Red/White Christmas
Mikkeller ApS

Red/White ChristmasRed/White Christmas
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From:
Mikkeller ApS
 
Denmark
Style:
Herb and Spice Beer
ABV:
8%
Score:
85
Avg:
3.79 | pDev: 16.36%
Reviews:
55
Ratings:
164
Status:
Active
Rated:
Feb 10, 2018
Added:
Dec 28, 2009
Wants:
  10
Gots:
  28
A combination between a British Red Ale and a Belgian Wit Bier.
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Ratings by MasterSki:
Photo of MasterSki
Reviewed by MasterSki from Canada (ON)

3.96/5  rDev +4.5%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Picked this one up at West Lakeview Liquors. Magnum shared with friends. Served in my Surly pint glass. This is about two months old.

A - Pours with a ridiculous amount of off-white creamy meringue foam. Retention is excellent, as is the lacing, which makes attractive circular patterns. Body is a hazed golden orange color.

S - Zesty pine and grassy hoppiness, tangy wheat, a touch of citrus rind and grape. Yeast is present, and definitely smells foreign - somewhere between German and Belgian. Spices are thankfully understated, with a touch of nutmeg but nothing else overtly obvious. You wouldn't know this was a Christmas beer from the smell.

T - The taste is a little more muted, with some aggressive bitterness peeking through. There's a little bit more Christmas spice in the finish - maybe a touch of cinnamon - but again it's in the periphery. The basic flavor is a cross between an amber and a wheat ale, but aggressively hopped. Sugar cookie malt base, malted wheat, grass and floral hops, a touch of grape. Alcohol is very well-hidden.

M - I'm guessing all the carbonation went into the head, as the body is very low in carbonation, and surprisingly thin. It needs a little more oomph to match the 8%, but otherwise it's quite pleasant and velvety smooth.

D - You definitely need a couple people for the magnum, but I downed my glass pretty quick and went back for seconds. My only knock is the slightly faded character - not sure why they put a hoppy brew into a magnum. The price/oz was actually reasonable for a Mikkeller beer. If they made this as a collaboration in the US, and it came in six-packs it'd be a nice alternative to A Lil' Sumpin' Extra!
Jan 29, 2010
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 4.46 by JohnTurano from Florida

Feb 10, 2018
 
Rated: 4 by cjohns73 from Delaware

Dec 27, 2017
Photo of 57md
Reviewed by 57md from Pennsylvania

3.86/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
Opened this one on Christmas Day and enjoyed it with salted cod leftovers from Christmas Eve dinner.

Poured a bright orange color with a very sizeable head of at least two fingers. The nose was yeasty. The flavor had notes of grainy malt, citrus and herbs. The body was much lighter than expected for a winter seasonal.
Dec 25, 2017
 
Rated: 3.39 by cwkash from Kentucky

Dec 25, 2017
 
Rated: 2.9 by TheCrowsEye from California

Dec 24, 2017
 
Rated: 4.09 by travelguy from Ohio

Dec 23, 2017
 
Rated: 3.25 by Cuervo_PCB from Florida

Dec 22, 2017
 
Rated: 4.03 by mamaraza from Texas

Dec 20, 2017
 
Rated: 3.48 by RochefortChris from North Carolina

Dec 16, 2017
Photo of nick_perry
Rated by nick_perry from North Carolina

1.36/5  rDev -64.1%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 1 | feel: 1 | overall: 1
Maybe I got a bad batch, but it tastes like something died in the can.
Dec 16, 2017
Photo of MAB
Reviewed by MAB from Canada (AB)

3.74/5  rDev -1.3%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
This (2017) version, featuring a red label with cartoonish people looking over a snowy brick wall, is exceptionally tasty.
There is a fruity note, perhaps orange rind, but it is nicely bitter with a sweet start to the sip. Nice orange/ amber color.
Well worth seeking out.
Dec 03, 2017
 
Rated: 3.75 by dertyd from California

Nov 23, 2017
 
Rated: 3.78 by AC-Mivsek from Ohio

Nov 12, 2017
Photo of cosmicevan
Reviewed by cosmicevan from New York

3.5/5  rDev -7.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Ah yes...the mistakes we make when we first get into craft beer. I've had a jeroboam of this stuff since probably 2009. It was actually used as a decorative piece on my fireplace...but the Mrs wants change in the room and there is no way any of my friends will open this w me so solodome time!

wow...I must say...I opened thi's mostly expecting a drain pour and to get it out of my life. I'm shocked to report that it is not only NOT a drain pour, but it is actually quite good. I mean, it is a spiced/herb beer so it has that going against it...but the oxidation has made this drinkable. it really is just a syrupy oxidized beer but the flavor isn't a turn off. go figure.
Aug 04, 2017
 
Rated: 4.03 by TonyTwins from Nebraska

Feb 05, 2017
 
Rated: 3.92 by smithj4 from New York

Dec 25, 2016
Photo of Tone
Reviewed by Tone from Missouri

4.16/5  rDev +9.8%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.25
Pours a cloudy, amber color. 5/4 inch head of an off-white color. Great retention and great lacing. Smells of strong spicy hops, alcohol, sweet malt, yeast, and slight citrus. Fits the style of an Herbed / Spiced Beer. Mouth feel is sharp and crisp, with an average carbonation level. Tastes of strong spicy hops, alcohol, sweet malt, yeast, spice, and slight citrus. Overall, good appearance, aroma, body, blend, but lacking in complexity.
Dec 23, 2016
Photo of puck1225
Reviewed by puck1225 from Texas

4.23/5  rDev +11.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Had this on draft in a snifter. Beautiful pour, deep dark copper brown with a nice beige head and great lacing. Red whine smell, slightly sweet-sour, fruity. The taste was of red wine, warm spice, and a bit grassy. Slightly boozy. Very nice winter beer!
Dec 16, 2016
Photo of KonigObHops
Reviewed by KonigObHops from Ohio

3.3/5  rDev -12.9%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3.25
Coming out of the bottle, this beer looked like it was going to be golden in color, but it is rather hazy and that causes it to be more of a light copper. The head was slightly off white and about a finger-width thick. Great lacing.

The aroma is a very powerful Orange with other spices including coriander and cinnamon.

The initial taste is hops. The taste in the middle is a little malty with more floral hops, mixing with some cinnamon and orange. The finish seems a bit grapefruit, but that is quickly replaced by hoppy bitterness that ultimately switches back to that citrusy sensation.

Mouthfeel is dominated by the high carbonation.

This beer was surprising because it is labeled as a Belgian spiced ale. The aroma immediately signaled that it would not be a typical Belgian spiced ale, but the hoppiness was a complete surprise. It is a really interesting beer, but this is more IPA than it is Spiced Belgian. And here I assumed it was an American fad to over-hop everything right now. I would still recommend this beer. It is preatty complex and gives you some interesting flavors and sensations, but I wouldn't say that it fits the style.
Dec 12, 2016
Red/White Christmas from Mikkeller ApS
Beer rating: 85 out of 100 with 164 ratings