Spells (Filiokus)
Mikkeller ApS

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pours a clear amber with two fingers of creamy white foam, sparse rings of lace down the glass. Smell: resinous, grapefruit, apricot, lots of pale malt, pineapple-ish and spruce notes. Taste: pine, grapefruit peel, a bit minty, ricola, orange candy. If you had worries it would be like IPA 1.5 at 8%, forget about it, plenty of body, sweet backdrop to an ample and fairly classic hop profile. While it's not the new hot thing, it's quite well made.

Canned 1/24/17.

 

 

A: Pours a deep golden honey in color with moderate amounts of active visible carbonation rising from the bottom of the glass and moderate amounts of burnt orange highlights. The beer has a two finger tall dense foamy light tan head that reduces to a large patch of mottled thin film covering the entire surface of the beer and a thin ring at the edges of the glass. Significant amounts of lacing are observed.

S: Moderate aroma of biscuit, bready, and caramel malts with a light to moderate amount of sweetness with moderate aromas of tropical/pineapple + citrus/grapefruit hops.

T: Upfront there are moderate flavors of biscuit, bready, and caramel malts with a light to moderate amount of caramel sweetness. That is followed by tropical/pineapple, citrus/grapefruit, and herbal hops which impart a moderate amount of aggressive bitterness which linger well through the finish.

M: Slightly heavier than medium bodied with moderate amounts of carbonation. Slightly watery mid-body with a moderate amount of dryness in the finish.

O: A decent example of an old school style West Coast DIPA though it seems like something is a little off in the mouthfeel with the watery thinness mid-body. Alcohol is well hidden and I could easily have another of these.

Aroma is citrusy and tropical, with notes of grapefruit and mango dominating a slightly sweet toasted malt backbone.

Flavor is very grapefruit dominant, with a resiny bitterness that lingers into the mineral aftertaste.

Interesting fruity aroma with a zingy mouthfeel. Pours a clear yellow with a modest head in the tall Kölsch glass. There is an acidic washed-out pineapple taste. Some modest malt but not overly sweet. Not much of a sparkly sensation. Hints of spoiled fruit in the aroma along with grapefruit peel.

Not very bitter at first, but there is some lingering hop astringency in the aftertaste. Kind of harsh yet oddly watery. Flat and dishwatery finish. From the 12 oz can purchased in the four-pack at Barrons Market, from the San Diego brewery according to the label.

 

 

On tap. Poured a clear, golden color with a small, tan head of foam. It smelled of pine, toasted caramel and orange. Big bitter, citrusy hops with pine and a sweetness from toffee and caramel.