BrewDog Paradox Islay (Batch 008)

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

33cl bottle. Dark brown with a small tan head that leaves some persisting foam in oily formations and a ring around the glass after a bit of swirling. Mineral, peat, smoke and tar aroma. The flavor has more stout qualities, with some coffee and semi-sweet chocolate jostling around with some smoke and wood. A bit lighter on the tongue than I expected, though not too thin. Finishes almost dry with a lingering islay quality. Plenty of islay character, though either the base stout is just ok, or the two didn’t meld perfectly. My first paradox, and I like how it wasn’t hot and cloying like so many stouts, though I was told after tasting it that the next batch done in ardberg casks came out much smokier, which sounds like it might just do the trick.

Bottle thanks to mar. Smell is prune juice, beef, smoked jerky, oilish, smoke, and lots of wood. Taste is a little like licking a log, bbq, wood, scotch whiskey, and clearish.

Pours a very dark brown with a slow-to-rise khaki head that dissipates rather quickly but leaves thick lace on the upper third of the glass. I love the aromas here! Salted beef jerky and corkboard. Campfire ash. Subtle prune fruit. Sweet and beefy due to the smoked wood character that is supported by mellow tarry roast and stewed fruity sweetness. Medium bitter finish. Medium mouthfeel with a distinct silkiness. This has a wondeful character for an impy! Once again this brewer pulls off the cask aging thing briliantly. Loved it.

(Bottle, 14 Nov 2008) Deep, dark ruby colour with frothy, brown head. Roasted, malty, slightly fruity nose with sweet black coffee, smoke, wood, dried fruit, cocoa, herbs and liquorice. Malty, roasted, smoky taste with notes of oak wood, smoke, dried fruit, liquorice and herbal, floral, slightly salty hints reminiscent of Bowmore whisky. Oaky finish with lots of liquorice and dark chocolate. Medium to full body, fairly sweet, with an alcohol kick towards the end. Good balance, not as pungent as the 009. Very nice beer. In short: wood and smoke, liquorice and herbs.

Bottle thanks to mar. Pours with an off-white film that goes and a very dark brown body. Aroma of wood, charred wood, some gasoline, cigarette ash, and tar. Taste is soot, jerky, wood splinters, tons of smoke and some peet. Creamy mouthfeel and low carbonation.

Bottle thanks to aplusbreaks by way of mar. Thick black brown pour with no head. Nose is bonfire, bacon, marshmallows, oak and vanilla. Taste is smoked wood, vanilla, finishes bitter and a little boozy. Like a log in the mouth.

bottle thanks to aplusbreaks. black with no head at all. nose of alcohol, charred wood and smoke. interesting flavor that is smokey, scotch and wood.

33 cL bottle, courtesy of chris_o. Pours dark brown to black with a minimal tan head. Roasted malty and light fruity aroma with a mild smoke note. Smooth flavoured. Smoked and mild roasted malty flavour. Smooth roasted and mild smoked finish. Nicely balanced smoked with a smooth composition of flavours.