Get Wit Or Die Tryin’
Mikkeller ApS

330ml bottle - yet another strange cross-pollination cultural concept label from this gypsy-ass brewer.

This beer pours a hazy, pale golden straw 'colour', with a teeming tower (oh, De Proef, how I fucking hate this about you) of puffy, loosely foamy, and mildly fizzy off-white head, which leaves some decent sudsy invading spaceship lace around the glass as it evenly subsides.

It smells of gritty and grainy pale malt, some lesser spicy wheatiness, somewhat acrid yeasty notes, a duly muddled citrus component, white pepper and coriander spice, and some fresh hay-like and floral hoppiness. The taste is more of the same - acrid and testy wheat malt, some attendant pale graininess, a muddled lemon-forward citrus and pome fruitiness, more coriander and black peppercorn spice, some wan yeastiness, and a waning leafy and weedy green hop bitterness.

The bubbles are adequate in their supportive frothiness, the body a genial medium weight, and mostly smooth, nothing really getting in the way of a purported good time here, as it were. It finishes off-dry, the supportive malt fending off very little in the way of offsetting concern.

Overall, this comes across as a typical version of the style, being as it's brewed in the motherland, as such. Nice and soft, yet with an engaging spiciness - not to mention the hovering citrus esters. Yeah, once again, Mikkeller has fluffed up my skirt more than I expected them to.

 

Nice light bee with a bit of bitterness at first. Slightly hoppy. Very drinkable.

 

 

 

 

a remarkably effervescent wit, and a lot more drinkable than the wit fit, but not a beer that really stands out to me in the mikkeller library. he does a lot of wits, and he does a lot of them well, and even this one is really well made and loaded with an interesting yeast profile and a lot of lemongrass notes, but it just seems to be another beer, not something overly inspired or impressive, although the mouthfeel certainly is. i really think they are on to something pouring certain beers at certain temperatures, and it obviously flatters this, almost explosive carbonation on it, and a clean finish for the style. plenty of hops too, i like its raw yet refined nature at the same time, its cloudy and fuller bodied, but also real light and living and easy with its fluffy feel. its the flavors that done really blow me away, sort of generic i guess, but still infinitely drinkable and one of those beers i sort of feel like a jerk for being harsh to. by almost any other brewerys standards, this would be epic, but for mikkeller, i expect to be floored every time and this doesnt quite take me there. still i would drink a six pack in an hour and a half if it were sold in that format.

BOTTLE: Purchased at a K-market in Helsinki, Finland. Brown glass. Unbranded pry-off crown cap (with a best before date stamped on it of 19/11/16). Fun label art & design. 330ml.

Served cold into a whiskey snifter. Expectations are above average given the brewer.

4.3% ABV. Brewed at De Proef. Imported to the US by the Shelton Bastards.

No bubble show forms as it's poured.

HEAD: ~1-2 inches wide. White colour. Fluffy and soft looking, with a great consistency. Good complexion. Retention is quite good - ~8 minutes. Leaves no lacing as it recedes.

BODY: Murky yellow-copper of average vibrance. Not quite the vibrant cloudy yellow typical of witbiers I expected, but generally appealing. No yeast is visible within.

Appears well-carbonated. Could be more lively and inviting.

AROMA: Fresh wheat. Faint muted citrus peel. Maybe some coriander? Floral and lemony hops.

The citrus is the most interesting characteristic, but also the most reticent. I find the aroma enticing, but it's not stellar for a witbier. Aromatic intensity is average.

TASTE: A balanced mix of juicy citrus, citrus peel, lemon zest, coriander, and floral hop notes over a bed of fresh wheat malt. The biscuity Belgian yeast is a nice touch and helps guide the beer, making this build surprisingly cohesive. Very well put together, with impeccable balance for a Belgian style witbier. Maybe the spices could be played up a bit more, but the citrus peel really sets off the wheat in an interesting way.

Superb depth of flavour for the style. There's ample nuance and subtlety in the build, from the coriander seed to the citrus peel to the vitamin-y yeast notes. I'm digging this one; what an excellent summer brew.

Alcohol presence is completely disguised, and I find no off-notes.

TEXTURE: Crisp and overcarbonated, but otherwise right on the money for the style, with a spritzy, refreshing, smooth, and wet texture as well as an apt light body. Not too thin, not too thick. Nicely dialed in.

This mouthfeel doesn't elevate the beer as a whole, but its clean presentation of the flavours really accentuates the taste. The freshness of the wheat and citrus just wouldn't come across as well if the beer didn't have such a good mouthfeel. Well done.

OVERALL: One of the best witbiers I've had since Allagash White. I often find the Belgian style offerings Mikkel oversees at De Proef to be too clean and clinical (probably on account of the brewery's hypermodernized equipment), but this witbier captures the liveliness of the Belgian yeast and feels as fresh and refreshing as some of the best traditional beers in the style. A terrific summer brew from Mikkeller, and absolutely a beer I'd buy in 6-packs (if not for its pricetag as an import). Well worth trying for any fan of the style. This will impress even the most discerning of drinkers.

High B (3.75)