Behind the Mirror
Mikkeller ApS

 

 

16 ounce can into tulip glass, canned on 10/8/2019. Pours very hazy deep golden/orange/amber color with a 1-2 finger fairly dense and fluffy off white head with fantastic retention, that reduces to a nice cap that lasts. Thick foamy lacing clings on the glass, with a fair amount of streaming carbonation. Fantastic appearance. Aromas of big mandarin orange juice, red grapefruit, lemon, lime, peach, plum, pear, pineapple, passion fruit, papaya, mango, honeydew melon, guava, strawberry, raspberry, banana, currant, citrus peel/zest, wood, tea, mint, peppercorn, pine, wheat, white bread dough, biscuit, light honey/toast, and herbal/floral/grassy earthiness. Damn nice aromas with great balance and complexity of citrus/fruity/tropical/fairly earthy hops and bready malt notes; with big strength. Taste of big mandarin orange juice, red grapefruit, lemon, lime, peach, plum, pear, pineapple, passion fruit, papaya, mango, honeydew melon, guava, strawberry, raspberry, banana, currant, citrus peel/zest, wood, tea, mint, peppercorn, pine, wheat, white bread dough, biscuit, light honey/toast, and herbal/floral/grassy earthiness. Light pine, citrus peel/rind, herbal, floral, woody, grassy, peppery bitterness on the finish. Lingering notes of mandarin orange juice, red grapefruit, lemon, lime, peach, plum, pear, pineapple, passion fruit, papaya, mango, honeydew melon, guava, strawberry, raspberry, banana, currant, citrus peel/rind, wood, tea, mint, peppercorn, pine, wheat, white bread dough, biscuit, light honey/toast, and herbal/floral/grassy earthiness on the finish for a while. Fantastic complexity, robustness, and balance of citrus/fruity/tropical/fairly earthy hops and bready malt flavors; with an awesome malt/bitterness balance, and no cloying/astringent flavors after the finish. Lightly increasing dryness from lingering bitterness. Medium carbonation and medium-plus body; with a very smooth, creamy/bready, fairly sticky, and lighthly resinous/rindy mouthfeel that is great. Minimal warming alcohol for 7.8%. Overall this is an fantastic NEIPA. All around fantastic complexity, robustness, and balance of citrus/fruity/tropical/fairly earthy hops and bready malt flavors; very smooth and easy to drink for the ABV, with the mellowly bitter/resinous/drying finish. Great soft feel, and not aggressive. Fantastic 100% Styrian Cardinal profile. Very juicy, vibrant, and fairly dank/earthy hops; with a nice sized wheat/oat/malt backbone. Light residual sweetness with lingering resin dryness. A highly enjoyable offering, and outstanding style example as expected. Really unique hop profile from the Styrian Cardinal hops as expected.