Fra Via Til (From Via To) Bourbon Barrel Aged
Mikkeller ApS

Fra Via Til (From Via To) Bourbon Barrel AgedFra Via Til (From Via To) Bourbon Barrel Aged
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From:
Mikkeller ApS
 
Denmark
Style:
Baltic Porter
ABV:
8%
Score:
87
Avg:
3.88 | pDev: 15.72%
Reviews:
18
Ratings:
33
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Mar 08, 2015
Added:
Feb 01, 2011
Wants:
  3
Gots:
  4
Holiday ale brewed with spices, aged in bourbon barrels.

Brewed and bottled by Mikkeller, at the Proef Brouwerij, Lochristi-Hijfe, Belgium.
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Ratings by Paul68:
Photo of Paul68
Rated by Paul68 from New Jersey

3/5  rDev -22.7%

Dec 03, 2011
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 4 by ronricorossi from California

Mar 08, 2015
 
Rated: 4 by EyePeeAyBryan from Arizona

May 06, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by JAHMUR from Connecticut

Jan 08, 2014
 
Rated: 4.75 by Rickythejeweler from Maryland

Jun 23, 2013
Photo of Jugs_McGhee
Reviewed by Jugs_McGhee from Colorado

3.57/5  rDev -8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
12.7 fl oz green glass (come on, Mikkel!) bottle with standard unbranded silver/grey pressure cap served into a Mitchell's of Lancaster flared stem-tulip in me gaff in low altitude Los Feliz, Los Angeles, California. Reviewed live. Expectations are high; this is me favourite brewer in the world. 8% ABV confirmed. Brewed & Bottled by Mikkeller at De Proef. Imported by the Shelton Bastards. Acquired at K&L Wine in Hollywood.

Served straight from the fridge. Side-poured with standard vigor as no carbonation issues are anticipated.

A: Pours a two finger tan colour head of nice cream and thickness, and good (~4+ minute) retention. Body colour is a solid nontransparent black. No yeast particles are visible. No bubble show. Opaque. Typical of the style; there's nothing overtly wrong here but nothing stands out as unique or special. The head is well executed. Looking forward to trying it.

Sm: Warm bourbon. Vanilla. Cream, caramel, alcohol. I look for roast but don't find it. Minimal hop presence. No yeast character at all. A mild to moderate strength aroma. The overt presence of alcohol concerns me.

T: Bourbon is noticeable - your usual oak and vanilla. But some alcohol heat accompanies it. Dark malts, caramel, cream. Maybe some chocolate malt. Any hop character is unnoticeable to me. Same goes for yeast character. Licorice/fennel. I search for more spices but have trouble identifying any. Roast is sorely missed. I get some coffee on the finish. A balanced enjoyable beer, but the complexity is wanting. Well balanced and executed, but it lacks the subtlety and complexity to truly rise to the top. The bourbon barrel aging could be better executed to boot, but it does serve a helpful purpose here so I'm not inclined to criticize it.

Mf: Smooth and wet. Creamy. Delightfully done. Good carbonation. Good body. Great presence on the palate; the full flavour profile is delivered well.

Dr: Drinkable and enjoyable in spite of the obvious alcohol presence. I can't say I'd get it again at its price point, but I'm glad I got to try it once. I do wish the Shelton Bastards wouldn't overcharge so damn much. A tasty brew from Mikkeller. Well done for its style. Doesn't hide its alcohol well.

B
Mar 31, 2013
 
Rated: 5 by HaveUSeenMyCellar from California

Mar 23, 2013
 
Rated: 3 by ejimhof from Pennsylvania

Mar 09, 2013
Photo of ngeunit1
Reviewed by ngeunit1 from Massachusetts

4.16/5  rDev +7.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
A - Dark brown-black with a finger of frothy chocolate-khaki head. Fades normal.

S - Roasted dark chocolate malts, oak, vanilla, Bourbon, roasted coffee, black licorice, dark fruits, candi sugar, and some booze.

T - Sweet dark chocolate and caramel malts, Bourbon, vanilla, oak, dark fruits, roasted coffee, black licorice, citrus and earthy hops, candi sugar, smoke, and some booze.

M - Medium-full bodied with moderate carbonation. Smooth with a sweet and warming finish.

