BrewDog Paradox Islay (Batch 001)

Formerly brewed at BrewDog
Style: Imperial Stout
Fraserburgh, Aberdeenshire, Scotland

Bottle. Very dark brown, almost black with a small, tan froth. Smoke, peat, iodine with a somehow softening malty sweetness as a backdrop. Islay cask shines through. Flavours show more of the underlying beer, providing the espresso of the Riptide stout, but in the end Islay whisky character prevails. Soft and full-bodied for sure. A wonderful blend, though Islay casks get the upper hand. Blending the best of beer with the best of whisky in my opinion.

I love Caol Ila Scotch, so the thought of the possibilities at hand elicits great excitement. A gentle pour is rolls from the bottle opaque black with a deep chestnut-hued perimeter. An energetic, creamy and very slowly diminishing tan head is medium-sized and laces quite heavily. The head never fully recedes and introduces each sip with a soft foamy prelude. My first thought upon the arrival of the first inhalation is one of wonderment, followed by a deep breath of relief. It’s startling how immediately wonderful and complex this nose is. The Islay whiskey components are unmistakeable. The brewer’s skill is almost tangible. The roasted grains and bold - but not overzealous - chocolate and coffee are invigorating. Alcohol is quite apparent, but there is so much amazing Scotch barrel character it’s nearly impossible to distinguish between fusels and all of the amazing intricacies that make the Islay regions whiskey offerings so admirable and arresting. Scotch-drenched wood notes are the most prevalent, startling as they leap from the glass. Peat, salty ocean air and clever smoke waft upward and totally envelope the awe-inspiring roasted malt. Coffee couldn’t seem any fresher. Chocolate is lightly bitter and resembles pure, unrefined cocoa from the Dutch coastlines’ many independent chocolatiers. Tar and iodine captivate me - I can’t imagine someone who doesn’t adore Islay whiskies enjoying this - but it suits my desires as well as could have been hoped for. Wave after wave of blasts of wood erupt into an all-out frenzied attack on the senses. This isn’t understated by any means, but everything is so seemlessly integrated that the slightest divulging of a subtle nuance is easy to pick up on as soon as it peeks from the black depths. Mild vanilla and char notes conclude the offering. The flavor is initially roasty, then it’s folowed up by more saltiness than I’ve experienced outside of the shadowy realm of the Gose style. Roasted malt endures, but is attacked from all sides by barrel characteristics. Peat is medium, smoke mild to medium. Sweetness is low to mild and swirls about angrily, like it’s part of a seaside defense against a raging Scottish army that came by boat in the foggy morning. Chocolate is bittersweet and accellerates a mild bitterness from grassy hops and smoke that’s beginning to churn in acrid circles atop the tongue. Vanilla is joined by light herbal tastes, furthering a grassy and earthy foray. Roast fades slowly at the conclusion of each sip, leaving salt and wood behind. The finish is highly salty, lightly bitter, lightly sweet and slowly drying. The mouthfeel is medium bodied and doesn’t feel very structured, though the resulting sensations on the palate are nothing but smooth and soft, with a bit of a spicy interlude scattered here and there. Carbonation is excellent even if it’s too sporadically placed within the gooey liquid. Marvelous. Groundbreaking. Probably far too much for a palate that doesn’t enjoy a dram of the really spicy, medicinal seaside whiskies. I love it!

Wining & Dining Tasting. Smells a bit of gunpowder. Pours black with a beige head. Full flavores with aromas of wood, peat, whisky and ash. Hint of liquirish. Some salt too. Alcohol burn in the finish. Good.

bottled, at bon accord, glasgow. close to black, steady beige head, aroma of marinated chicken, hints of peat, light vanilla sweetness, caramelised soy sauce, extremely salty which nullifies some of the whisky character, still quite a curiosity

Re-rate Note: My original rating one year ago was 3.3. It was then an interesting mix of impy stout and single malt flavours. Major re-rate for this fucked-up batch. Avoid the batch best-before 03/03/10. In short: Cigarette butt and old coffee filter. Drain pour.
How: Bottle 330ml. Consumed relatively fresh one year before expiration date
The look: Brown-black body with no head
In long: Repulsive nose of old coffee filter and a smoky touch reminiscent of burnt rubber. Taste is even worst. If you’ve ever chewed on a cigarette butt (I have) then you know what the main flavour of the beer is. Also present is a flavour of old coffee filter that was lest moist for many days. And burnt rubber of course. Flat lifeless body. I know this is a fucked-up batch and it shouldn’t taste like this. Holly crap this is bad. Drain pour. Like hotdogs at a gay picnic, it literately tasted like shit.

