Mikkeller Hoppy Lovin’ Christmas

ABV: 7.8%
Style: Imperial IPA

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Yes! A Surprise Bonus Beer
Andy and I visited Chris and Antje the day after Christmas, and Chris informed me that he had one more bottle and that we were going to share it. Fortunately it was a 750ml bottle.

Reactions and Insights
This was excellent and I wished there had been another bottle to share. It was hoppy but pretty light for an IPA and very tasty. I’d say it had a kind of complex fruity flavor, but that makes it sound weird. It was balanced and delicious, and in the moment of drinking it I felt like it was one of the best beers I’d ever had.

I hadn’t been familiar with Mikkeller prior to this project, and I’m very glad to have been able to sample a bunch of its offerings. I’ll be seeking them out in the future. We are really living in a beer heyday, aren’t we? Lucky us.

Would I drink a case of it? 
Yes.

Did it contribute to my holiday spirit?
Yes. I drank it while hanging with Matilda and Neil, admiring Chris and Antje’s Christmas tree, and playing Atari with Andy, Chris, and Antje. Good times with good people.

Beth’s Grade
10

Objective Grade
9

Label Notes
The label actually looked better in person than it does here. I like the somewhat unskilled drawing and the flat colors; it works with their kind of lame logo. Overall it’s cute and festive. 8/10

Duvel Triple Hop 2014

ABV: 9.5%
Style: Belgian IPA

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Reactions and Insights
This truly is one of the world’s best beers. If you’ve never had it, go out and get yourself some. Or at least one. It’s expensive.

It’s incredibly well balanced, crisp, and flavorful. And all the alcohol — or I should say, just the right amount of it — is masked by the harmony of its elements.

UPDATE: ALERT: The above notes are about the standard Duvel, a Belgian Strong Pale Ale. I had failed to note at the time of consumption that I was actually enjoying the Triple Hop 2014. Um, it was super delicious is all I can remember. And I guess hoppier than the standard Duvel? As a hops lover this can only improve my love of a superb beer. All ratings stand.

Additional Reflections and Suggestions
I’m touched by how Chris (my brother, giver of this gift) loaded the last week with beers he knew I would like. And I’m touched by the amount of effort and money he put into making such a wonderful gift. We need to come up with a way to market this in time for the next holiday season.

Would I drink a case of it? 
Oh yes.

Did it contribute to my holiday spirit?
Sure. But what is holiday spirit, anyway? Just kidding.

Beth’s Grade
10

Objective Grade
10

Label Notes
It’s timeless and great. I read the history of Duvel on its website, and while it shows some very old advertising material and pictures of buildings, it doesn’t talk about the genesis of the logo or label design. But I’m pretty sure they’ve been using this label (or a similar incarnation) since at least the late ’70s. The wordmark is assertive and full of old-fashioned character, and the touches of gold feel just right. And it’s got that cool crest. 10/10

Goose Island Matilda

ABV: 7.0%
Style: Belgian Strong Pale Ale

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Reactions and Insights
It’s really good! I bought a six-pack of it a couple of years ago and wasn’t too impressed with it. But maybe my taste buds have opened up. Or maybe it just got better. I am a fan of Goose Island in general, so it doesn’t surprise me that this is delicious. Except it did surprise me because I remembered thinking it was only okay.

I confess to not recalling flavor specifics. I only remember that I thought with each sip, “Wow, this is so good.” And then, sadly, it was gone.

Also it shares a name with my awesome niece.

Would I drink a case of it? 
Yes.

Did it contribute to my holiday spirit?
Yup. I believe I drank it on Christmas day.

Beth’s Grade
9.25

Objective Grade
9.25

Label Notes
It reminds me of my childhood impression of an ’80s party on a yacht: sleek and spare, black and white, with men wearing t-shirts with blazers and people asking each other if they’ve tried the caviar. The ladies in Duran Duran videos would drink this if champagne didn’t exist, and so would Princess Diana. But honestly, I think it’s beautiful. It looks a little like it belongs on a bottle of wine, but it attests accurately to the quality of the beer inside. 10/10

Mikkeller Saaz Single Hop IPA

ABV: 6.8%
Style: IPA

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Reactions and Insights
This was a more standard IPA than the Centennial — hoppier and less sweet. It was a little watery, but very easy to drink. I enjoyed it.

