Santa’s Hoppy Helpers
Mikkeller ApS

Copenhagen 7/12 2020. 33 cl can from Føtex, Vibenhus Runddel, Kbh. Ø. Green can with miniatures of Santa and a horde of Christmas Elves holding Hop cones.

Pours slightly unclear amber with a mid-sized white head. Settles as 1 cm thick layer of foam covering the surface of the beer. Settles as thin, powdery layer of foam struggling to cover the surface of the beer.

Aroma is moderately intense with a sweet malty odor mingling with light citric notes. Caramel, toffee. Bread. Citrus and lemon peeking in.

Light carbonation. Slightly thick, oily, lightly tingling texture.

Flavor is medium intense with a medium strong sweetness followed by a stronger bitterness. Aftertaste is citric and bitter with a sweet, caramel undertone. Lingers for a bit. Semi-dry finish.

The nose is bit weak but with a fine redeeming bitterness in there flavor. So all the Hop cones is put to some use in the end.

Looks can be deceiving: this is framed as a christmas beer, the name gives it away. Had this fresh on tap at the Mikkeler bar at Copenhagen airport. When they serve it your first impression is: yes, it‘s a holiday beer, it‘s probably sweet, maybe even syrupy. The smell is then actually very lauf back, not sweet, not very aromatic in general. Then the taste - boom, Santa‘s elves got into his hop cabinet and came up with a very robust, herbal IPA. The holiday cheer stems from pine cone aromas and a very small amount of dried fruits. Superbly done, because it‘s…. different.

Drank on the 31st of August, from tap, at Mikkeller Madrid. Poured into a stemless glass.