Mikkeller Mexas Ranger
Brewery: Mikkeller
Type: Spiced/herb/vegetable
Alcohol: 6.6.%
Country: Denmark
I have a weird relationship with these spice and herb beers. They can encompass a wide range of beers, from zero IBU IPAs, using no hops but only herbs for bitterness, too my nemesis the chili beer. This one is a bit different, it has not just one or two spices, but about a dozen. These include almond milk, cocoa, chili, black beans and avocado leaves. I tried the tequila aged edition on a whim with a friend (that review coming tomorrow). I have never seen the original edition around town, so when I saw this on tap at Mikkeller bar in Copenhagen I had to give it a try. This is one of the more interesting beers I have ever tried.
Pours jet black with a tight tan head that leaves tons of lacing. The smell is insanely complex. Like walking into a kitchen with someone making a huge dinner. I get all the usual cast of porter characters, dark roasted malt, little bit of coffee and dark chocolate. Behind all of that is a mysterious spiciness from all the crazy Mexican spices and chilies added to this beer. The taste is just mind blowing porter, taken to the next level. While chili porter like Texas ranger, are a bit too strong for me, this one is just the right balance of savory and a tiny bit of balancing heat. The dark roast is balanced with a little chili but this doesn't get to hot due to the rich super bitter dark chocolate taste. The other spices just serve to exercise your palette as you try to figure out just what is that elusive flavor. Body is medium high, but the flavor is super rich and sticks with you long after the last sip. As it warms you get a lot more chocolate and chipotle chili smokiness. I have a feeling this is a beer that every degree up in temperature changes the taste just a bit. This is a fantastic beer, while the Texas ranger is a bit too strong for my taste, this is a spiced chili porter that has it right. Absolute fantastic taste, amazingly complex and a pleasure to drink. It ticks all the boxes I need to give it one of my elusive ten spots. I had to come to the source for this beer but I hope you can find it somewhere out there and experience it.
