#17: Oktoberpretzel (Mikkeller)

Name: Oktoberpretzel

Brewery: Mikkeller

Style: Oktoberfest, 5.8%

The first beer I ever liked was an Oktoberfest. It tasted like bread and it was an eye-opening breakthrough for me; I didn't know beverages could taste like that! When I saw Mikkeller start advertising their new Oktoberpretzel, I was excited. I was hoping for something yeasty and with a nice malty sweetness. The label reminded me of when my after school German class made pretzels.
I got to try it at the Mikkeller & Friends Bottle Shop, and I'm sad to say I was a bit disappointed. It wasn't bad, but it certainly didn't have any of the bready taste I was hoping for with a beer named after a German soft pretzel. Since that first Oktoberfest beer that left such an impression, I've had a couple others and they have tasted pretty boring to me. This wasn't much of an exception. It did taste a little salty, which was interesting and I guess that's where the pretzel part is supposed to come in. Without the bready flavor that I was hoping for, the saltiness seemed a bit misplaced. Oh well. Happy Oktoberfest anyway, everyone! Prost!

Label: 3.5/5

Beer:3/5

#16: Nekron (Bryggeriet Djævlebryg)

Name: Nekron

Brewery: Bryggeriet Djævlebryg

Style: Stout, 8.5%

I got to try this at a tasting at Nørrebro Bryghus among quite a few others. Most of the other bottles didn't catch my eye, but with Halloween on my brain so much lately, this one definitely did. It's a simple design, but you gotta admit there's some badassery there. The brewery name translates to "devil's brewery" with "damn good beer" written underneath it, and apparently they donate some of the proceeds from their beer sales to the Danish Atheist Society.

So what does sin taste like? My first impression was chocolate and steak. Sounds pretty accurate, if you consider decadence to be one of the perks of siding with the devil. After a couple more sips, the smooth smokiness took over the more delicate flavors, but it was still a devilishly good drinking experience.

Label: 3.5/5

Beer: 4/5

#13: Shadow Pictures (Amager Bryghus)

Name: Shadow Pictures / Skyggebilleder

Brewery: Amager Bryghus

Style: Double India Pale Ale, 8%

I'm a kid at heart, and that includes getting excited and giggly about shadow puppets (even though I kinda suck at them). The name is what got me with this beer, but the label is pretty cool, too.
I couldn't decide for a while what to rate this one. It's definitely good. It's a bit sweet, with hoppy bitterness and some citrusy notes. I kept asking myself what I would change for the taste to be ideal. I couldn't come up with anything, but it was lacking something. Maybe it just comes down to a matter of personal preferences. I think the really standout beers are ones with a distinctive, memorable taste. This one might just be too balanced for me. So if you like your beers really well balanced, try this one! But hey, try it anyway. It's darn tasty. And make some shadow puppets for me while you're at it.

Label: 3.5/5

Beer: 4/5

#10: Pride (Amager Bryghus)

Name: Pride (from The Sinner Series)

Brewery: Amager Bryghus

Style: Imperial Stout, 10%

I've been ogling the bottles in Amager's Sinner Series for a while, and I will probably end up blogging all of them. They are named after the seven deadly sins, and their labels are all pretty cool.

Copenhagen Pride is going on right now, so I figured this one would be a good one to start with, even though the beer is about a different kind of pride. *wink*

I had it just below room temperature, and it was very good. The only thing that would raise my opinion of it would be an extra taste in there to set it apart from others in my memory. It's the poster boy for imperial stouts, though. Very good.

Label: 3.5/5

Beer: 4/5

#5: It's Alive! - Lychee (Mikkeller)

Name: It's Alive! (Brewed with lychee and aged in white wine barrels.)

Brewery: Mikkeller

Style: Sour Ale, 8%

A poster at Mikkeller & Friends caught my eye. Is this someone drowning in pink champagne? What? It wasn't until I went up to it that I saw that it was actually a poster size version of a beer label. Then I saw the word "lychee" and I was sold. I had to have this beer. They had it in the bottle shop, and it was this cute little ladylike bottle, looking very much like champagne.

I was a little disappointed with it, but only because I was expecting it to be absolutely heavenly. I wanted a lot more lychee; I only picked up on it (and the white wine with it) for a fleeting moment before the aftertaste set in. It was a good beer, but it could be so much better.

Label: 4/5

Beer: 3.5/5

#3: Cat Porter (Bryggeriet Refsvindinge)

Name: Cat Porter

Brewery: Bryggeriet Refsvindinge

Style: Porter, 7.4%

OH MY GOD I LOVE CATS. So yes, if I see a beer with a cat on the label, chances are I'm gonna try it.

This was a lot smokier than I usually want in a porter, but it was a good beer. I think I'd just really have to be in the mood for it to fully appreciate it.

Label: 3.5/5

Beer: 3.5/5