BrewDog Paradox Isle of Arran (Batch 016)

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

Bottled (Arkadia, BB 04/2011)
Typical pitch black/dark brown color with small brown head with some lacing. Aroma is not so strong as in many Paradoxes: milk chocolate, vanilla, some oak, not much of peat found - overall quite sweet nose. Full-bodied. Lots of toasted malts, burned notes, licorice. Some milky sweetness, vanilla and wood. Flavors are a bit unbalanced. Probably quite similar than Arran whiskies. Sweet and a bit tarry but not smokey.

Name: Paradox 016 Isle of Arran
Date: October 05, 2009
Mode: Bottle
Source: Liquid Solutions
Appearance: black, wispy grey head, streaks of lace
Aroma: sweet caramel and chocolate aroma, touch of sweet vanilla and whiskey
Flavor: sweet caramel and chocolate flavor, touch of oak adds bitterness, vanilla sweetness brings in the whiskey and adds a candy quality
Aroma: 7/10; Appearance: 7/10; Flavor: 7/10; Palate: 6/10; Overall: 16/20
Rating: 3.7/5.0
Drinkability: 7/10
Score: *** /4

Bottled. Pours out in an aopaque black colour with a small bubbly beige head. Dark chocolate, peat, metal and roasted malts. Nearly full-bodied with rich smokey notes of tar and wood with peppery notes of alcohol. Long warming finish of tar, wood, salty licorice, smoke and black pepper.

Poured very black, roasted malts, smokey, peat, little vanilla, little wood, little alcohol, little dark chocolate, slight coffee.

My first ever Paradox. A great aroma of whiskey, chocolate, and smoke. Looks clear dark brown with beige foam. Great flavor! Very complex, whiskey-like start, much roasted tones, alcohol and smoke. Feels very dry! A full body, soft bubbles, long bitter whiskey aftertaste. i quite like this! Maybe i should have waited a couple of moths to let the roughness of the fresh beer settle a little. A really nice imperial with a great whiskey twist!

Totally fresh bottle: A faint nose of vanilla, whiskey, chocolate and a bit of metallic funk. Taste is of vanilla, chocolate, metal and a raw note of whiskey, tar and smoke. Body is a bit thin. Finish is a little acidic, bitter and dry. Alcohol comes through as it reaches room temperature. To sum it up: The bitterness is too present, the notes of whiskey are too hay-like and raw, and the other flavors doesn’t quite come out and/or melt together. It probably has to settle down a bit. Just 3 months or so.

12 oz bottle courtesy of cgarvieuk. Thanks again, Craig.. all the way from across the pond! A stand up man, and a good time on the Thursday before DLD! Pours a pitchblack pour, opaque, light carnbonation leads to a small light brownish head that laces minimally, is small and dies to a film. Aromas are a nice chocolatey base, roasted malts, peaty smoke in full demand, almost a little meaty, with a nice dose of boozy whiskey, smoothed over with vanilla and wet wood. A touch salty and full, this beer starts with a full body that certainly coats the mouth if anything, lighter booziness than anticipated, this thick beer is chocolate, roasted malts, peat, vanilla, and a faint coffee. Light whiskey and wet wood, the alcohol warmth grows on the back of the palate. This beer isn’t a "Smack you in the face beer", insteading opting full body and smooth flavors, a nice display of peaty smoke, wet wood, a touch of meat and a decent booziness that grows. This is a very nice beer.. a bit understated, I really liked it. Cheers.

Cask. Black body with brown head. Aroma is moderately sweet, chocolate, some caramel, roast. Taste is moderately sweet, chocolate, some roast, light wood, faint whisky. Medium-full body, smooth, light stickiness.