BrewDog Hardcore IPA

Thanks for sharing Chris! Pale yellow, clear with a big white head. Bigger past prime spicy Saaz style hops. Light sweetness. A bit herbal really. Creamy, a bit of viscosity with rather lower carbonation. Sweet light malt with peppery past prime hops. Again, herbal. simple. Much more like a malt-light euro strong lager! Baltica sorta territory.

Was expecting a lot more after all the recent press and the tongue in cheek Stone label rip off. Good pale colour if not the most vibrant, aroma of citrus hops and a touch of tropical fruit, malt in the background and some candied sweetness. The mouthfeel was ok, carbonation lifted the slightly syrupy body and then in come the hops. Except instead of huge hop flavour I got building bitterness. Too much bitterness, especially in the finish. It just couldn’t carry it. I’m all for big beers and huge bitterness but most of the time a degree of balance is needed which wasn’t evident here, especially in the mid palate and finish. Not a bad brew and would certainly work well with spicy Indian food as there is less syrupyness than most IPAs at this gravity but still has the bitterness.

660ml bottle from Warehouse Beverage, Cleveland Heights. Pretty steep price tag, but this was the first time I’d seen this stuff so I figured I’d take a chance. Nice pale golden pour with a thick creamy head that promises cask-like palate deliciousness. The aroma was muted tropical fruits crossed with some modified bready notes, not so much fig newton as Christmas cookie if that makes any sense (sweet shortbread with some light fruits maybe). The hops aren’t too face-wrecking here, no mouth-puckering citrus or grassy intensity, just a pleasant amplification of a genuine Brit-style IPA. Nice and pleasant, but maybe that’s about it.

Clear gold viwe with a white head. Aroma with nice hops and a fine blue label

(Bottle at Kaisla on 2008-02-29) Clear and light yellow. Mostly hops in nose. Bitterness and malts in taste. A bit unpleasant alcohol flavour.