BrewDog Paradox SmokeHead (Batch 015)

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

Serve in Snifter

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Pours very black with minimal head and little lacing. The aroma is initially very whisky-ish, but as it sits, the beer takes on a much stronger peat-type quality. The aroma is extremely earthy with strong notes of alcohol and whisky. The peat quality is just dominate in this beer from the aroma through the finish. The flavor is peat and earth and a touch of smoke. The whisky barrels have strongly influenced this beer. The mouthfeel is rather smooth, easy and not very carbonated. Though this beer is strong, it’s not an "in-your-face" kind of beer. But a wonderfully balanced concotion between whisky and beer. Very nice.

330ml Bottle. Fantastic smoky, with great robust toffee flavours. Rich and smooth, with an intense bitter kick on the final palate. ---Rated via Beer Buddy for iPhone

12 ounce bottle. Huge peaty smoke character. Some chocolate and roasted malts. Hammy quality, lots of smoke, light body for such a big beer, fairly dry finish.

Scotch cask prevalent in aroma. Pretty dark reddish brown color. Unlike some reviewers we experienced very little lacing. Scotch taste really dominant, and after not enjoying a bourbon cask stout on another occasion, smokehead was a big pleasant surprise! Like most cask stouts I’ve tried, found the body slightly weak. Nice "other flavored" ale!

On tap @ Cypress Street Pint & Plate in Atlanta, and served in a snifter. An opaque dark brown with a thin beige head that quickly disappears. Lots of lacing remains. Aroma of peat smoke and leather. Salty taste predominates, reminiscent of bacon and oak. Bittersweet roasted chocolate malts come forth briefly, but they are quickly consumed by the smoke. Oily mouthfeel with some light carbonation. In sum: a beer that, for all of its smokiness, is quite complex. I don’t taste much in the way of whisky, but the oakiness and peat are definitely there. Worth a try.

Bottle sample at a tasting at Dagan’s place. Thanks Tomer G. Dark brown opaque, with a condensed tan head. Burnt tires, smokey aroma and bitter-liquid smoke taste. Smooth, smoked finish, light carbonation. Pretty amazing.

12oz bottle. Let me start by saying I’m rarely a fan of BrewDog’s beers and find them to be some of the most overpriced brews on the market. Deep brown pour with very little head. Nose is incredibly medicinal - I like some peaty scotches but this was just too much. Flavor is roasted with some chocolate.

Fy fan vad det här är gott, en fullständigt underbar öl. Mustig, humlig, maltig och precis så man önakar en öl strax efter två på natten.

Ass kizzle, Gag. WTF was this? It smelled and tasted like a dead cat from a house fire! You should not be drinking smoke. (My Opinion)

Dark reddish brown appearance. Mild chocolate and alcohol aroma, big bacon smokiness. Big smoky palate, light bacon chewiness but not particularly thick for an imperial stout. Mild chocolate, drinks pretty easily despite the big alcohol.

Very good, persistent beige head over black beer. Tarry, phenolic, smoked nose, beachwood or surfbreakers. Tar, phenols à gogo, wood, black chocolate, Islay malt, but as if reduced to a thick sauce. Very oily-viscous, slick (tarry, maybe), sharp MF, feels well-carbonated, too. Not subtle by any standard, typical BrewDog punch-on-the-nose.