Would I drink a case of it? 
If someone gifted me a case of this, I would not have a problem drinking it. But I probably wouldn’t buy one.

OK, but would I drink a six-pack of it?
I would, but it might not be my first choice.

Did it contribute to my holiday spirit?
I drank it while watching the beginning of White Christmas on Christmas Eve and thinking about how there were finally no distractions to my enjoyment of this holiday. It was possibly my favorite moment of the season, because the mild chaos of Christmas Eve evening and Christmas day were yet to come.

Beth’s Grade
8

Objective Grade
8

Label Notes
It’s exactly like the Centennial label but in different colors. I still have the same mixed feelings. 5/10

Yards Cape of Good Hope IPA

ABV: 8.1%
Style: Imperial IPA

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Reactions and Insights
Yeah, this is the stuff. In the words of McDonald’s from late 2003 until sometime very soon, I’m lovin’ it.

(I have probably already told you that I predicted in 2012 that this slogan would be retired in 2015, and that a person involved with McDonald’s branding confirmed it for me last summer. I continue to feel proud about this.)

Cape of Good Hope apparently changes every year. They should keep making this recipe, though, and call it COGH Classic.

Would I drink a case of it? 
Indeed.

Did it contribute to my holiday spirit?
It did. I drank it slowly on an Amtrak train from New York to Philadelphia while listening to podcasts from the New Yorker. It was a cloudy day, and darker skies always feel more festive. A sunny sky in the winter is trying to trick you into thinking it’s warm outside. Plus it’s hard to feel cozy in sunshine, and cozy is my optimal state of existence.

Beth’s Grade
9

Objective Grade
8.75

Label Notes
It’s got a lot going on and it handles it nicely. The background features a ship in a storm along with a compass, because why not. The font is attractive. The color palette is both unusual and classic, like something from someone’s grandparents’ formal living room. I think Yards has taken the bottle color into account here instead of treating it as a neutral, and I give them kudos for that. 8/10

Mikkeller Centennial Single Hop IPA

ABV: 6.8%
Style: IPA

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Reactions and Insights
This has a unique flavor and I didn’t immediately peg it for an IPA. But it’s very good. It’s a little sweeter than most IPAs, which makes it holiday appropriate.

Would I drink a case of it? 
Maybe not, only because it’s too different from the standard IPA profile (“profile”) I’m used to.

OK, but would I drink a six-pack of it?
Sure.

Did it contribute to my holiday spirit?
Yes. By this time I was listening to my Santa Baby radio station on Pandora. This is the only time of year I listen to Pandora because I have trained that station to play all the classics. But someone who isn’t me used my email address to sign up for Pandora and listens to Michael Buble and Riverdance and Sting, and sometimes I get emails reminding me about my Sting station. “Come back, Elizabeth, and listen to your Sting station!”

Beth’s Grade
8.5

Objective Grade
8.75

Label Notes
I have mixed feelings about this label. I like the abstract shapes in different shades of green, but curving the logo to a shape annoys me. And the placement of the logo versus the beer name feels unbalanced. But then sometimes I think it’s charmingly amateurish. 5/10

Green Bullet Triple IPA

ABV: 10.10%
Style: IPA

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Reactions and Insights
Holy crap, this was 10%? I drank it at work and didn’t feel all that affected by it, probably because I had already gained a good deal of weight as a result of this project. (NOTE: I have since rejoined the gym to help undo this. And for less vain reasons, too.)

It’s very hoppy but isn’t overwhelmed by hops. It’s got pine and citrus flavors and is quite good. I recommend it to all IPA fans.

Would I drink a case of it? 
Yes, but that might be a bad idea.

Did it contribute to my holiday spirit?
It’s like two weeks later. I remember feeling like I really had to drink the rest of the beers in my fridge before leaving for my parents’ place, and feeling full all the time (a feeling that has not yet subsided), and being happy to see a bunch of IPAs waiting for me. By December 21st I had started feeling more holidayesque in general and was just going for it with my daytime drinking. I have no regrets.

