BrewDog Riptide

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

Bomber. Pours fairly black with a spotty whitish head comprised of rather large bubbles. The aroma is something of a departure for an imperial stout. It has the coffee and roast going on, but it has a solid hickory and light spiced character too. I don’t get a lot of dense roastiness, but I do seem to find something creating a sharp, almost citrusy sensation. The flavor is a bit heavier and certainly roastier. Actually, the coffee presence in the flavor is quite delightful. This fades to an ashy, smoky note. Sappy hickory is noted throughout. I start to detect hints at raisins and a dash of port qualities towards the end of the snifter, but I think the drier flavors are Riptide’s strong suit. This is a pretty tasty beer, but not very large. I liked it but not enough to drop that kind of cash for another bomber.

Bottle courtesy of tpd975. Pours a dark chocolate brown to black with reddish highlights and a thin tannish head. Aroma is malty and roasted with notes of funk, chocolate, smoke, some hints of dark ripe fruit. Flavor is malty and slightly smoky with notes of chocolate, hops, ripe dark fruit, and some hints of coffee and toffee. Generally medium body with a roasted and malty finish. Seemed a little thin with too much hop presence for me.

22oz bottle from the Boise Co-op. Best before 09/09/09 so it’s 6 days over- no worries. Pours a very dark brown color with a small beige head. The aroma is great; sweet burnt caramel, chocolates, rich fruity malts. The flavor is great as well; smooth and rich chocolates, sweet milky flavors, light ash and smoke. Loads of cocoa and some dark fruit. Very quaffable. This damn good. A perfect ABV for a smooth and creamy brew.

Poured a black body with a small white tan/gray head. Light chocolatey nose, malty notes. Sweet, soft taste, coffee mostly, roasty, clashing with a strong hop bitterness found in the end and going long into the aftertaste. Alcohol very well hidden. Not too complex but nice.

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.

Gravity at Reading Beer Festival 2 May 08. Sweet aroma of prunes. Rich flavor of fruits with prunes dominating. A dry bitterness kicking in after a while.

Bottle, Pours black, tan head, slight orange hues. Aroma of malt, slight wood, dark roast, some bitter. Flavor has subtle wood, dark roast, faint sweetness. Mouthfeel is light-med body with high carbonation......Overall, good stuff!

Poured by Dr.Bill on the RBSG ’08 bus. Dark brown with a light beige head. Aroma of rich mocha, caramel, some smoke/roast and a tinge of alcohol. Surprisingly very bitter with a ton of resinous, earthy hop character then wood, light chocolate and a bit of charcoal - overall a bit harsh. Medium bodied beer with soft carbonation. Thanks for sharing, SD folks!