Balls Be Malted
Mikkeller ApS

Appearance: Arrives fudge brown, with a one finger khaki head; a few strands of lacing linger

Smell: Roasty with chocolate malt, coffee, vanilla and nut tones

Taste: Roast permeates the dark chocolate. nut and coffee flavors, with a malted milk aspect that builds; a balance between the sweet and the brash roast, through the middle; with the sweeter elements emerging victorious, after the swallow

Mouthfeel: Full bodied with moderate carbonation; warmth in the gullet

Overall: Enjoyable but the elements do clash somewhat

 

 

Never ones to show restraint, meek nor a timid approach to beer making, the brewers at both Mikkeller and J. Wakefield let it all hang out with a collaborative imperial strength porter with malted milk and chocolate for a tasty, sweet and roasty taste that won't leave a bad taste in your mouth.

Very dark brown, pushing the threshold of black, the barkish beer crowns with delicate espresso creme. Roasty aromas permeate the nose with french roast coffee, burnt embers, cocoa and walnut and a host of burnt sugars. And those burnt sugars bring a depth of robust sweetness of molasses, cocoa, brown sugar and roasted marshmallow.

And as the flavors roll across the tongue, they lay tracks of dark chocolate, espresso bean, malted milk ball candies and an overall nougat-like cream & cookies middle palate. Walnut brownie, espresso and walnut extend into a long and bittersweet finish of chocolate milkshake and baker's chocolate.

Full bodied and spicy with the heat of booze, a stern brandy-like bite comes with a roast derived astringency that chases the flavors into a long, savory and robust finish with a slightly smoky, twangy aftertaste. I appreciate the take on a whoppers-like beer, but a truer porter would have sold the character better. Its roasted taste pushes into imperial stout territory and takes away from the malted milk and chocolate character slightly.