BrewDog Paradox Isle of Arran (Batch 016)

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

Cask pour at Churckey DC. Black, no head. Light aroma of chocolate syrup, dark fruit & a touch of alcohol. Flavor is a delicious blend of chocolate, rasberry, dark fruit, whisky and oak - with no one flavor overpowering the others. Fantastic.

0,33 l bottle from the brewery. Pitch black, milk chocolate head that disappears fast. Prunes and tar aroma. Molasses, fruit, spices - vanilla and pepper. Sweet stout with a fine whisy aftertaste. A beer for small sips. Dry charcoal finish. The dram is not as prominent in this as in some of the others in the Paradox series, I’d say it blends better into the whole.

From bottle at Salone del Gusto 2008. Dark brown, almost black, small beige head. Smoked malts aroma, whisky notes, hints of orange. Mellow smoked flavours combining with orange and not least chocolate. Plenty of vanilla. Smooth as velvet, full body. Much milder and harmonious than some other Paradox family members, but not less complex for that reason.

[Draft @ Capones] Poured an opaque black color with a small, tan head that left nice lacing on the glass. Aroma of roasted malts, light scotchy peat, chocolate, burnt wood, and coffee. Taste of roasted malts, whiskey, coffee, roast, dark chocolate, vanilla, smoke, and light alcohol in the finish.

Bottle at home ... deep black ... no head ... light whiskey with a light roast background ... sweet mellow vanilla and roast malts ... little chocolate ... light smokey but only the barest hint...very smooth ... medium carbonation... medium heavy body... As i setttle into this it just gets better and better... Tk x 30ml (all that was left of a bottle i spilt while taking photos for brewdog photo contest... Well all i can say is its bloody marverlous. Definitly 4.2 or better... really wish i hadnt spilt it, as i really wanted more of it. It was yum yum yum.

Bottle from Duncan Murray Wines. Pitch without edges, tan collar subsiding to a rim. Lush 80% cocoa, burnt fruitcake, peat and charcoal aroma with vanilla and oak becoming more assertive as the head dissipates. Mellow and bittersweet with decadent high cocoa notes and a clinging cigar smokiness; raisins, Xmas pudding, even some hints of citrus hop once its been standing for a while. Something like liquified high quality dark chocolate with cranberry and orange. Just a teaspoon of wee dram, beautifully integrated...vanilla and peat mingling seamlessly with the resonating smoke and cocoa of the malts. Outstanding balance. Satisfying stout perfect for the fireside, drenched in smoke, but far from overdone..gentle cigar linger, faint glow of booze. Full and silky. One of the best BrewDogs I’ve had, and running the Old Chimneys King Henries very close as my favourite big UK stout(s). Delicious.

330ml bottle from Peckhams, Aberdeen. Pours and looks like used engine oil with a ring of cream head; the aroma is heavy with vanilla, oak, sherry and chocolate; it’s smooth and silky, coating the mouth with tich choclate and releasing sweet fruits; the finish is dry and alcoholic, leaving a warming alocohol and bitter chocolate mixture. This is my first Paradox, and it’s hard to imagine how they could improve on this - however I’ll definitely be seeking out other examples.

It pours without any head, very dark brown, almost black. Aroma is strongly phenolic, with malts and toffee. The taste is bittersweet, with a coffee predominant taste. There is note of the sea, sea salty water taste like somebody else mentioned in his/her review present. Some vinous notes with maybe tannins???. slick feel in the mouth. Very good. A