BrewDog Paradox Isle of Arran (Batch 016)

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

Fortunate sifter full from the last of the gravity-fed cask at the Bavarian Lodge in Lisle, IL. Dispensed with a black/brown hue, minimal, bubbly, off white ring and film that diminished quickly to nothing but a few sparse spots on the glass. Kind of expected this along with the very low carbonation. The aroma was roasty and vinous, almost sherry like, with dark chocolate, sweetness of dark cherry, and pleasant, whiskey soaked, oaky tones. Stronger notes of caskwood, smoke and char were present with these in the flavor, along with a moderate bitterness that lingered into the finish. A nicely complex brew that I wish I could have sampled earlier under even some low carbonation, to amplify the flavors and mouthfeel more. Irregardless, I still got the big picture.

33cl bottle from Liquor Depot (Tampa, FL). Pours a dark cola brown to black with very little head. Some slight lacing from the small off-white head. Aroma is sweet and malty with notes of chocolate, peat, smoke, ash, caramel, light whisky, vanilla, wood. Flavor is sweet and malty with notes of whisky, booze, caramel, chocolate, brown sugar, molasses, anise, earthy undertones. Medium body with a boozy malt finish. All the flavors are there, but there is just something off in this beer.

330ml bottle kindly shared by Finn. Tiny, off-white, filmy layer atop of a nice rosewood body. Exhibits some pleasant aromas of roasted chocolate malts. Comprehensive taste character with emphasis on woody, dark vanilla and chocolate with anise support, and a strong and lingering aftertaste of bitter resinous hops. A well integrated alcohol punch to the ending. Very pleasant (Tromsø, 01.12.2009).

330mL bottle. Dark brown lacking head, nice spicy/sweet fruity entry, burnt toast aswell, however with every sip, the whisky tones become more apparent! Smoky, Dark and Balanced!!!

Cask - Churchkey. Black, zero head. Soft vanilla wood and whisky nose with a light coffee-choco underpinning throughout. Burnt coffee and black chocolate notes give way to a oaken booze finish. Light cask-like body with soft carboantion. Decent, but far from a favorite of mine...

Not much of an aroma, maybe my nose is off? Medium body. Not as assertive as I would have guessed for such a "big beer". I probably have to try this one again for a better analysis. Notes: On Cask, got the last bit of it, don’t know if that effected it.

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.

Cask at Coles, Buffalo NY. Dark black pour. big rich roasty malt character. loads of scotch whiskey. whiskey upfront, boozy, roasted malts, oily fuller mouthfeel. nice beer