BrewDog Paradox Islay (Batch 001)

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

Bottle says Batch 006 - I’ve read that this was a refill..
Is this a rauchbier? Damn close I tell you. The very first thing you notice about this killer stout is the huge smoke content. A total surprise to me, that’s for sure. Poured out a small brown crown with limited retention and spotty lacing on top of a near black beer. The aroma, especially early on is smoke.... lots of it. After considerable warming the smoke is still there but it is much more manageable now and reveals a thick peaty smell that seems one and the same. Combine that with burnt malts, vanilla, chocolate, tobacco and fruity notes and you have one of the most fascinating smelling stouts out there - just let it really warm up a lot so you to can enjoy (mine sat for almost an hour with small, continuous sipping). The flavor is no slouch either. Similar flavors as the aroma with some whiskey, very very mild alcohol (maybe), soft licorice (I think) and more notable sweetness with the faint chocolate showing up at the end. I almost forgot the hops which round out the finish and are quite noticeable even through the complexity of this killer brew. Even more whiskey now that the smoke / peat has faded leading to a more rounded, better blended taste. Full bodied, very smooth, no hint of a syrupy feel what so ever. Finishes with a blend of flavors and a peaty / smoke bitterness. I have insane breath! How does this match up against the other batches? Really, it is hard to compare as the ones I’ve had are so different. Never does one really notice the 10%. Although it is impossible to compare, I think this is much more drinkable than AleSmith Speedway Stout. An excellent, exceptional beer. I want much more. Let it sit in your glass!

"dark brown to black body with a small tan cap. Aroma is SMOKE!!! And lots of it, wiskey, and rubber are also noticeable. Aroma isn’t that appealing to me. Taste like burnt bacon, so much smoke in the flavor, burnt earth and a touch of alcohol. And I can’t seem to shake that rubber flavor!! Where is this coming from?!?!?! Vanilla shows up in the finish when warm. This was very complex and interesting but I didn’t find as nearly as enjoyable as the batch #007. My marks are way to low, i’ll have to revisit this one."

Pours a deep brown color, with large tan head. Lots of smoke and peated malt in the aroma. This stout is strongly whiskey flavored. Mostly whiskey, with some smoke, chocolate, fruit, and oak. It’s alright.. quite a bit one sided in the flavor.

Black/Brown with a thin tan head. Aroma is very smokey, smoked ham, light caramel, oak. Taste is very smokey with strong oak, light caramel, strong roastiness, a bit earthy. Almost should be classified as a smoked with the domination that it brings but is still solid stuff.

12 oz bottle from Liquid Solutions Batch 001 BB 1/1/10. Nose of smoke, chocolate, and more smoke. Black with an almost nonexistent head. Flavor is charred whiskey barrels with a slight whiskey note and some chocolate, the charred character simply overpowers the rest of the flavors.

Pours dark brown, with not much head, ust a few bubbles hugging the edge of th glass. Big whskey notes just come pouring out, along with some roast, sweet molasses, and toffee. Not as full bodied as i would have hoped for, medium at best. This one was a little unbalanced for my taste. Just heavy pounding of scotch, but not enough body to really balance it out and give you other flavors. very sweet and sticky on the palate, not my favorite of their wiskey barrel aged brews.

One of the most smoky tasting beers I’ve ever had. It is a relentless attack on your taste buds. Tar, tobacco, liquorice and whiskey are the dominating tastes. The aftertaste is mainly sharp smoky whiskey. It is not a beer you would drink two off but in small doses an excellent beer.

bottle from plan-b. bbf 30-12-2008. as Batch 006. sampled 05-03-2009 dark brown almost black, small thick light brown head. peaty , hoppy, smoky aroma. not as extreme as i had expected. a little vanilla perhaps?. well rounded. flavor has distinct islay characters, smoked peat, sweetness, vanilla, toward the end it gets more bitter and charchoal and smokey. ends very smokey and roasted. 10% alc. totally hidden. If you like stuff like laphoriagh you’ll love this flavor.