So this is my first taste of something from BrewDog and I have to say that it will not be my last. This bottle is from batch #4 with a best-by date of 20-March-2024. At 18.2% ABV, I was expecting something very different than what I got. This is smooth... really surprisingly smooth. I'm not sure where the alcohol is hiding at. It's definitely there after a few sips. There... just at the base of the back of the tongue and then just under your upper lip. An almost imperceptible hint of alcohol warmth. Let's go back to the beginning of this experience.
Up front it smells of alcohol. Imagine the smell of a chocolaty bourbon with some hints of tart cherries. The taste is surprising. Roasted, dark fruits, smoky, and strong bourbon undertones but without the alcohol burn that I would expect from a high ABV. There is also a lack of sweetness as well as anything bitter. Very strange indeed from something so dark. The mouthfeel is on the light side of medium with a little creaminess. If you swirl it in your mouth, the warmth becomes more apparent. It is almost like using a strong mouthwash. You notice it at the base of your tongue, in your cheeks, and behind your lips but not at the back of your throat. There is nothing at all abrasive. I can't believe that this is almost 40 proof! I will be purchasing another bottle or two.
Not surprisingly, the community on both Ratebeer and Beeradvocate give this one decent marks. Not as high as I would have expected though. Ratebeer marks this at 9867. The style rating is surprisingly low for this. I guess that it really isn't a great version of an Imperial Stout though. Beeradvocate rates it as a B which is definitely low by my tastes.
So here I am at the end of the bottle. The alcohol is more present now then it was at the beginning. I still do not get the same warmth that others mention. After 11.2oz I notice that my throat definitely has a numbness going on but it snuck up on me. I would recommend this one to others. You should try it at least once.
