Mikkeller Burger & Bun L.A. Lager

Good afternoon all. It's been a gloriously sunny day here in Guildford, but I haven't been able to enjoy any of it as I've been relegated to my desk trying to get through the introduction to my final year dissertation. Yesterday was quite the busy day in regards to beer- mainly because it was so dull in every other context- so expect a few reviews in quick succession over the rest of the day. The first beer was Burger & Bun L.A. Lager from Mikkeller, a beer that I picked up almost a year ago from The Bottle Shop (http://www.bottle-shop.co.uk/). It's been catching my eye ever since I bought it, and I finally gave in and got out the bottle opener. Review after the pic....

Burger & Bun L.A. Lager (5.0% ABV) pours an amber colour with a decent white head. There's some early lacing and the beer itself is slightly opaque. The aroma is much hoppier than I was expecting, with grapefruit, citrus, malt, honey and a floral character. Every so often the sweetness manifests itself as a caramelised, burnt sugar aroma, which works well with the tropical fruits from the hops. The taste consists of malt, light citrus fruits, bittering hops and a vinous quality. The finish is crisp with a very light bitterness and a fruity aftertaste. The mouthfeel is well carbonated and surprisingly thick. Overall, a very nice lager with plenty of fruity hop flavours and aromas. I would say it's closer to a pale ale with the extra hops, but the well-rounded crispness and light bitterness in the finish justifies the name. Well, that and the weeks of cold storage! Definitely recommended if you're in the market for a refreshing lager with a difference.

Until next time....

Brasserie La Binchoise Belgoo Luppo

Good evening all. My weekend was fairly hectic, with two gigs and a visit to the CASK Pub and Kitchen filling up my time very nicely, so naturally I wasn't able to do any in-depth beer reviewing. The choice at the CASK was incredible as usual, and I opted for the two Mikkeller beers that were on keg that night- Hop Burn High and Swinging Harry. The former was a very resinous and bitter DIPA, whilst the latter was a Belgian Quad brewed in collaboration with Cigar City Brewing that was initially disappointing but improved greatly as it warmed up. I even managed to buy a bottle of Boogoop (Mikkeller/Three Floyds Buckwheat Wine) and a bottle of Double Bastard Ale (Stone American Strong Ale)- expect reviews in the near future. Onto tonight though, and a Belgian beer I picked up at the Utobeer market a couple of weeks ago- Belgoo Luppo from Brasserie La Binchoise. Review after the pic....

Belgoo Luppo (6.5% ABV) pours a pale golden (straw) colour with an incredibly lively white head that dissipates to a patchy covering over the surface of the beer. Be warned, I had a bottle volcano situation on my hands (and the whole kitchen worktop) as soon as I'd liberated the cap, it's that lively! The aroma is quite complex and certainly not what I was expecting, with citrus hops, spicy phenols, a vinous quality and a funky smell that reminded me of lambics or Flanders red ales. The taste is quite acidic, with spicy phenols, citrus fruits and a vinous background (dry white wine). The finish is piquant with a tart bitterness that isn't overly offensive. The mouthfeel is surprisingly light despite the heavy carbonation. Overall, a very interesting Belgian beer that is a refreshing change from the more stereotypical flavours associated with beers from that region. I still prefer the simplicity and craftsmanship of the more conservative breweries, but when you want to shake things up a bit this beer is ideal. Probably wouldn't get it again, but it's worth a try!

Until next time....