Brew Dog - Hardcore IPA

Tonight we head to Scotland to try out this Hardcore IPA from Brew Dog Brewery.  Back in May 2011, Steve reviewed their Punk IPA and gave it a fairly poor rating.  But this is my first taste of Brew Dog beer, so I'm coming into this brew with a thirst for hops and a clear, unbiased palate.  This is an Imperial IPA with some big numbers; 9.2% alcohol, 150 IBUs, and a potent blend of American hops including Centennial, Columbus, and Simcoe.  They hopped this brew to ring 1 of hell, and then dry-hopped it all the way down to the 7th ring.  The website includes a hilarious video from BrewDog that includes some creative ways to destroy big commercial rice-waters - definitely worth checking out - BrewDog Hardcore IPA.

The label on this 11.2oz bottle states that this is an 'explicit imperial ale'.  It also includes a description, photo included below.  The beer is a cloudy red-brown color with a fluffy light tan head that leaves nice lace rings.  The aroma is pungent!  Acidic citrus, ripe grapefruits and pineapples, mixed in with loads of resins and buttery biscuits.  The drink starts off with that buttered malt sweetness.  Followed closely by sweet oranges, grapefruit peels, and some oily pine resins that build up slowly in the back of my mouth, but never reaches the hop-bomb bitterness that I expected from the aroma.  A hint of spice comes in at the finish.  The mouthfeel is oily and creamy, with a lower amount of carbonation that adds to the character of the brew.

Overall Rating:  I wouldn't put this beer in the ring against American hop-bombs like Avery Maharaja or Stone Ruination or Surly Furious, but it certainly held it's own and exceeded my expectations.  This is a juicy, dangerous IPA that delivers great flavor and dangerously masks the 9.2% alcohol.  Those Scots put together a nice Imperial IPA - give it a try!  A-

Brew Dog - Punk IPA

I've had tonights bottle lurking in my fridge for about a month now.  I don't know why its taken me this long to get around to tasting it.  The brew is one that I've wanted to try for a while but I guess I just haven't been in the mood for an IPA.  Well tonights the night.  Lets give this Punk a shot.

Brew Dog Brewing is located in Scotland.  They have made a name for themselves by brewing absolutely ridiculous beers.  One example being their Tactical Nuclear Penguin which comes in at a crazy high 32% ABV.  If I recall properly, when this beer was released it was close to getting banned across the UK due to worries that patrons wouldn't understand that a beer could contain that much alcohol.  I wont be reviewing anything that crazy tonight.  In fact, I'm most likely drinking their most tame beer within their line up, the Punk IPA.

Slightly hazy, pale-straw colored.  A frothy white foam billows and maintains its form without dissipating.  Pretty impressive foam retention!  The aroma is nice.  Full of citrus, lemon rind and some fresh grass.  Flavor-wise, not nearly as impressive.  Mostly hops, thin body, no malt backbone and an astringent bitter finish.  I had a tough time going back for another sip.  After I stared at it for a while and debated dumping it to the sink gods I had another drink.  Luckily after some warmth my opinion of this IPA increased.  The bitterness dropped out a bit and the maltiness was more present to balance the remainder of the hops.

Overall - I was disappointed.  First impressions weigh heavily on me and this IPA gave me a poor one.  In a space thats highly competitive in the beer market its tough to shine above the others.  If I were Brew Dog, I would leave the IPA style to us Americans.  We know how to make 'em right!  Try a bottle if you are curious.  Otherwise, dont be sad when you pass this one up in the beer aisle.