BrewDog Paradox Grain (Batch 013)

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

this is an incredibly complex beer. I tasted port or sherry and toasted oak. the 12 oz bottle wasn’t nearly enough. Not too sweet. Only down side was no head, and the price always stings a bit. As a scotch lover (especially Islays) and an Imperial Stout lover, the paradox series is a slice of paradise.

BATCH: 013 BEST BY: 02/02/10 This pours a super dark brown color. There isn’t much of a head at all, just a small island of bubbles, in the middle of the surface. Lacing is in small spots and tiny strands and fairly sticky. The bourbon notes and the maltiness really achieve a very good level of balance, in this one. Malt notes are both sweet and roasty. Nice presence of oak, vanilla, honey and a hint of floral. Mild hints of caramel and cocoa powder and peat smokiness. This is the best, most balanced, nose that I’ve yet to find from any of the Brewdog Paradox series. The taste is almost as good as the smell. A nice, rich, maltiness is balanced by the dry, light smokiness, that is imparted by the barrel aging. Hints of cocoa, tobacco, vanilla, leather, oak and light touches of dark fruits. Light notes of blackstrap molasses. I really think that mouthfeel is where these beers fall short. This one is a medium, almost full, bodied beer. It has a very light level of carbonation. Sure, it’s smooth and easy to drink, just like water or juice. It’s sadly lacking any real creaminess, which I think is a shame. Then again, I didn’t make the beer, so who am I to complain. As far as that goes, I will buy their beers, whenever I can, because I do enjoy them. I’m knocking of a bit for the lack of any real body. Other than that though, I could personally drink quite a few of these. Until that 10.00%abv knocks me down, that is.

Black with a thin tan head. Aroma is light smoke, chocolate, roasty, toffee, alcohol. Taste is toffee, light caramel, alcohol, scotch, light chocolate, roastiness. NICE!

Bottle from Bottleworks. Tasted blind as 1 of 15. Pours dark brown with light tan head that fades quickly. Great borubon aroma with caramel, honey nut and chocolate. Incredibly enticing. Sweet chocolate and coffee with nice bitter hops balance and a slight oak finish. Medium body and very smooth. Best of the Paradox line.

Bottle from Liquor Max. Severe dark brown pour, very thin even layer of off-white head. Lots of oak and whiskey on the nose, which I like, more oak, a hint of peat. The peat character comes out more as it warms. Caramel malt notes underneath, along with light roasty aroma. Body is a bit thin, but doesn’t detract. Taste is sweeter up front with moderate whiskey notes and a relatively clean finish. Not much roast on the taste, and the scotch is kept relatively in check. Another winner for me.

Big thanks JMFG. Pours a burnt brown-black. Aroma is oak dominant, with some charred notes coming through. Hints of vanilla, almonds, Olorosso sherry, marzipan. Very nice. The flavor is refined, almost delicate. with a bit of the toasted wood coming through on the finish. Very nice.

12oz Port Dundas. Pour is pitch black with small brown head. Aromas of roasted malts, whiskey, wood, and alcohol. Flavor is smooth with vanilla, burbon hints, caramel, and burnt wood. Flavor is outstanding! Very mellow and nice.

Bottle and served in my Stone IRS snifter: Deep brown nearly opaque with a minimal head nor lace, some oily tears upon the glassware. The aroma has notes of almonds, vanilla, charred oak, peat, slight cacao, coffee, fig and aromatic pipe tobaccos (I am getting some Latakia aromas for sure). The taste is moderate sweet and ashy black malts with a even-handed influence of the Scotch Whisky barrel. The twangy fruit notes play well with the nutty and herbal qualities. Then the smoky peaty and salty undertones rounds out the palate joyfully. Very well balanced where the barrel aging does not overpower the base beer. The mouth feel is soft and oily smooth, a tad thin honestly. Ashy and astringent finish. Of the Paradox line, I would put this near the top. Mikey Likey!