Mikkeller
Mikkeller comes from Copenhagen and was founded in 2006 by Mikkel Bjergsø and Kristian Keller. The breakthrough was Beer Geek Breakfast, an oatmeal stout with coffee. Most of the beer is contract brewed, and the range runs from 0.3% to 13.8% alcohol.
- LocationCopenhagen, Region Hovedstaden
- Founded2006
- TypeMicrobrewery
- Untappd 3.67 · 3.3M ratings
- At Hoptimaal5 in stock · 6 in total
In stock now 5
Previously at Hoptimaal 1
Sold out. If a new batch is coming, you can ask for a heads-up on the product page.
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From kitchen experiments to a bar in Vesterbro
Mikkel Bjergsø was a maths and physics teacher in Copenhagen when he started experimenting with hops, malt and yeast in his kitchen in 2003. Together with his childhood friend Kristian Keller, he turned that into a series of home-brewing experiments, inspired by the extremely hoppy beers of American microbreweries.
Their first attempt was a clone of Brøckhouse's IPA. It won a blind tasting in their beer club, after which they started making their own recipes and came home from the Danish beer festival with several medals. In 2005, Mikkel's twin brother Jeppe opened a beer shop in Copenhagen and began distributing the beer worldwide.
The breakthrough came in 2006 with Beer Geek Breakfast, an oatmeal stout with coffee from a French press. On Ratebeer.com it was named best stout. In early 2007, Keller left the company. Bjergsø carried on alone, stopped teaching in 2010 and opened his first bar that year, Mikkeller Bar on Viktoriagade in Vesterbro.
Contract brewing as a business model
Mikkeller started contract brewing in 2006 and still does. According to the company itself, more than 90 percent of the beer is contract brewed, mainly at De Proef in Belgium. In the United States, AleSmith took over that role in 2022, after Mikkeller had closed its brewery in San Diego. At that point the company also still had three smaller breweries in Copenhagen and London.
The beer goes to more than 50 countries. Collaborations with other brewers are a fixed part of the brand: Bjergsø has been brewing with AleSmith founder Peter Zien since 2007. Alcohol-free beer is also part of the range, such as Drink'in The Sun and Weird Weather.
Mikkeller at Hoptimaal
At Hoptimaal you'll find a wide selection of Mikkeller: IPA, pale ale, weizen, stout and lager & pilsner, in 33, 44 and 50 cl. The strength runs from 0.3% to 13.8%. Highly rated on Untappd are George Bourbon BA 2026, Third Sunrise, Hop Outta Here, Helles & Whistles and Twogether Forever, among others. The range changes, so check the shop to see what's in stock.
Drink hoppy beers like IPA and pale ale as fresh as possible and well chilled. Stronger beers like George Bourbon BA 2026 you serve more slowly and slightly less cold, in a smaller glass. At 0.3%, Drink'in The Sun is an option if you want little or no alcohol.
Frequently asked questions
Where does Mikkeller come from?
Mikkeller comes from Copenhagen in Denmark. Mikkel Bjergsø and Kristian Keller founded the brand in 2006, after Bjergsø had started brewing at home in his kitchen in 2003.
What kind of beer does Mikkeller make?
Mikkeller makes a wide range, from IPA, pale ale and stout to weizen, lager and alcohol-free beer. It became best known for Beer Geek Breakfast, an oatmeal stout with coffee.
Does Mikkeller have its own brewery?
Mostly not: more than 90 percent of the beer is contract brewed, mainly at De Proef in Belgium. In 2022, Mikkeller also still had three smaller breweries in Copenhagen and London.
