Mikkeller + Friends
Jeremy's rating: ★★★★★
Come for the beer and stay for the other 39 beers available. Between the wide variety of collaborations on tap and the quaint and homey atmosphere, Mikkeller & Friends is a great place to let your beer-loving taste buds run wild.
Jen's rating: ★★★★★
Not only does their entire space boast a modern and adventurous design from floor-to-ceiling, thanks to the handpicked team at the interior design studio RUM4, their beer selection will also leave you in awe. They've also got a handful of snacks on-hand, but if your hunger demands more they let you bring in outside food. Five thumbs up in my book.
Nestled in a cozy and design-centric sunken first floor in the trendy and eclectic Nørrebro neighborhood of Copenhagen, Mikkeller & Friends lives up to its namesake in more ways than one. As soon as you walk in, your mind is put at ease through the cozy and inventive design touches — eccentric murals on the walls, custom-made wooden benches, and smiling bartenders eager to walk you through what's on tap.
And here, as the bartender describes the ample beers and wines available, does the second (and likely main) meaning of Mikkeller & Friends become apparent; this space loves beer, and it loves beer from those eager to collaborate. Mikkeller & Friends offers 40 beers on tap — some Mikkeller originals, some collaborations, and some from other friendly breweries — and they are especially known for their range of excellent sours.
When we visited, we instantly gravitated towards trying the Nørrebro Spontanale and the Spontanbeetroot. The Spontanale (the amber pictured) was more tart than sour, and it lingered smoothly and crisply. The beer was very calm without being at all overpowering, and it brought with it a pleasant funkiness.
The Spontanbeetroot (the purple), meanwhile, had a slight tarty beetrooty taste — as the name implies. Like the Spontanale, it brought a funkiness and a sweet sourness; however, this beer also had strong fruit smells and was as refreshing as a glass of juice.
Meaning, essentially, that both beers were absolutely amazing — assuming you are down to try beers straying away from the more typical hop/malt dynamic.
Jen getting right at home.
Overall, Mikkeller & Friends is a perfect spot to stop in the middle of the day for a beer or a great night drinking spot, as the bar is happy to adapt to your needs. If you're feeling hungry, there a range of classic bar snacks, including pistachios, jerky, and chips. If you need a meal, you can do what our friend Rosh did and grab some takeout from a restaurant down the street to eat in the bar.
If you're short on time, you can always stop by Mikkeller & Friends to briefly take in the atmosphere, pick up a can, and head out into Copenhagen to continue on with the rest of your day.
