BrewDog Hardcore IPA

Brewed by BrewDog
Style: Imperial/Double IPA
Fraserburgh, Aberdeenshire, Scotland

Batch #207, Best Before Date: 02/02/10, 22.4 oz. Bottle. Pours a slightly-hazed orange-copper into the glass, with a light soap cap that reduces to sparse suds lace. The nose is of caramel, some toffee, Belgian Candi sugar, and grassy hops. The flavors are similar: caramel malt and candi sugar, with some tiny citrus and yeasty notes midway through, and a finish of heavy peppering bitter hops. The texture is syrupy, with a full body and smooth mouthfeel... but just this side of boozy. It simply doesn’t come together great for such palate complexities. The heavy, semi-boozy feel is a bit too heavy at the end of the pull, and knocks the brew out of balance. It feels like it’s going to be a barleywine at the outset... like an IIPA toward the middle... and just a heavy mess at the end. If controlled a bit, this would be a nice offering, especially as a nightcap. As is, I hope this is the "old" offering and await the "new" batch.

Batch 207-- bb 02/02/10 from a snifter: pours dark hazy orange-gold with a medium head. Aroma is funky earthy yeasty at first, apricot and citrus fruitiness and resinous hop upon closer investigation. Some biscuity malt in there as well. Flavour is fruity and boozy, medium bitterness through the middle and a slightly sticky alc sweetness towards the finish. Low carbonation let’s the malt shine through.

Batch - 297/287??? The label reads "297 (or 287 - I can’t make it out) 02/02/10 OK - this one found some brett in its yeast profile and has started going the way of the Superfunk. DO no dispair, however! It all works in this bitter IPA.Aroma is superb, with notes of horseblanket, bitter malt and bitter hop. Flavor is bitter, but not cloying. Dry, but bitter on finish. Interesting experiment. The name does fit, however, just like their Punk IPA fit that name. It’s brash, its in your face, its bitter and it has no malts to comfort you - so you either like hops or not.

Not one of these guys’ best efforts for sure. Not bad, but certainly not great. Poured a soap bubble off white head and good lace. Color is a fairly clear medium to light amber. Aroma is a little earthy, simple, and nice. Flavor’s about the same. Body is good and so is carbonation. Finish is about the same. Say good night dick.

Bottle 0,33 l. Pours light orange gold with small white head. Nose is somewhat musty, flowery, hops and the some rotten grass quite up front. Skunky and earthy. Flavor is sourish bitter with only a bit maltiness. Feels quite thin and boring for it’s style. As a lighter pale ale I would give this much better score, but as a strong DIPA it just doesn’t deliver.

Bottle, from Bartzilla. Fairly lifeless nose, nice looking amber color. Flavor is sweet, mildly hoppy and a kinda easy to drink. Just ok.

Pours a golden yellow with a thin layer of foam and some lacing. Aroma is malty & floral. Tastes delightfully peppery, boozy and hoppy, but the hops are unexpectedly... savory? Northern brewer, is that you? Not really sure what to make of this one. Decent carb and thin body. Sheer bitterness makes up for the unpleasant-ish hop character, but I’m still not completely sold.

Bottle. What can i say, i did exspected more, but i had a very good homebrew from stefan before this one. and this one could not stand for it.