BrewDog Cambridge Stone Juxtaposition Black Pilsner

Brewed by Stone Brewing Co.
Style: European Strong Lager
Escondido, California USA

12 oz bottle. Dark chocolate brown with a puffy gray head. Nose is orange candy and mild grass. Medium body with sharp carb. Taste is quite bitter with notes of quinine, juniper and lime peel. Finishes with burnt coffee. Looks brown but very green.

12 ounce bottle - $5.99 at Bullock’s Wine & Spirits in Marietta, Georgia. Admittedly, I haven’t been too terribly enamored with the latest string of black IPA’s on the market, and was more than hesitant to purchase a self-labeled Black Pilsner. Seeing now that it’s 10% ABV also goes me pause. Appearance: Pours out a jet black body with a large, frothy, ecru head with some agreeable staying power. Smell: Charry, creosote-soaked nose with some herbaceous, downright weedy hop and campfire charcoal tones. Minor alcohol hint if you’re down sniffing around there. The nose is a bit rough around the edges, but, thankfully, the taste offers a bit more to round things out. Taste: Roasty, charred, blackened malts with a minor hint of dark chocolate and powderized coffee crystals. What sweetness is on hand comes fast and leaves just as quickly. Fresh herbal, spicy flavor from the hops with a fair amount of bitterness that combines with the roasted grains. Quite a creosote taste in the latter half, so it’d pair well with roasted meats and coating fence posts. As it warms slightly, a caramelly, bready taste develops to soothe the burnt quality. Smooth, roasty, herbal-laden finish. Mouthfeel: Medium-plus body. Medium carbonation. Very, very light creaminess to the mouthfeel. Drinkability: Well, if nothing else, it goes down fairly easy for having 10% ABV emblazoned on the bottle. It presents a lot of burnt malts and a lot of herbal, bitter hops, but not quite too much of either to be overbearing, though, I am thankful it’s not a drop above twelve ounces. It’s interesting for sure.

Pours dark brown / mahogany with a tan head that doesn’t stay for long. The aroma has chocolate creamy roasted malt and dark berries. There are some papery traits as well. Medium / thick body that is a bit sticky with fairly sharp carbonation, but it isn’t interfering. The taste begins with the aroma traits, but is extra bitter in a charred sort of what and alcohol is prevalent. The finish has charred baker’s chocolate, powderiness and hotness. A good beer, but I expected more.

Aroma is nutty with some sweet cream. Poured dark black with tan head. Taste was bitter at first with some definite hop presence. A bit of chocolate and earthyness. Very good yet interesting beer.

bottle, from Julio’s. Good aroma, peat, chocolate, pine. Brownish black color, good head and lace, Bitter flavor. Medium body, Lite creamy smooth mouthfeel, bitter dry finish. Good brew, great aroma actually, found it fascinating. Might be a turn off for some. Mighty bitter flavor, had a hint of whiskey about it. Not one I’d drink all day, nor can I, ha ha, but a good beer to have tried. Had a odd mix as far as the mouthfeel, the body was more than the texture...

Bottle... Poured near black with a huge, beige head. Roasted nose, grainy and boozy as well. Hoppy brew, nice balance of grains and yeast. Sweet and cookie-like bread notes. Smoked essence in the finish.

Pours black with a creamy tan head. The aroma is potent and hoppy with pine, coffee, ethanol, caramel, and toffee. Some slight roast and citrus. Strange combination of aromas, but it works. The flavor is very well balanced with honey, caramel, toffee, chocolate, citrus fruits and a grapefruity finish. Some roasted coffee notes in the background. Very enjoyable. Normally I’m not a big fan of collaboration beers, but these Stone offerings have been superb.

Pours black, very little head. Aroma of anise and eucalyptus, backbone of some caramel. Little sweetness and then an astringent bitter finish. Certainly unique. Great mouthfeel and ABV hidden well.