Beer Review: Boogoop

Reviewing the Boogoop, a collaboration between Mikkeller and Three Floyds Brewing Company.
Score: 84

No bottling date, but the bottle release date was in early 2012. So this is either from the very end of 2011 or the beginning of 2012. Served in a Surly Darkness snifter and enjoyed on 03/07/12. Review is from notes.

Appearance: Pours a deep amber color that is on the mor opaque side of translucent. Two and a half fingers of foamy khaki colored head at pour slowly recedes into a thin layer atop the glass. Above average head, above average lacing. 4/5

Smell: Resiny pine, sharp citrus, lemon zest and hops. There's a really pleasant lemon-scented Pine-sol aroma here. Light alcohol ester and a bit of "grain" smell too. There is also a "light and fluffy" wheatiness, but it's not wheat. Maybe what I am smelling is the buckwheat that this beer is made with? I can't be sure since I have never smelled or tasted buckwheat before. 3.5/5

Taste: Tastes like a wheat-infused barleywine. Bitter lemon and barley upfront, followed by a creamy "light wheat" flavor. It's not wheaty like a hefeweizen, so maybe this again is the buckwheat that I am experiencing. It's almost like mellow a "cream of wheat"-type flavor. Super malty flavor and a touch of caramel on the midpalate. A moderate amount of booziness is present too. There is a definite and consistent lemon and pine undertone, which I am just gonna call "lemon-scented Pine-sol backbone." The beer finishes and lingers with distinctly bitter grain flavor on the palate. That grainy bitterness grows as the beer layers. 3.5/5

Mouthfeel: Light bodied, low carbonation. Oily mouthfeel. Dry, bitter and malty finish. 3/5

Overall: The consensus at our tasting, is that this one was underwhelming and overrated. Solid flavors overall, but the finish to this beer was awkwardly bitter. That bitterness was a hard flavor to get out of my mouth after I finished my beer, and it was not a flavor I particularly cared to linger for so long.

Recommendation: Fans of traditional barleywines will probably like this beer and it's unique wheat twist, especially those who enjoyed the Kosmyk Charlie Y2K Catastrophe Ale. Everyone else can skip this one. I probably would never buy this one again -- especially at the price tag.

Pairings: Whole wheat pancakes with maple syrup.

Cost: $17.99 for a 750 ml bottle.