Mr. Smith
Mikkeller ApS

 

these guys have to do something about their price points if they care about quality. i mean, 5 dollar single cans dont exactly fly off the shelf, and i suspect there is quite a bit of older mikkeller hoppy beer out there. this is what the san diego brewery was supposed to solve, the cost simply has to go down or they are going to ruin a good thing. i had this and the mr. mechanic in the same session, and while this one was the better tasting of the two, neither one tasted particularly fresh, and frankly, what hops are used in this are hard to pick out because they seem almost faded in on themselves. this one is pretty pale from the can, nice and heady and well charged, but with some visible coagulated sediment in the bottom third or so. it smells a little oxidized but also like a soft citra type hop, green melon and lemongrass, grapefruit and passion fruit too, but balanced, not bitter at all, very much a pale not an ipa, and with an almost vermont vibe to it, forward hops but a well integrated and delicate nature overall, softer and milder than a lot of other hoppy mikkeller stuff i have had, but the obvious lack of freshness really detracted from the experience, more so in the mr. mechanic. i know this tasted amazing when it was brand new, i hope they figure out how to get fresher hoppy beer out to the people...

Mikkeller SD is unrated in my opinion, as they continue to turn out some excellent beers that seemingly go unnoticed. Mr. Smith isn't one of those beers. Not sure of the date of this can, but it had been in my mini-fridge for a few months.

This pale ale pours a hazy orange with a thick 2-finger head that sticks around with a good dose of lacing retained in the glass.

Smell has an overall sweetness with tropical and citrus fruits, dominated by orange with a hint of peach.

Taste has a citrus sweetness with a variety of fruits, as the nose suggested.There is an unique herbal quality or a green tea component with a very light hoppiness.

Easy drinking at 5.5% ABV, but not one of the best I have had from Mikkeller, then again the age of the can could have made a difference.

Pours a hazy orange, with thick, high head.

Smell is sweet, with mango, chamomille and peach notes.

Taste follows the nose and adds some green tea to the mix. Great bittnerness and hop bite, great balance.

Mouthfeel is medium, well carbonated.

Overall, a terrific NE pale ale. Easy to drink and well balanced.