D - Nicely balanced Barrel Aged Baltic Porter. Great complexity and depth added by the Bourbon barrels.
Feb 06, 2013
Photo of FLima
Reviewed by FLima from Brazil

4.06/5  rDev +4.6%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Poured a brown and thick consistent head that stayed there forever. Deep black color, light won’t go through not even using a lamp.
Strong aroma of Bourbon, spices, caramel, coffee and wood, and it wasn’t a stretch!
Medium carbonation with tiny bubbles.
Flavor is also complex, one hint: you got to like liquor type of alcohol beverages, specially bourbon and scotch. Malty flavor with spices, roasted like, bourbon, wood and coffee. Mildly sweet with a full body.
Most of those flavors remain in the aftertaste. Good, but hard to drink more than one bottle.
Dec 06, 2012
Photo of brokensail
Reviewed by brokensail from California

3.68/5  rDev -5.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
The beer is almost black in color with a khaki colored head. Nose starts off with dark/burnt sugar, roasted malt, and a bit of alcohol. Very little in the way of oak or bourbon. Maybe just a touch of vanilla. There is a little bit of dark chocolate, too. Sweet sugar, roasted malt, and dark chocolate make up the majority of the flavor profile. Like with the aroma, light bourbon, vanilla, and oak notes. Some hints of dark fruits and a nice sweetness.
Aug 09, 2012
Photo of Mora2000
Reviewed by Mora2000 from Texas

4/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Thanks to bu11zeye for sharing this bottle. This is my 100th Mikkeller rating.

The beer pours a black color with a tan head. The aroma is full of chocolate and roasted malt, but it also features a hint of oak and some bourbon whiskey notes. The flavor is heavier on the barrel-aged notes. I get a lot of oak and bourbon, as well as some chocolate and roasted malt. Thick mouthfeel and low carbonation.
Jul 01, 2012
Photo of duracell
Reviewed by duracell from Canada (QC)

4.15/5  rDev +7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
12.7oz, super thick bottle. No freshness date. 8.0% ABV.

A - Pitch black color with a large, brown, creamy head with good retention and lacing.

S - Heavy maltiness: roasted grain,, dark chocolate, coffee, toffee, some burnt notes. The hop is also present but moderate with perfumy and resiny notes. The barrel aged feature is shows up as it warms up with some oak, bourbon and vanilla aromas. I also pick out some raisin, alcohol and a certain spiciness. It's amazingly complex!

T/M - Alcohol is quite heavy at the taste. Lots of bourbon notes. Light bitterness but acidic on the palate. Medium to full body with a lively carbonation and a dry finish caused by the alcohol. I'd like to find a bigger body but the beer is pretty smooth.

O - Taste is intriguing at first. I needed some time to appreciate its character but, at the end, the flavors are really enjoyable. This is my first Mikkeller and I understand why this brewer make interesting beers. This Baltic Porter could be controversial and seen as experimental, but at the same time it has a certain rustic feeling, mainly due to the acetic notes. The drinkability is medium but the beer has a good balance and a high level of complexity. I would definitely recommend it!!
May 26, 2012
Photo of Bung
Reviewed by Bung from Michigan

3.5/5  rDev -9.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
11.7oz. Nice very dark brown nearly black pour with a dark tan ring of head.

Aroma, a little boozy, dark chocolate and oaky vanilla, caramel.

Taste, oaky roast malt, chocolates. Coffee and a bit of an acrid/ tart note. Still pretty smooth.

Solid medium body, carbonation is a little too prickly. A little more creaminess would probably help cut the acrid note as well. Abv is well enough hidden.
A bit of buyers remorse at the price point. It is tough to say this is worth trying. Maybe better to split with someone.
Apr 21, 2012
Photo of ELFERALO
Reviewed by ELFERALO from Scotland

4.03/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
A - served in a 33cl tulip. Good chocolate brown head, excellent retention. Beer is beautifully dark, completely opaque.

S - My nose is rubbish but to me I'm getting a coffee / bourbon whiff, which is quite pleasing.

T - Good complex taste. Big hints of coffee / molasses. Bitter after taste which is refreshing.

M - Quite a lot lighter than I was expecting. Fine carbonation.

O - I really enjoyed this porter. I've not sampled too many of this style but this one will certainly have me coming back.
Feb 15, 2012
Photo of Ratman197
Reviewed by Ratman197 from Colorado

4.08/5  rDev +5.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
375 ml green bottle from Wine and Cheese Place poured a clear dark reddish brown nearly black with a small lasting brown head., Aromas of bourbon, prunes, dark chocolate, roastiness, oak, vanilla and spice. Mouthfeel was meduim to full bodied and smooth. Flavors of bourbon, roasted malt, bitter chocolate, spice, oak and dark fruit with a smooth lingering chocolate finish.
Feb 05, 2012
 
Rated: 5 by phils93rul from Pennsylvania

Jan 29, 2012
 
Rated: 2.5 by Corkpuller from Pennsylvania

Jan 21, 2012
 
Rated: 3.5 by mozim from Pennsylvania

Jan 21, 2012
 
Rated: 4 by MasterSki from Canada (ON)

Jan 11, 2012
Fra Via Til (From Via To) Bourbon Barrel Aged from Mikkeller ApS
Beer rating: 87 out of 100 with 33 ratings