Mikerphone Brewing (2020)

So, I guess I’m just not the biggest fan of their stuff in general then. I really wanted to like them when he started out because I love the marketing angle. But I had multiple oil cans and wasn’t impressed by any (and don’t get me started on how bad that initial batch of BA SLBS was). Then when they started producing 750s of hazies, I checked them out again (also because I was a regular at O’s Tap then because I lived nearby and they were one of the only places to get Mikerphone in the city). And at that point they were one of the only places in the city regularly producing hazies, so I think a lot of people held them in regard because of that fact (which was obvious by the way people way overvalued them for trade). But compared to the big hitters, I never thought they compared. Hell, I was making trips down to STL at that point for Narrow Gauge because they were blowing away anyone else around here away.

I will agree, Check 1, 2 is one of their beers I rated highest (one of the early batches). But I never thought it was a beer I’d go out of my way for.

But this is all one idiot’s opinion. I’m glad they are consistently producing quality stuff nowadays (based on things I’ve seen on here). I hope they got some of the gimmicky ideas out of their system (though I’m sure they’ll continue with some).

Also, and granted I’ve only been there once, but they need to play less crappy 90’s music in the taproom! I think I heard Limp Bizkit twice in one sitting. No one needs suffer that.

 

I'll add on and say this batch of Mikerphone Check 1,2 is as good as I remember it tasting, which is a feat in itself as I can hardly remember yesterday. Take it fwiw. Also, regarding the taproom and music, hasn't it been all Boyz II Men all the time for some time?

 

I am curious to hear more opinions on the most recent batch of check 1,2 as my experience is somewhat different than what’s been described. I will preface by saying that I have a love/hate relationship with Mikerphone, as many of us seem to. Over the last handful of months, encounters with their beers have left me pleasantly surprised or wondering what is going on. The recent run of BA releases I perceive to be better than any stretch before. I enjoyed OMWM, party dress, icky thump, etc.. All of these I rated as some of their best BA offerings to date. And then the last release of SS - to my palate, it tasted clearly like artificial citrus terpenes. After drinking it, I was reminded of the batch that ultimately oxidized a few weeks in. That batch (when fresh) exhibited what I thought were unreal lemon flavors, but now ring suspect in my mind.
But now back to this batch. Immediately upon pouring the beer I was struck by the sensation of Belgiany esters. While the aroma and flavor is mild, it’s something that really stands out in an IPA to me. I love Belgian beers, but I do not expect to find their flavors in a hazy ipa, and I’m not thrilled when I do. Otherwise, I think the beer is just okay, and certainly not what past batches have been. Slightly muddy on the nose and palate - certainly lacking the precision that Mike’s best batches have given. Mikerphone has a rather curious pattern of catching lighting in a bottle, but being unable to repeat it with any normal consistency. When they hit, no other producer in IL can do better on a hazy, but I am left wanting that feeling with this attempt.

 

I had a can this afternoon and I don’t think it’s on the level of the February batch. It’s a solid Citra DIPA still

 

Having a can now and it reminds me of the beers Mike used to make before the taproom days. At some point they stopped using Imperial yeast (due to cost I assume). This tastes like that same yeast. Phenomenal.

 

I drank the can over the course of a couple hours and by the end of it was enjoying it more and not noticing the yeasty flavor as much. I definitely enjoyed it and still better than 90% of local hazies, I just didn’t have the reaction that I’ve had to some of the older stuff and other batches. Not something I notice with IPAs very frequently, but the beer really seemed to open up in the glass after breathing. Flavors that felt muddy right after pouring presented as clearer Citra notes by the end of the glass. Now almost wishing I had another can to confirm my experience last night, but such is this life.

 

How do you keep an ipa cold for 2 hours?

 

Air conditioning.? Almost hit the 2hr mark with Murkier Waters last night. Get preoccupied at times. Great beer btw!

 

Why does it have to be cold? Stouts aren't the only beers that get more flavorful when they warm up a little.

 

I guess I don’t enjoy room temperature ipas.

 

He just quoted 2 Pac quite woke

 

Mikerphone Brewing
13 mins ·


We're ready to enjoy BARREL-AGED IMPERIAL SMELLS LIKE BEAN SPIRIT with you, even if it's not exactly the same as previous years. Here's the release details, which are also available on our website. Please read this info carefully. Releases are not the same for us in 2020 and we want to do this as fairly and as safely as possible.
2020 BARREL-AGED IMPERIAL SMELLS LIKE BEAN SPIRIT (LIMIT 2 BOTTLES PER PERSON) - Imperial Breakfast Stout with Vermont Maple Syrup &Tugboat Coffee, Aged in Buffalo Trace Bourbon Barrels (15.65%) Available in 750mL bottles at $28.99 each. This 2020 iteration of BA ISLBS is our highest ABV yet.
2020 BARREL-AGED IMPERIAL SMELLS LIKE BEAN SPIRIT HAZELNUT (LIMIT 1 BOTTLE PER PERSON) Imperial Breakfast Stout with Vermont Maple Syrup, Tugboat Coffee, & Toasted Hazelnut, Aged in Buffalo Trace Bourbon Barrels (14.09%) Available in 750mL bottles at $30.99 each.
Orders available online on Tues evening June 9th. No specific release time, so turn on your Facebook & Instagram post notifications. We'll post there Tuesday when these bottles are available.
There are 5 different days available for pickup starting WED JUNE 10TH-SUN JUNE 15TH. Please pickup on the day that you select. It helps us limit the number of people coming to the brewery in one day. Visit our website for pickup details as they'll be different with our patio now open. Do not order more than the limit (2 bottles for regular BA & 1 bottle for Hazelnut per person). Any orders for more than the limit will be cancelled & fully refunded.
Some tips - create an account on our online ordering site. Place order for other beers earlier in the day so that you can complete your order faster.
Using a proxy is fine, but you MUST put their first & last name on the order.
Once the beers say sold out, they're sold out. Due to demand & accessibility of online ordering, we expect these to go quickly. Both will be available on draft for patio service next Fri-Sun. Visit our website under "Barrel-Aged Release" for more details & turn on your post notifications. Thank you, we are beyond excited to share these with you.
http://www.mikerphonebrewing.com/barrelagedrelease

 

I'm curious to see how this BA ISLBS release will go. I'm optimistic in spite of the fact I have not had a Mikerphone beer in probably a year or so at this point. The high ABV gives me hope it's going to balance out some of overly sweet additives. I've found the vast majority of additive stouts from Mikerphone (whether BA or not) to be overly sweet and not enjoyable.

Also, Smells Like Vibes is next to be released at Side Project it looks like. That's the collaboration with with Mikerphone. (https://www.sideprojectbrewing.com/shop/smellsandlr)

I got the sense in the Side Project thread that not a lot of people are aware of Mikerphones ability to destroy everything it touches (j/k... kind of). I'm curious to see feedback from the St.Louis folk once Smells Like Vibes is released.

 

I think the beer will be good and hopefully more like the 2018 version than 2019. I’m concerned about the release itself. Apparently the Toast-site doesn’t allow limits so those have to be manually enforced (or people need to do it right the first time when they are hurrying).

 

Or people could read, be prepared, and not be a shitlord. Hopefully if people are trying to go above limits you just get everything refunded and get nothing.

 

Their IG post confirmed this is what they'd be doing.

 

Perfect. I look forward to adults throwing online baby tantrums about beer.

 

I agree. What I’m saying is that it will potentially deplete the inventory faster. Then it’s a question of if those bottles get re-released online or if they just sell them in house.

 

I have some property in Siberia I'd like to show you!