bit on the faint side, and kind of a weird fusel-alcohol thing going on.
T - Decent tropical citrus flavors going on like pineapple, grapefruit and mango, but lots of herbal/earthy/grassy hops take more of a lead here. Sugar cookie and slightly biscuity malt remains substantial.
M - Very smooth, good body. Light-feeling and quite drinkable for a DIPA. Carbonation and bitterness are both a bit on the low side.
O - Kind of curious what the 'hybrid' hops consist of but overall a pretty solid DIPA. Seems a bit on the fainter side, maybe some more bitterness would've been nice too, but a good mix of earthy+tropical hops and remarkably smooth.
Aug 11, 2015
vermilcj from Ohio
3.82/5 rDev -5.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.75
Aug 19, 2015
3.82/5 rDev -5.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.75
Aug 19, 2015
golf4collet from West Virginia
4.39/5 rDev +8.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.25
Oct 05, 2015
4.39/5 rDev +8.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.25
Oct 05, 2015
Mattias from Sweden
3.5/5 rDev -13.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Jun 03, 2017
3.5/5 rDev -13.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Jun 03, 2017
Dentist666 from Russian Federation
4.06/5 rDev +0.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Oct 16, 2015
4.06/5 rDev +0.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Oct 16, 2015
Knapp85 from Pennsylvania
4.17/5 rDev +3.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Apr 16, 2016
4.17/5 rDev +3.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Apr 16, 2016
Nuclear Hop Assault from Mikkeller ApS
Beer rating:
90 out of
100 with
114 ratings
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