BrewDog Paradox

First published in BEER January 2008 as part of a piece about imperial stouts. For more imperial stouts see previous post.

ABV:  10 per cent
Origin: Fraserburgh, Aberdeenshire, Scotland
Website www.brewdog.com

BrewDog Paradox

James Watt and Martin Dickie opened Grampian-based Brewdog only a year ago but they’ve already caused a stir with their original and distinctive brews, and a youthful approach that’s more like an iconoclastic US craft brewer than a British real ale micro. Paradox, based on their Rip Tide Imperial Stout and matured in single malt whisky casks supplied by whisky merchants Duncan Taylor & Co, also nods across the Atlantic where collectable small-run cask-matured beers have a cult following.

The bottling I tried was from a Caol Ila cask, and the smoky, peaty whiff of Islay was instantly recognisable on the complex malt and liquorice aroma. The juicy palate is lighter and slightly sweeter than some stouts but still full of flavour and slightly yoghurty, while a long tart finish has hints of apple, drying out with burry hops and whisky-scented wood over generous smooth malt.

Although filtered and not bottle conditioned, this is a fine and innovative beer and I look forward to trying alternative versions matured in different casks. 

For more imperial stouts see next post.
Read more about this beer at ratebeer.com: http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/brewdog-paradox-islay-batch-001/73221/