Mikkeller’s 1000 IBUs-An Imperial IPA

Overall: C+

Price: D-

Taste: A

Type: 12 oz Bottle

9.6% ABV-1000 IBU

I’ve been writing about too many imperial IPAs.  I may have said this before.  I’m a hop-head.  I’ve confessed.  Now indulge me.  I was out one night in late October and I stumbled upon this novelty.  I thought to myself, “1000 IBUs?  How can anything be that bitter?”  Well, I have the answer…it can’t.  Like many triple IPAs, there’s a point of hop concentration where the tongue can’t absorb any more resin.  The beer can contain as many hops as the brewer wants to put in, but it doesn’t really matter after about 100 IBUs (please write in if you feel differently).  However, I do find that occasionally there are wonderful flavors in these IPAs from the beta resins at these high levels.   But let’s get back to the story.  I wanted this beer.  I had to at least TRY it, even though it was really expensive (I’ll get back to that later).  Mikkeller, a small gypsy brewery, has become one of the most renowned breweries in Europe for a reason, and they specialize in oddities like this.  I’m a huge IPA fan (not to overstate the obvious), and this was one novelty I couldn’t avoid.   Turns out, this beer is surprisingly drinkable.  It’s light, hoppy, and actually, very good.  It pours a golden orange, with a medium head.  My friend told me it would annihilate my taste buds, but it didn’t.  Sure, you can taste big citrus and piney hops, but it levels out and turns into a delectable treat, offering a smooth golden after taste.  This isn’t the best imperial IPA of all time, but with what Mikkeller did to this crazy experiment, it amazes me to say it might be in the top 5.  With Mikkeller’s odd history of unique brews, maybe I shouldn’t have been surprised.  HOWEVER…and that’s a big however…the fantasy ends there.  The beer costs between thirteen and sixteen dollars for a 12 oz.  That’s absurd.  I don’t care if there’s a little hop dragon breathing liquid resin into my beer, it isn’t worth that price.  1000 IBUs nearly fails in price, but redeems itself for being a singularity…an anomaly…. The Great White Buffalo.  And for that, it might be worth trying, at any price.

In Conclusion: A great novelty beer.  If you have the money and the idea entices you, I’d say try it, but know that it’s going to be a one and off because of the price tag.

Food Pairing: Spicy and savory foods with cream.  Falafel and Fajitas would be great.

“This is grain, which any fool can eat, but for which the Lord intended a more divine means of consumption…Beer.”

-Friar Tuck, Robin Hood-Prince of Thieves