Mikkeller finally landed in Helsinki. The bar opened after a couple of years worth of searching for an appropriate location. The location is smack in the middle of downtown, a couple of blocks up Kalevankatu from Stockmann. The location used to be a cafe, and is very much on the small side with half a dozen tables and the bar itself.
On the opening night the party spilled into the street, with easily more than 80% of the customers located outside rather than in.
There’s twenty taps, and on the opening night they were all Mikkeller’s own (or Warpigs), no guest taps in sight.
This is not that big of a problem, considering the width of Mikkeller’s portfolio – all corners were covered, from basic pils to imperial stout via the appropriate pale ales and sours along the way.
The price level, on the other hand, is a huge problem. A NEIPA costs 15 euros for a large glass (euphemistically just 0.4 liters), whereas the imperial stouts and double fruited beers hit the bell at close to 30 euros. Considering the prices in comparable bars (Brewdog, Bier Bier), this is easily too high by a half, and I would expect the invisible hand to adjust the pricing soon.
With the Mikkeller now opened, it’s time to speculate on the next arrival. Thornbridge has allegedly been sniffing around the downtown for several years without concrete results.
FI: Mikkeller aukesi. Kovin oli kallista.
brewnardo 