BrewDog Riptide

Poured out a super dark brown brew with a mid sized brown head tat is retained as a skim and good lacing. The aroma is of stinky coffee, dark fruit (light), raisins, faint chocolate and faint spice. This stuff definitely lacks a strong aroma presence - don’t want something that is HUGE, but give me a little more. The taste is a decent mix, nothing overpowering which is nice, good balance early on. The coffee flavor is sweet and cleaner than the aroma, lots of dark roasted malts, some spice, hardly any alcohol. Pretty enjoyable when warmer. Good bitter bite. There are better brews out there for sure. Creamy mouth feel, full bodied with a nice bitter finish which is softened by the malts. For an 8% stout, this is pretty good. However, I find myself torn between being disappointed and enjoying it as it is quite different. I’m still not sold.

Four oz sample from a botttle at the 3 sons beer tasting. Black and dark but not opaque. Typical attractive stoutish aroma. Some visible carbonation in there. Strong but it takes a couple of moments for the strength to set in. Alky impact follows, some warmth down the throat. Over the top yet smooth in its own way. Long bitter roasted complex finish typical of most stouts of this genre.

This one pour a very dark brown almost black color with a small tan head. Aroma was nice roasted malts, some coffee and some silky sweetness as well. Flavor was smooth chocolately somewhat dark, coffee hints and nice roasted maltiness as well.

Bottle. Pours with a dark brownish color not quite black. A sharp aroma of hops and roasted malts. Flavors have a bit of hops bitterness, some spices, cocoa and a hint of coffee. There also is some graininess. It is not as smooth on the palate as a good Impy stout, lacking some creaminess.

On cask at Spuyten Duyvel. Pours a dark cola with a tiny light beige head. Aroma of roasted malts and bitter dark chocolate. Taste is much the same as the aroma.

Sampled at Made in the Shade 2009. Pours a deep brown/black with about half a finger of white head. Very smooth and creamy. Minor alcohol and chocolate notes in the taste. Very carbonated for a stout - takes away from the drinkability slightly. Pretty decent, middle-of-the-road stout.

Pours near black with reddish hues and a fully receding mocha head. Notes of toasted malt, salted chocolate, smoked meats, and vinous fruits. Medium to full bodied with soft carbonation. Vinous and salty, quite nice.

Cellar run at the Rake. Almost black with a tan head and good conditioning. Smooth and roasty with nice warm alcohol kick and pleny of chocolate. Would have liked a few more hops but still a cracking pint.