BrewDog Paradox Islay (Batch 001)

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

NorCal December ’07 - First, I owe a HUGE thank you to oh6gdx for sending me this thing of beauty. Incredible beer. I think that sums it up for me. Incredible. Okay, so fantastic will also work. Perhaps incredibly fantastic? Sounds good. An aroma of the smoke, whiskey, light cocoa notes, vanilla, anise and wood. Appearance is dark mahogany in color, very still in the pour with barely any head action at all. Smooth and supple mouthfeel. No harshness at all. Liquid velvet on the tongue. Flavors didn’t stray too far from the aroma notes. Smoke, whiskey, vanilla, wood, and subtle cocoa nibs. The finish is fantastic on this beer as the smokey irish whiskey flavor really lingers. Loved this beer.

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!

Bottle at cad and my flat. Pours a gorgeous smooth ebony colour witha tannish head. Strong aroma of smokey islay whisky, expresso, peat, bitter flavonols with a strong rosted character. Flavour is very complex with initial flavours of creme brulee, rich dark malts, ink, burnt choclate cake, rum truffles ending on a slow alcohol warmth with evident whisky flavours. Nice dry extremely smooth finish with long lingering hints of islay. Will be great to taste this beer with a differnt whisky cask.

3rd LCRBM. Oh yeah. This stuff rules. Aroma has peated whisky malts. Black coloured with a thin off-white head. Taste is sweet, peaty, smoked with whisky malts. Medicinal. Bit dry. Superb beer.

#1 solid black pour. salty barrel note dominates with some cherry. taste is smoked meat then a nice burning & lingering scotch note on the back of my throat. cured meat flavors work surprisingly well . like a good smoked beer, this leaves me wanting more. 5 8 10 3 18

Bottle, chris_o shindig. This one certainly divided opinion! Dark brown, nearly black, tan head that fades quickly. Nose is very peaty, smoky, whisky tones and some vanilla. Touch of liquorice in there too. Mouth is wonderful malty, peaty, thick with lots of complex salty seaweed tones and that lovely sweet malty stout. Really enjoyable.

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.

Bottle, courtesy of the brewery, thanks a lot! Dark with a red tone, little carbonation. Tar, sea, whisky. Smooth and velvety stout with the whisky bringing in paeat, salt and a warming edge. Each sip brings more. Soot, coffee, anise. This si not smotth and harmonoius - it has an edge. And that is what makes this beer stand out.