Viking's Return
Mikkeller ApS

Beer Geek Stats
From:
Mikkeller ApS
 
Denmark
Style:
Extra Special / Strong Bitter (ESB)
ABV:
4.5%
Score:
Needs more ratings
Avg:
3.88 | pDev: 9.79%
Reviews:
1
Ratings:
2
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Jun 05, 2014
Added:
Jun 10, 2009
Wants:
  0
Gots:
  0
Brewed at Jennings (Marstons).
View: More Beers
Recent ratings and reviews.
 
Rated: 3.5 by endless1408 from England

Jun 05, 2014
Photo of wl0307
Reviewed by wl0307 from England

4.27/5  rDev +10.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
(Notes of 03/11/2008) Tasted by a pint at the John Russell Fox, a JDW pub in Andover, during the chain's beer festival; served by a non-sparkler pour. This is one of the four international ales brewed by guest brewers at real ale breweries in the UK exclusively for the beer festival (the other three being Firestone Walker from the US, Yo-Ho from Japan, and Barons from Australia)

A: pours a dark russet brown to mahogany hue, coming with a thin rim head and low carbonation.
S: complex and deep... dark rum, smoked longan-fruits, burned brown sugar, on top of Cascade-like citric-flowery aroma firmly in the background (i.e. not as heavily aromatic or lively as in paler ales of the US fashion). Pleasant, but slightly flat in terms of the overall body on the nose.
T: a mouthful of piney hops, dark roast nuts and coffee-ish burned malts prevails with a solid backing of citric hops; turning utterly bitter but still clean on the palate, along with loads of chewy roast tea-leaves, burned malts, smoky hints, and a rather belated entry of Chinese-herbal-soup-like bitterness. The incredible length of bitterness earmarks the hop influence and a slightly spicy tinge at the back. Some random tangy citrusness also lingers to prolong the enjoyment.
M&D: smooth, medium-bodied, slightly lacking carbonation but this doesn't affect the overall fantastic drinkability. A well-hopped Premium Bitter with a generous input of quality dark malts. Well done, Vikings!
Jun 10, 2009
Viking's Return from Mikkeller ApS
Beer rating: 3.88 out of 5 with 2 ratings