REVIEW #29: Jackie Brown (Mikkeller)

Jackie Brown, a brown ale, really is brown. A deep, chestnut brown. The head is permanent and a smooth cream in colour and consistency; very impressive. The aroma is of chocolate, cream and... piney, menthol scented hops very much in the vein of an American Pale Ale! Vanilla and chewy malt at the fore lead to a pronounced hop finish on the palate. For a brown ale this is crazily hopped. The hops lend Jackie Brown an aromatic, bone dry finish. Despite this its a smooth, easy drinking beer and undeniably well balanced, but, I can't help feeling - and call me old fashioned if you will - that a brown ale (a child of the mild, so to speak) should go a little easier on the hop and rather be more of a showcase for the many interesting malt varieties present.

Like a lot of Mikkeller's beers, this one is brewed at De Proefbrouwerij in Belgium. No doubt an obvious fact to many, the beer is named after the acclaimed Quentin Tarantino film starring blaxploitation queen and John Carpenter-favourite, Pam Grier. Grier is just one in a truly impressive cast of actors that feature in the film, including Samuel L. Jackson, Robert DeNiro, Michael Keaton, Jane Fonda... Anyway, its probably a good idea to drink Jackie Brown whilst watching Jackie Brown, for the complete experience.

• MALTS: pale, munich, cara-pils, cara-crystal, brown, chocolate, unmalted oat

• HOPS: NUGGET, SIMCOE, CENTENNIAL
• IBU: ?
• ABV: 5.9%`
• BOTTLE-CONDITIONED.

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