Mikkeller Duel: Simcoe Single Hop IPA & Nelson Sauvin Single Hop IPA

We're enjoying this warm Saturday night with our friend Eric and a couple of the Mikkeller single hop varieties.

First up is the Simcoe:

Claudia: Sourness comes through at the end of this hoppy number. At first sniff, I detect peaches, apricots, and a slew of summer fruit. Maybe a pie with a crumb topping. But this soon gives way to a faint leathery smell . I feel that this beer would go well with Ritz crackers. This is a medium-bodied beer; I'm pleased with the carbonation; I would find it a little bit more drinkable if it weren't so bitter. That said, I like this beer. 7/10

Jay: Ahhh. Smells skunky and kind of like apricots. Moderate level of bitterness comes through right away. There's a bit of astringency in the finish. Overall the taste isn't complex but it's solid and very drinkable. I feel like this would go well with a sliced meat platter- maybe some salamis and some hams, a spicy Italian meat. 7.5/10

Eric: Starts with a ripe blood-orange and other sweet citrus flavors and ends with fresh cut grass. But the flavor's a little muted and it could be a bit more fragrant. There could be more malt to speak with which is good if they're showing off the hops, but I could use a little more. Not very complex. 7/10


...and the Nelson Sauvin:

Eric: Wow. A much better smell. A lot more fragrant than the last one. A lot tastier too. I'm getting red currant or a berry flavor, almost like berries in tea, upfront at least. But much more pronounced bitterness than the last one too and more flavor. Not much in the way of malt, though. It has a piney finish. I really like that. 8.5/10

Jay: Smells stronger than the Simcoe; mostly of spruce. Citrus and berries at the beginning: maybe raspberries or pomegranates. Nice, even, straightforward bitterness with a sticky, bitter, herbal finish. I like the complexity and overall taste of this variety more than the Simcoe, and now I want to try all the others. 8/10

Claudia: Much more pungent smell in this beer than the last. Sourness is not as apparent in this one, but it is present, and it's much more hoppy. I taste notes of basil, thyme, and pomegranate, and a much fuller body. This beer seems like it would be good to drink on a snowy day. It's a little too heavy to drink casually, however, it seems much more well-crafted and has more depth. It covers more bases than the Simcoe. 7.5/10