BrewDog Paradox Grain (Batch 007)

Brewed by BrewDog
Style: Imperial Stout
Fraserburgh, Aberdeenshire, Scotland

Paradox parallel tasting
Black color, nice head, but not persistent; I expected a bottle conditioned beer, but this one is filtered. The aroma is very nice, delicate, of Bourbon vanilla and some caramel. The mouthfeel is quite smooth, almost creamy, at all not thick as an American Imperial Stout, lean I would say; there is a quite strong dark chocolate flavor, well corrected by the strong Bourbon vanilla; balanced all the way to the final, when the roastiness heads up, and with a minimum alcohol perception (maybe more alcohol than the others, also because of the less sweetness). Very good.

Bottle, 10% at ÅBF08. Batch 007. Very distinct vanilla aroma. Almost black colour, very small ligt brown head. The flavour has a nice, powerful vanilla aroma and aftertaste. Underneath it seems to be a quite malty, slightly sweet and rather alcoholic beer with some barley bitterness.

Bottle. Dark brown almost black colour with a medium beige head. I sense vanilla and oak besides from the expected roasted malt, chocolate and liqorice. Some port in nose as well. Flavour is dakr roasty malts and the sweetness from a whisky cask. Very long roasty finish of vanilla and oak. Very interesting brew.

Pours a somewhat thin black, totally opaque. A mid-sized light tan head recedes very slowly, fat bubbles and oils emerging from under it. The aroma is chock full of vanilla and vibrant Scotch-infused wood, signs that the barrel employed was used for a great while before its ultimate demise at the hands of the Brewdog crew. Alcohol is potent but never overwhelming, an integral part of a superb aromatic demonstration. Mild notes of licorice root and coffee permeate the air just inside the glass, but a long whiff from afar reveals soft vanilla, alone and tempting. There is quite a bit of caramel and moderately roasted grain apparent too, but it’s secondary to heavenly spice and barrel influence. These aging remnants do not deluge the base beer, though they do seek to displace it somewhat. This doesn’t have the power of the other Brewdog imperial stouts, but is does have the elegance showcased again and again, the element that’s most important in my enjoyment of these magnificent creations. Vanilla reigns supreme in the flavor, a grainy addition that veers nowhere near the additive characteristics of some beers that aren’t naturally infused with this flavor. The taste, other than alcohol and the continual propulsion of barrel accents, isn’t really that imperial at all. It is delicious though, easy to quaff and without apology for its predisposition. No flaws are noted, thus the integration of wood and whiskey is expertly laid out and easy to revel in. Chocolate that was just a footnote in the nose is almighty now, sweet and layered with caramel and leathery spice. Sweetness is medium overall, bitterness is mild and just steady enough to cohesively join moderate acidity and keep things lively. These traits join steady, cola-like though sparse carbonation in a medium bodied mouthfeel that is slick and oily. The finish is lightly bitter, sweet chocolate, vanilla and tannins lingering. Lovely, understated but for the barrel character but still remarkable, balance peering in from a distance. A true delight.

Bottle, bought @ Havnens Vin & Tobak, Vejle.
Pours nearly black with a small creamy off-white head. Aroma is sweet, light peity smoke, chocolate, vanilla, liqourice and a light, subdued roastiness. Low carbonation, very oily mouthfeel. Flavour is wonderful roasted, lots of liqourice and a warming viniousness. The peity smoke is evident, but subdued. Once again, the grain casks wins it for me (like the 002).

(Bottle) Very dark brown, almost black, with ruby hints through light. Frothy, brief, brown head leaving lacing. Roasted, malty, woody nose with oak, dried fruit, strong sweet coffe and vanilla. Malty, roasted, woody taste with notes of strong sweet coffee, dried fruit, raisins, cocoa, liquorice, vanilla and vinous hints of port in the finish. There is a decent bitterness lurking beneath everything else. Full bodied, rather sweet. Very nice and warming beer in almost perfect balance. In short: strong, sweet coffee with vanilla and a splash of something stronger.

Bottle 33cl @ home.
Clear dark black color with a average, frothy, fair lacing, mostly diminishing, off-white head. Aroma is moderate to light heavy malty, roasted, burnt, caramel, smoke, whisky - moderate to light heavy vanilla. Flavor is moderate to heavy sweet and light to moderate bitter with a long to average duration. Sweetness is vanilla sweet. Body is medium, texture is oily, carbonation is soft. (090708)

Bottle. Pours deep dark brown with a with no head. Aromas of fresh wood, bourbon vanilla and molasses sugar. Smooth and oily texture. Sweet and roasted flavour with notes of licorice, coffee, vanilla and chocolate. This paradox turned out great!