This is  American Craft Beer Week, a designation honored both by the U.S. Congress and a Pabst-sipping Steven Colbert.

I started off the week sipping a beer made in the  American craft style, from Belgium .

I bought a bottle of Mikkeller  Cascade Singe Hop American Style India Pale Ale.  The brewers at  De Proef Brouwerij  Lochristi-Hijfte,  ( try saying  that early on a Monday morning) in Belgium have sent over a line of single hop brews to America.

They must figure that Americans are gung ho on hops because this one , as our friends at Dogfish might say, will peel the enamel off your teeth.

It is  6 per cent ABV yet is so potent that I could only sip it in a small glass.

I did get the hop notes, but  not much else that was pleasant. The finish was  dusty at best, sawdusty at worst.  At $6.75 for a 12 ounce bottle, it is too much money , in my book , for too little pleasure.

American craft brewers could see this as a form of flattery. The Belgians, noted craft brewers, are now trying to imitate the Americans.

Anyone else see it that way?

Other thoughts on the Mikkeller line?
How are you celebrating American Craft Beer Week?.