BrewDog Paradox Smokehead (Batch 015) - Smokehead
BrewDog

BrewDog Paradox Smokehead (Batch 015) - SmokeheadBrewDog Paradox Smokehead (Batch 015) - Smokehead
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From:
BrewDog
 
Scotland, United Kingdom
Style:
American Imperial Stout
ABV:
10%
Score:
83
Avg:
3.69 | pDev: 19.78%
Reviews:
163
Ratings:
263
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Jul 13, 2019
Added:
Jan 12, 2009
Wants:
  13
Gots:
  28
Identical to Batch 010 as the casks were re-used.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by Avagadro:
Photo of Avagadro
Reviewed by Avagadro from New Jersey

4.84/5  rDev +31.2%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5
A: Served in a brandy snifter, Smokehead is deep black with a faint head that dissipates quickly.

S: Wow... If you like Islay scotch, this is definitely for you. Deep peat is backed by faint coffee and caramel.

T: Dry, with notes of caramel, toast, and peaty iodine. The smoke is far different than that of a Rauchbier. You really have to have had a peaty scotch to know this smoke.

M: Medium body, which complements the heavy smoke nicely, allowing it to coat the mouth as long as possible before becoming too much.

D: I have been meaning to try this beer for over a year know, and am thrilled that I have before it was too late. This is truly an experience. I definitely recommend this to any Scotch drinkers, or those who are interested in an original brew.
Jan 24, 2011
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.5 by Griffith from Connecticut

Jul 13, 2019
 
Rated: 3.6 by dsshuck from Delaware

Mar 10, 2019
 
Rated: 3.8 by drahodo from Missouri

Apr 18, 2016
 
Rated: 3.5 by fosters9 from New York

Mar 22, 2016
 
Rated: 2.75 by Can_has_beer from Texas

Feb 25, 2016
 
Rated: 3.43 by CraigMack61 from New Jersey

Jan 24, 2016
 
Rated: 3.77 by paresis from Massachusetts

Aug 24, 2015
 
Rated: 4.25 by MSandahl23 from Indiana

Jul 09, 2015
 
Rated: 2.97 by Domvan from Texas

May 30, 2015
 
Rated: 3.75 by brittanylicious from Indiana

Mar 21, 2015
 
Rated: 3.75 by heysuz from Indiana

Mar 21, 2015
 
Rated: 3.52 by wethorseblanket from California

Feb 13, 2015
Photo of TheBrewo
Reviewed by TheBrewo from New York

3.36/5  rDev -8.9%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3.25
We pop the top on a bottle, pouring into our three quarter sized snifters. It shows a deep molasses brown coloring. A third of the liquid is covered with fat, oily, soapy medium brown bubbles, but you can hardly classify this as a “head”. Lacing is spotty but present as you swirl the glass. Thick haze obscures clarity, while finite granules of sediment are suspended about the liquid like constellations in a winter night’s sky. Carbonation appears to be moderate. The aroma is intensely peaty, coming out of the bottle almost exactly as Smokehead scotch does; heavily metallic and wildly peaty. The nose otherwise fills with resinous moss, warming oak, heavy buttery diacetyls, heavy phenolic plastics, dark fruitiness of fig and sautéed apricot, olive oil and balsamic vinegar, dried black cherries, wet black and chocolate malts, acetone, perfumed florals, dusty ale yeastiness, and creamy sunscreen chemical bite. The taste, much like the nose, makes it hard to discern anything aside from the smoke. As it warms, however, the complexity increases, filling in with soy sauce, intense peatiness, blackened barley and raw coffee malts, café au lait, white sugars, blackcurrant tartness, vegemite, smoked honeyham meatiness, gentle floral hoppiness, steel, dirty denim, dryer sheet and laundry detergent chemicals, nectarine and agave syrups, and milk chocolate syrups. The body is thin, and the carbonation is on the light side. Each sip gives washed slurp and smack, and cream and froth is utterly absent. The mouth is left chalky and astringently dried, with a soft slimy film covering the entirety of the mouth. The abv is appropriate, and well hidden, and the beer sips rather slowly.

Overall, this was a curious beer. We obviously love beer, but our second love is scotch. We’ve had the supreme pleasure of being able to go through a bottle of Smokehead ourselves, and we can definitely say that this is one of the nicest impregnations of a beer with a specific spirit. Many barrel aged products taste like “bourbon”, but not as much like the specific variety they claim to come from. Here, there is no question. It is Smokehead through and through. You would never know that unless you’ve had this liquor, but the effect is there nonetheless. Unfortunately, the base beer does live up to the same quality as the barrel it was housed in. It is one-dimensional, and when it comes to mouthfeel, it is thin and meaningless. Ultimately, we wished a better beer shined through the smoke, but we’re happy to sample an all-Scottish product. Here’s to the next one, BrewDog, keep it weird.
Feb 10, 2015
 
Rated: 4 by nathanmiller from New York

Jan 05, 2015
 
Rated: 3.75 by olradetbalder from Sweden

Dec 04, 2014
Photo of tillmac62
Reviewed by tillmac62 from South Carolina

4.26/5  rDev +15.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.25
BOD 8/8/08 - so this one has had 6 years to mellow out - lol. Pours used motor oil black with just a hint of dark ruby. No head to speak of, but considering it's age, it is allowable. Wonderful nose of peat like smoke, oak and scotch. Underneath is some dark fruit (plum, fig). Medium body with no effervescence. The flavor profile is very intense, quite complex and surprisingly well balanced with all that is going on. It begins with an onslaught of peat like smoke over a rich caramel sweetness. As the smoke fades, oak characteristics are evident over an amazing burst of plum. The middle is where the scotch shines with that touch of smoke only it has. The finish is dry and just a touch sweet. A charred smoke like aftertaste lingers with just a hint of alcohol flavor. The alcohol coverage in this beer is amazing - just great scotch flavor with no grain alcohol astringency. An intense, flavorful brewing masterpiece that I wish I could have also had fresh.
Nov 13, 2014
 
Rated: 3.5 by zestar from California

Oct 30, 2014
 
Rated: 4.25 by soulcougher from Pennsylvania

Oct 29, 2014
Photo of jzeilinger
Reviewed by jzeilinger from Pennsylvania

3.69/5  rDev 0%
A - Pitch black pour with a micro-lacing ring that's barely visible, no carbonation.

S - Smoke and char that's faded, oak, and some whiskey.

T - Still pretty smoky for (5) years old. Smoke, peat, oak, more peat, some and a trace of whiskey. Not much whisky flavor but dominant smoke, oak, and peat.

M - Full medium body, silky, no carbonation.

O - Wish this had some carbonation but the lack of brings more of the flavors out so not such a bad thing.
Oct 27, 2014
BrewDog Paradox Smokehead (Batch 015) - Smokehead from BrewDog
Beer rating: 83 out of 100 with 263 ratings