Our trip to Copenhagen in December was perfectly timed with the shortest days of the year, but well worth the trip to explore the sprawling Christmas markets and undertake a pilgramage to Jim’s favorite European beer maker – Mikkeller!
Where: In Vesterbro neighborhood of Copenhagen. See map.
Why you should visit: The Mikkeller brewery website explains it all…”What started off as a series of kitchen experiments and a love for good beer, eventually turned into a business that…exports micro-brewed beer to over 40 countries and is internationally acclaimed as one of the most innovative and cutting edge brewers in the world.” The Mikkeller business model is proving to be a huge success – creative and “outside of the box” thinking as compared to the traditional model. Instead of investing in their own expensive equipment and space, Mikkel travels the world and leases capacity from existing brewers in order to concoct his latest experiments in beer. Luckily for his followers, there is now a permanent base of operations in the form of the Mikkeller bar which resembles more of a wine bar/tasting room than a typical beer bar.
Overall Comments: You can probably tell from the the look on Jim’s face in his self-portrait above – we had an awesome experience at Mikkeller. The bar is located down a quiet picturesque residential street about a ten minute walk from the main train station. It’s an unassuming frontage in an 18th century basement with a small sign indicating what’s inside. The interior is expertly laid out; minimalist chic, simple and devoted to the action behind the bar. White concrete and black tiled walls perfectly compliment the Scandanavian atmosphere. There were 20+ beers on shiny silver taps the day we visited, neatly organized along the back wall. The bartender and rest of the staff were fabulous. She was clearly an expert on beer and very enthusiastic about the Mikkeller beer. All beers were served in elegant tasting chalices in a 10 ounce measure. I enjoyed the Vesterbrown Ale and To Via From (a spicy porter available only during the winter). Jim tried a few of the beers on tap and concluded the afternoon session with a 1000IBU beer, pictured below. (I know the 1000 IBUs is theoretical, but Jim is adamant about the bitterness!)
It’s funny, but when I think back to my first introduction to Mikkeller beer – a special tasting event at the Coppermine Pub in North Arlington, NJ in 2009 – I was intrigued by the Danish brewer. Shortly afterwards Jim and I spotted a few bottles at the Super Buy Rite in Jersey City and again enjoyed the superb ‘chemistry of taste!’ Never could I have imagined that we’d actually make it to Copenhagen. Seeing the Mikkeller bar was the clearly the highlight of our evolving devotion to a great brewer and his continued quest to push the boundaries of what beer should taste like.
February 16, 2013
Beer and Breweries, Beer By Country, Denmark