Beth’s Grade
9.25

Objective Grade
8.75

Label Notes
It’s fine, a definite improvement over their previous label. But the Green Flash logo looks like something you’d see on a bag of lettuce. It throws the whole italicized vibe off. 5/10

Einstök Ölgerð Icelandic Doppelbock

ABV: 6.7%
Style: Doppelbock

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Reactions and Insights
I like it because it’s got a weaker flavor than most Doppelbocks. It’s got a nice graininess about it, it isn’t too malty, and it’s somewhat watery. It also has a nice mouthfeel, which is a dumb word. But it does, and that’s rare in many beers. All of this makes it very easy to drink.

Would I drink a case of it? 
As usual, no.

OK, but would I drink a six-pack of it?
Yeah, I might. It’d be a great beer to bring to a holiday party.

Did it contribute to my holiday spirit?
I am writing this while drinking it and looking at my Christmas tree as the sun starts to set on a snow-cloudy day. Yes.

Beth’s Grade
7.5

Objective Grade
8.25

Label Notes
It’s a stylishly cute logo. I just noticed that the logo uses Museo, a very of-the-moment font that’s working nicely with the other elements. Good trendy fonts can make you feel excited to be alive. Also the label wrapper has a nice construction papery quality. 9/10

Crown Valley Sleighbell Spiced Ale

ABV: 6.2%
Style: Spiced Ale

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Reactions and Insights
Yikes, a lot going on here. It hits you with sourness, then come the herbs and spices. It took me a few minutes to warm up to it, but once I did, it was fun.

Would I drink a case of it? 
No, it’s too specialized.

OK, but would I drink a six-pack of it?
Probably not, but I wouldn’t be annoyed if someone brought one over to share.

Did it contribute to my holiday spirit?
Yes, because it’s very much a holiday beer and because of Christmas Angel. A little girl lives with her single mom. The mom works at a bakery and loves college football. The girl just wants her mom to find a husband but the mom thinks it’s realistic not to expect to ever find one. Meanwhile, a depressive (but attractive?-ish?) doctor with kind of gross floppy hair (UPDATE: Kevin Sorbo!) moves in to the abandoned house next door.

You’d think you could write what happens next, but you would forget to include the part about the aging chanteuse with throat cancer (spoiler alert: the angel!!) whom the doctor is secretly treating in his rundown house using a neck brace that emits an experimental blue light technology he invented. (The house also includes a pristine nursery for the baby the doctor always wanted.) An unethical freelance photographer looking for his big break threatens to ruin everything.

Aside from that, things pretty much go as expected.

There’s always so much to think about while watching Christmas movies:

• Acting quality
  • How it varies from actor to actor
  • How it varies for any given actor from scene to scene
  • How bad acting by one person can influence everyone in a scene, and vice versa
• The actors
  • How much they’re getting paid
  • What they’re like in person
  • I wish someone would help this girl be less annoying
• The script, and whether it is taking itself seriously
• AND SO MUCH MORE!

There is a scene at the end in which everyone comes in from the snow and the snow never melts from their clothes or hair, so it looks like they’re all walking around with dandruff.

Beth’s Grade
7

Objective Grade
8

Label Notes
Another classy one. 8/10

Rogue Yellow Snow IPA

ABV: 6.5%
Style: IPA

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Reactions and Insights
YES. This is the stuff. A perfect amount of hops. It’s not as citrus-y as other IPAs, more woodsy, which helps make it feel like a winter IPA.

Would I drink a case of it? 
Yes. It’s very good.

OK, but would I drink a six-pack of it?
Yeah. One time I had a six-pack of Rogue porter in my fridge and some people I didn’t know very well came over to hang out, and I offered the Rogue to someone and he was like, “You’ve got Rogue? Are you sure you want to give it to me?” As if beer by this brewery were some irreplaceable commodity  and/or as if he were unworthy of good beer. I was happy to have some stranger with low self-esteem whom I would never see again think I was especially generous.

Did it contribute to my holiday spirit?
It did! I was drinking it with the Christmas tree all lit up and writing other beer reviews while half-watching Christmas Angel on Netflix without shame. More on this in the next entry.

Beth’s Grade
9.25

Objective Grade
8.75

Label Notes
I don’t totally get the label. It’s of a guy looking at you, hugging a dog, and giving a fist pump. He has a yellow beard and is wearing a bomber jacket and eye goggles. Someone help me make sense of this.

This same guy is on other Rogue labels in different costumes, but that doesn’t really explain anything.

Design-wise, it’s nicely balanced, with good use of color. A skilled person made it. 8/10