Mikkeller Jackie Brown
I picked up this bottle of Mikkeller’s Jackie Brown back in late July despite the extremely warm weather. I was in the mood for a brown ale and this 6% ABV example of the style provided that fix and more. This beer, brewed at De Proef Brouwerij, is a smooth drinking, wonderfully flavored beer that also provides a soft hop presence to round out the malty backbone.
The aroma on this beer is one that you just want to hover over for a good long while before taking your first sip. It’s rich and malty with hints of cocoa, molasses and a hoppy character that presents soft herbal notes and distant pine. There’s a little something else in the mix (maybe brown sugar) that adds an interesting character to the aroma and flavor. Once the beer hits the lips, it glides smoothly over the tongue with an array of flavors and a gentle hop tingle to round out the rich malt sweetness.
I thoroughly enjoyed Jackie Brown. The beer offers a smooth, fairly balanced drinking experience. I’d prefer it to be a touch fuller on the palate, but the flavors more than make up for that nitpick. I’ll have to keep my eyes out for more of this one, especially as the months start to get colder.