My Bottom Line:
Portentous iodine and smoke rise from the damp earth of this Imperial Stout-like roasty creature. A stunningly unique experiment from BrewDog, but one which I cannot deem entirely successful due to its abrasive, inelegant nature.

Further Personal Perceptions:
-A slice of foam tops the deep ebony.
-Carbonation is active enough to render drinkability to this monster.
-Alcohol heats up the palate, but is but another perception amongst the sensorial explosion.
-Roasted malt bitterness appears in the finish alongside the intense whisky character.
-The body is almost frail for a beer this size; surely the barrel had something to do with it.

Bottle.

Considering the style, Scores ranging from 1 to 5, 5 being the most intense
Appearance:
Body:   Clear(1)->Murky(5) : 4     Light Brown(1)->Pitch Black(5) : 3     Still(1)->Sparkling(5) : 2
Head:   None(1)->Large(5) : 2   Off-White(1)->Dark Brown(5) : 2   Lasting: 2   Lacing : 2   Nitro : XX
Aroma:
Intensity : 4  
Yeast : 2   Bread : 2   Apple : XX   Tropical Fruits : XX   Ink : XX   Tar : XX   Olives : XX   DMS : XX
Malt : 3   Biscuity : XX   Burnt Toast : XX   Caramel : 2   Nuts : XX   Pumpernickel : XX   Cereals : 3   Coffee : XX   Dark Chocolate : XX   Vanilla : 3   Grapes : XX   Blackberries : 2   Cherries : XX
Hops : 1   Noble(1)->American(5) : 1   Leafy : XX   Floral : XX   Lemon/Lime : XX   Grapefruit : XX Orange : XX   Herbal : XX   Pine/Spruce/Resin : XX
Notes :   Earth : 3   Wood : XX   Mint : XX   Smoke : 5   Soy : 2   Bourbon : 5   Anise : XX
Flavor:
Initial Flavor : Dry(1)->Sweet(5) : 4   Finish Dry(1)->Sweet(5) : 4   Sourness : 1   Lactic : XX   Bitterness : 1   Complex : XX   Length : XX
Palate:
Light(1)->Full(5) : 2   Flat(1)->Fizzy(5) : 3   Clean : XX   Sharp : 3   Watery : XX   Oily : 2   Chalk : XX   Astringent : XX   Alcohol : 4   Mineral : 2   Oxidation : 3   Metallic : XX

Comments: Huge iodine smell with sea salt, thick peatiness, tar, peach… Thin-bodied for an imperial stout, obviously eaten up by its barrel sojourn. So straight up whisky and little beer left. I’d rather drink a scotch if I were looking for those flavours, but then again, at 3 quids a bottle, I should not be complaining.

cheers tom (magic_dave6) for allowing me to join you on the paradox vertical tasting was incredible! the islay poured dark black like old engine oil, and retained its head a bit better then the other two. The nose is overwhelmingly similar to the islay whiskey. petey, smokey lots of earthy aromas. still smells sweet and fruity but mostly earth. tastes a million times more intense then the aroma. smoked bacon, or ham, and islay whiskey. almost put me on the floor. After a few ounces, you can really define the other notes that are in the other editions. its really complex. not my favorite of the 3, but quite good. RErate CASK CONDITION at blackies- pours nearly opaque with a beautiful foamy (sea foam) beige head. smells strongly of whiskey, peat smoke, and leather shoes. tastes peat smoke and lite citrus backing it up. really smokey in a intense yet restrained manner not overwhelming. coffee and incredible length. still a 4.