A few months ago I had the opportunity
to purchase beers from a brewery I’d read and heard about, but yet had chance
to sample. They were the To Øl brewery from Denmark. They have an interesting
background, and direct links to the Mikkeller brewery, which is what initially,
sparked my interests. Anyone who has a huge passion for beer, and has been tutored
by one of the grand masters of international brewing, must have a pretty decent
idea of what makes decent beer.
On that day I purchased five of their
beers, and enjoyed the first – First Frontier IPA – finding it deliciously
hoppy ale and one I would seek out again. It was then that I decided I would
taste another 3 of their bottles, all being versions of an IPA, together to get
an interesting insight into how good this brewery currently are. The three
chosen ales were the Final Frontier IPA, and the two Mikkeller collaboration
IIPA’s Overall IIPA and Sleep Over Coffee IIPA. I’m not expecting prosaic brews
and approach this tasting with eagerness.
I started with the Final Frontier IIPA .It
pours a lovely, fruity amber colour with frothy white head. It’s delightful on
the nose too; tangy grapefruit and strong watermelon. The taste is, perhaps
what I expected, but agreeably so; big, tasty, fruity hops, beautifully
balanced and near perfectly crafted. It's almost ineffable and difficult to
make tasting notes when you can't put your glass down long enough to write
them. Lovely tang, terrific hop hit and there's even a pleasant alcohol warmth
to remind you of that strength. It’s in my top 5 beers of the year instantly.
From here I moved on to one of the collaboration beers, and To
Øl’s first official release, the Overall IIPA. This
pours a cloudy peachy colour and is so mouth-watering on the nose. There
are feelings of peach and then those scents from the Final Frontier, especially
the melon - but bigger and bolder, stronger and more affirmed. For the first
glorious second of tasting this is about to become my favourite beer of all
time However, this amazing sensation lasts briefly before an alcohol burn sucks
it away. It’s still great. It’s still one of my favourite IIPA's, but it’s just
a shame that the burn holts this from being the best beer ever brewed. Unbalanced?
I’ve suggested it is, but it’s ignominious to say so. I want it to be that
good.
So, with my first slight disappointment I finally taste the other Mikkeller
collaboration, Sleep Over Coffee IIPA. I’ve seen this on keg in a couple of
bars but have avoided it to give this first outing it’s full effect. This pours a hazy, Iced Tea colour, not far
from the Overall. However, the smell is a huge contrast. It IS coffee, I know I
shouldn't be surprised but I am. Its sweet coffee, like the flavours you would
find in coffee Revels or Roses. The taste... barmy, a word I've not used for 22
years, but it is. Hop filled bitterness mixed with the taste of raw coffee
beans. It's exactly how it’s described, like they've taken the Overall IIPA and
mixed in a spoonful of Kenco Gold. It’s not bad. But at no point can I decide
if I'm enjoying it. I will say, it’s much more balanced than the Overall IIPA,
and drinks like a 5% rather than the huge 10.5%. It smacks of Mikkeller
experimentation which isn't a criticism. But then I can't say I regret not
having more than the one bottle, unlike the Final Frontier. Different, but
crazy.
Since this tasting, I’ve tried, and enjoyed, To Øl’s Black Ball Porter, and stashed away a Reparationsbajer, Raid Beer,
Ov’ral IIPA and Mochaccino Messiah (perhaps I could make a part two to this
tasting event.) I think from the fact I’ve ordered these, and my love for both
the First and Final Frontier, we can assume that To Øl are exciting, inventive and good at what they craft. Like the best
craftsmen, they’ve served an apprenticeship to a master, but I bet they can
come close to surpassing him.
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