Readers of this blog will know I have had mixed fortunes with Brew Dog Beers, but when they get it right, boy do they get it right.
Brew Dog Punk IPA (6% abv) is the best bottled beer I have tasted this year and following after Morrisey Fox Blonde Ale (see previous post) that isn't an insignificant thing to say. Damn, it is one of the best beers I have drunk this year in any format! I can't wait to try it in cask form. The beer is pale gold in colour with a hoppy, fruity, pine resin nose. It opens fairly sweet and has an explosion of tropical fruit flavours before a distinct piney bitterness kicks in. The carbonation is perfect and the malt base easily holds up against the alcohol, through to a deep, fresh, lasting pine and resin finish. Make no mistake about it, this is class in a glass. It has the structure and elegance to stand up against any Yankee IPA as it is less one dimensional, presumably from the use of Motueka New Zealand hops as well as Chinooks.
I was blown away by this beer. Any complaints? Yes. Put it in a bigger 500ml bottle Guys. I wanted more!
A brilliant beer and only 99p a bottle in Tesco until 7th October - so stock up now!
ReplyDeleteWe first encountered BrewDog at Dartford Beer Fest in July 2007, where they had the Punk IPA and Riptide imperial stout on cask and we were immediately smitten. I managed to persuade a local landlord to get some cask Punk in for his pub beer fest in a couple of weeks - can't wait!
Also, the new Paradox Smokehead is probably the best Paradox yet.
Smoked beer. Yeugh!
ReplyDeleteNot exactly. Imperial stout aged in Smokehead Islay whisky barrels. Yum!
ReplyDeleteIslay whisky. Double yeugh!
ReplyDeleteWhat's this - dissing Islay malt whisky? Call yourself a Scotsman? ;-)
ReplyDeleteToo many phenols Tom. I'm such an Englishman now!
ReplyDeleteooh, that Brewdog IPA is lovely lovely stuff.
ReplyDeleteAnd you should definitely give Paradox smokehead a go.
I thought this was a bloody good drop of beer. Yes 500ml would have been better.
ReplyDeleteI had mixed results with the Brewdog beers but Punk IPA was a winner when I tried it.
ReplyDeleteI thought you warned me off Brew Dog bottles!
ReplyDeleteYour readers don't know that you're anti-whisky?
I reviewed brew dog punk not so long ago and thought it distinctly average - maybe this goes back to the discussion we had not so long ago about needing more to get a proper feel. It sounds to me like you've had two bottles in a glass
ReplyDeleteSo tandleman, what happened? :-(
ReplyDeleteA good question.
ReplyDelete