BrewDog The Physics

Best By August 2009; Sampled July 2009
A solid pour into my 25cl tulip glass produces a three-finger thick, light tan colored head. The beer is a dirty amber color that shows a lightly hazed, orange-amber hue when held up to the light. The aroma smells heavily of caramelized crystal malt and toasted grain up front, but there is a backdrop of grapefruit zest and a hint of herbal hop character. This is definitely a malt forward beer with notes of toffee, brown sugar coated bread crust as well as some berry / raisin malt notes.

Lightly sweet up front, while the finish has harsh, almost phenolic, herbal hop character that just grates across the palate and finishes with an astringent, harsh bitterness. The second sip is just a little bit better as the harshness seems to get tempered just a bit by the ample malt character. The malt does provide a rich biscuit-like character, some touches of caramelized malt sugars, nicely browned bread crust flavors and a hint of iced sweet tea notes. Still the rich malt never does shake the harsh, astringency that mars the finish of this beer. The body is light enough, but has enough body to keep it from being anywhere near watery; it would be quite quaffable if not for the faults.

This could be an interesting, complex malty beer if not for the harshness, even without it though I don’t get the sense that this would be great.

Purchased: Plaza Liquors, Tucson AZ

22.4 oz. bottle. Pours a very murky, muddy rust with a few bubbles coagulating on top forming an incomplete mass despite pouring this straight down the middle. This bottle appears to be undercarbonated. The aroma is pleasant enough with caramel, citrus, apples and pears. The flavor departs significantly from the aroma with weak, fairly earthy malt and not much else. Very dry right from the beginning. Medium bitterness at the finish. Not a drain pour, but not worth finishing the pint either.

Pours an ever so slightly hazed caramel tinted amber with a 2-3 finger creamy eggshell head that has good retention. Aroma is lots of caramel, biscuit, citrus, pineapple, butterscotch and floral notes. Flavor is grain, caramel, floral, citrus, biscuit, green tea, herbal hops, fresh pita bread and buttery toffee. Finish is citrus and bitter hops with lasting caramel and toffee. Palate is medium body with a slick, creamy entry, crisp, dry finish and light yet fairly sharp carbonation. Definitely a good and pretty interesting amber but nothing too amazing.

A clear and bright amber beer with a weak tan coloured head that is thick and creamy. Really good retention with some spotty lacing. The aroma is quite nice with weak caramel and biscuit malts, notable hops and a faint fruit.... something here reminded me of a hearty bread. WOW! Really good taste early on. A great mix of stiff bitterness and malt balance. Tasty herbal hops, solid dry bready malts (maybe a bit of biscuit?), weak citrus. Don’t drink this too fast of the hops overtake everything. Odd for me to say this but the hops were too much and killed a bit of the flavour. Maybe I’ve been away from hop bombs for too long.... The mouth feel was smooth but tangy with a good swish and seemed light medium bodied. Huge hop mouth demolition.

Bottle. Slight cloudy light brown with a nice white lacing head. Aromas of malt, caramel, citrus, some cellar and pine. Flavour of toffee, bitter hops, soap and resin.

Poor head on an amber body. Caramel noticeable straight up in the aroma and the taste, body seems almost full, a bit of citrus coming through late. Seems to have plenty of time left before best before but doesn’t taste fresh or it didn’t travel well maybe a little too laid back.

Amber with a lasting white head. Aroma has citrus and pine hops, malt and fruity English yeast character. Dry with some caramel flavour, and lots of pine hop flavour and bitterness.

Bottle @ Scheffel. BB 11/08. Pours unclear amber with a small creamy and bubbly head. Nose is malty - bread and toffee. Hoppy grassy and bready taste. Medium bodied. Ends dry and hoppy.