Beers of the week 22/2010
Mikkeller – Monk’s Elixir
Last week, I loved Mikkeller’s It’s Alive. I won’t make the suspense last longer: I was disappointed by the Monk’s Elixir.
This beer has also been brewed at De Proef. As its name implies, it’s meant as a tribute to trappist beers, more specifically quadruples à la Rochefort 10.
In the glass, this dark colored beer, with a slightly brown-ish foam, smells of dried fruits, malts and yeast, in line with its style. The problem comes with the taste.
Flavors confirms what was perceived through the aroma. There’s also an sweet, syrupy mouthfeel, and alcohol is very present. Then comes a clear bitterness that lasts for quite a long time. All in all, not a bad beer, but in my opinion, it just doesn’t play in the same league than the mentioned trappists quadruples.
If Mikkeller really tried to reproduce that kind of beer, I consider this to be a relative failure, as he didn’t seem able to transcend the style. However, let’s be honest, I didn’t have much trouble drinking two glasses of this one. I guess I just expected more from this brewery.
