In the better beer world there are some things that we just can't get enough of. For me personally, it's gargantuan stouts. For my co-founder, it's mind blowing doppelbocks. For many of us in general, it is trusted breweries. You know the ones I am talking about. Those breweries that, no matter what they put out, you will gladly dive face first into a glass of it. I am sure I can rattle off at least 5 of my favorites without blinking, and you can probably do the same. Well take just a moment and consider what might happen if two of your favorite breweries decided to put their kegs together and collaborate on a brew project. Pretty exciting, right? Well when I found out that Mikkeller and BrewDog had done just that, I could barely contain myself. After getting my hands on the result, the I Hardcore You IPA, I am happy to inform you that my excitement was totally justified.

When poured, I Hardcore You takes on an aged copper coloration with a pretty standard sized head. The dissipation pace is a little slower than normal and leaves some nice lacing throughout the session. It should come as no surprise that this one is a full on hop blast in every imaginable way. Pine and citrus are both plentiful in the nose, but if I had to pick one as more dominant, I would probably go with the citrus. It has a very bright feel to it, but easily stays away from any threat of becoming overpowering. Grapefruit and orange zest are what really seem to come though more than anything else. A slight earthy aroma comes through in waves, and a rich malt layer keeps everything balanced nicely with its sweet caramel vibe.

Once you get up the nerve to take a sip, you are instantly caught off guard by its surprisingly smooth and buttery mouthfeel. Don't get me wrong, there is definitely a hops bite present, but it is fully expected. The smoothness, not so much. As far as flavor goes, the malts are a little more prominent than you might expect, but they do a good job as far as keeping things in balance goes. A bit of a toasted bread quality seems to sneak in with the light caramel flavor, but both are splashed throughout with flavorful blasts of hops. If you are careful, you can even pick up on faint notes of honey from time to time. Just as in the nose, the hops lean a little more towards the citrus side, and grapefruit reigns supreme over everything else. The exit leaves a bit of a tingle on the tongue, and a light but sticky coating on the rest of your mouth.

On paper, beers like I Hardcore You shouldn't work. Mikkeller and BrewDog making a highly drinkable Imperial IPA collaboration is like Ferrari and Lamborghini deciding to work together to make a fuel efficient family sedan. Amazingly, they somehow managed to pull it off. Granted, I would have drank it regardless, but the fact remains the same. It is a really great beer. Those new to the game might still find it a bit much, but those who have been in it for a while should really take this one for a spin. Beers like this don't come around often, so do yourself a favor and dive on in if you get the chance.