Apr 16, 2012

Brewdog Mikkeller I Hardcore You

I Hardcore You photo

I Hardcore You is a collaborative effort between the gypsy brewers at Mikkeller and Scotland’s infamous Brewdog. Combining two of the companies’ more hop-forward IPAs (I Beat You and Hardcore IPA respectfully) the idea behind this brew was originally announced in the Summer of 2010. This was meant to be a limited, one-off release — I didn’t notice any “best by” or vintage dating on the label — but I can’t imagine that two year old bottles of this are just starting to show up in stores in my area now. So, I’m going to assume that perhaps there was a more recent batch produced.

At any rate, I Hardcore You is an Imperial IPA that weighs in at 9.5% ABV, (there was no mention of the IBUs present). The brew is certainly hop-forward, but not in a palate-crushing sort of fashion. It’s fruity and earthy with just the right amount of bite to keep things interesting.

Appearance

The beer pours with a sizable, off-white head that rests atop the clear, amber liquid. The head fell slowly to a decent lacing.

Aroma

I could smell this one immediately upon cracking the seal of the cap. Loads of floral, citrus hops fill the nose with hints of tangerine, pine resin and a spicy character. There’s a fairly decent malt backbone supporting the aroma.

Taste

It’s not a citrusy as the nose hinted at, but there is still a good amount of tropical fruit in the mix. Instead, pine resin and herbal notes dominate the hop profile as the malt backbone stands firm. The beer isn’t as bitterly aggressive nor as sweet as many examples of this style. It’s not overly intense in that realm. It does have a wonderfully earthy character about it that lingers nicely in the lasting finish that carries hop oils and a light alcohol warmth.

Overall

This beer surprised me to tell you the truth. Having had beers from both companies in the past, I suppose I was expecting something a little more in-your-face, but I Hardcore You shows a measure of matured restraint with it’s hop-forward character. The bitterness is there, as is the alcohol, but both are handled moderately, making for a wonderfully drinkable Imperial IPA.

Rating:4.25/5

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