Top Tastings 2008. A shorter version was first published on facebook January 2009.
ABV: 2.7%
Origin: Fraserburgh, Aberdeenshire, Scotland
Website: www.brewdog.com
Founded in 2007 by iconoclasts James Watt and Martin Dickie, the latter formerly of Thornbridge, BrewDog has rapidly become one of Britain’s most exciting breweries. It’s also caused some controversy particulary through its pursuit of massive gravities using freezing, as achieved in Tactical Nuclear Penguin (32%) and Sink the Bismarck! (41%), and then courted further controversy by following these up with an 0.5% beer called Nanny State. Slightly less extreme but still on the low gravity side is this occasional cross between a 60/- and a mild.
This very dark ruby beer with its persistent bubbly fawn head has a slightly sugary caramel, blackberry and restrained roast malt aroma. The palate is chalky dry but packed with flavours of malt, wood and burnt toffee and swimming in hoppy resins. Artichoke tinges a dark marmalade and roast finish which finally develops a dash of pepper. It’s perhaps a bit hoppy for the style but there’s so much else going on too.
To be honest not all BrewDog beers entirely live up to the fuss, but this one is astonishing.
Read more about this beer at ratebeer.com: http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/brewdog-edge/83000/
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