Koppi Coffee IPA Citra X Wachuri AA
Mikkeller ApS

cool beer here, and i feel glad to have found one collecting dust on a warm shelf at a southwest florida total wine. ive had several variants of this now, but this one might be the best of them, and i think we have the citra to thank for this, being a little less bitter overall than some of them have been on the hop side allows the coffee to stand out a little more for me, and i like that. i wish it were fresher, every time i have one of these it seems to be on its way to stale, both coffee and hops, and its a real shame, but the coffee in this one is really good, subtle cherry and black tea notes to it, a flash of honey sweetness, and an earthy lighter roast, perfect in the simple malt base and this classic danish sort of biscuity ale yeast we get in so many of the mikkeller beers brewed at de proef. the hops have some citrus to them, but it doesnt jump out as citra specifically for me, probably because this is a little old. still, notes of almond and tobacco and even maraschino cherry come to mind, and it finishes bitter and smooth. some sediment towards the bottom of the bottle, a little oxidation, but a real appealing fruitiness to this coffee and a fine pairing with the citra hops, or what remains of them here. ill never leave a mikkeller beer i havent had on the shelf...

 

Reviewed from notes. Poured from a 750 mL bottle into a Cycle Brewing goblet.

A: Quite hazy, and a dark gold to light brown – almost opaque. Lots of visible carbonation at first, but this dissipates quickly. A half-finger of off-white head also fades quickly.

S: Coffee and lemony citrus hops. Biscuit malts with a mild touch of toffee sweetness. Light notes of resinous and tropical fruity hops as well. A decently balanced nose – not one-sided on the coffee or hop aroma. But overall not huge – you gotta work anything other than the coffee and citrus hops.

T: Coffee, pine and oranges. Some grapefruit, tropical fruit, and spicy hops as well. There's some fruity and nutty notes to the coffee profile. Biscuit malts, with attendant mild sweetness but no particular caramel/toffee flavors. The coffee lasts with resin bitterness in the hang.

M: Medium body, with quite a bit of carbonation. Low alcohol presence.

O: Not a bad beer. There's a bit less coffee than some “Coffee IPAs”, but still obviously present. A hefty punch of bitterness from the hops, but stops short of being overdone. Ultimately, though, it lacks anything to make it memorable; let alone worth a purchase in a 750 mL format. Not objectionable but nothing I’ll do again.

 

Pours a deep oranage colour, with a two fingers head with good retention. Aroma of tropical fruits, coffee, peaches, melon, citrics. Medium body, creamy palate, lively carbonation. Taste of coffee, tropical fruits, resines, peaches, citrics. Great mix, complex beer.

 

Arghh...my mistake! I had the Santa Barbara, NOT the Wachuri AA. Please disregard the review below. My apologies!!!

Poured from 750 mL bottle into tulip. Cap stamped with 13/10/17 (which must be the best by date).
A: Pours a clear reddish amber hue with 3 inch light tan head with excellent retention.
S: Definite Citra hits the nose first. Herbal, tropical fruit, and orange hop notes, mild coffee, and a hint of dry chocolate.
T: Follows aroma with the strong hop elements hitting first with herbal, grassy, orange, pine, and tropical fruit. Then comes the milder light roast coffee and just a hint of chocolate. Love the citrus fruit-coffee-chocolate mix.
M: Light medium body. Fairly strong bitterness throughout thanks to both hops (mostly) and coffee, but not overboard. Subtle sweetness. Nice lasting lingering on the palate.
D: Definitely an IPA with just a pleasant hint of coffee. I'm always a bit wary of coffee IPAs, but this one pulls it off with perfect balance. Well done, Mikkeller!