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Tactical Nuclear Penguin
BrewDog
- From:
- BrewDog
- Scotland, United Kingdom
- Style:
- American Imperial Stout
- ABV:
- 32%
- Score:
- 81
- Avg:
- 3.56 | pDev: 21.91%
- Reviews:
- 135
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Nov 28, 2021
- Added:
- Dec 06, 2009
- Wants:
- 273
- Gots:
- 99
Made by freezing Paradox to remove water.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by InDreams:
Reviewed by InDreams from Maryland
4.35/5 rDev +22.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4.35/5 rDev +22.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
UNBELIEVABLE! Thanks go out to James from BrewDog and to Graham at Wally's Wine in Westwood, CA for hosting a tasting.
Poured out of a 12 oz stoppered bottle into a clean sampler glass with a dark cola-brown body and a half centimeter of beige head. Lush and beatiful -- I expect that with a heavier pour we'd get a bigger head -- but what I had lasted and was quite appreciable.
The smell was unlike any other beer I've ever had -- cigar-like -- rich, smoky, earthy, oakey. I can pick up on the scotch whiskey and hints of vanilla, and it's boozy, but pleasant and warm. I'm not joking when I say that after I was done with beer, I still enjoyed the aroma from the glass.
The taste is everything you'd expect from the smell, and so much more a whiskey than a beer. In terms of the style, it has enough of the burnt malty brown sugar sweetness and caramel/molasses to pass for some form of an imperial stout, but the real poignant flavors are those of a scotch: oak, vanilla, peat, tobacco, leather. It's really complex and you can pick up on everything.
Mouthfeel is first and foremost, warm. This beer was chilled but that's irrelevant. Minimal carbonation with a full body that's a touch syrupy. If you let it linger, you get a bite from the alcohol and the hops.
Drinkability, in terms of my wanting to drink this, is high. This is not something that you can sit down and casually have a bottle of -- that's for sure -- but if you treat it like a scotch, it's unbelievably tasty and smells delicious, so take it easy and drink it the way you should drink it -- in moderate amounts.
Overall, definitely one of the greatest beers I've ever had -- quite an accomplishment and a worthwhile experience for anyone who really enjoys beer.
Cheers to BrewDog!
Mar 21, 2010Poured out of a 12 oz stoppered bottle into a clean sampler glass with a dark cola-brown body and a half centimeter of beige head. Lush and beatiful -- I expect that with a heavier pour we'd get a bigger head -- but what I had lasted and was quite appreciable.
The smell was unlike any other beer I've ever had -- cigar-like -- rich, smoky, earthy, oakey. I can pick up on the scotch whiskey and hints of vanilla, and it's boozy, but pleasant and warm. I'm not joking when I say that after I was done with beer, I still enjoyed the aroma from the glass.
The taste is everything you'd expect from the smell, and so much more a whiskey than a beer. In terms of the style, it has enough of the burnt malty brown sugar sweetness and caramel/molasses to pass for some form of an imperial stout, but the real poignant flavors are those of a scotch: oak, vanilla, peat, tobacco, leather. It's really complex and you can pick up on everything.
Mouthfeel is first and foremost, warm. This beer was chilled but that's irrelevant. Minimal carbonation with a full body that's a touch syrupy. If you let it linger, you get a bite from the alcohol and the hops.
Drinkability, in terms of my wanting to drink this, is high. This is not something that you can sit down and casually have a bottle of -- that's for sure -- but if you treat it like a scotch, it's unbelievably tasty and smells delicious, so take it easy and drink it the way you should drink it -- in moderate amounts.
Overall, definitely one of the greatest beers I've ever had -- quite an accomplishment and a worthwhile experience for anyone who really enjoys beer.
Cheers to BrewDog!
More User Ratings:
Reviewed by polynya from California
1.9/5 rDev -46.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 1 | feel: 1 | overall: 1
1.9/5 rDev -46.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 1 | feel: 1 | overall: 1
My parents employed the same tactic - freezing alcoholic beverages to increase the alcohol percentage - in order to save storage space on their yacht during a three year global circumnavigation. The result was godawful, and the same can be said for this "beer".
Apr 13, 2021Reviewed by Brutaltruth from Ohio
3.79/5 rDev +6.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
3.79/5 rDev +6.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
First review of the New Year 2020---Cheers Bluejacket for this one!
This mighty beast pours a thick, oily, black strap molasses color.
No head, no lacing, but this brew has more legs than ZZ Top's famous song.
Nose of black currants, soy, pepper, char, and booze---lots and lots of booze.
Flavors with a few exceptions. Heavy astringent fiery booze, char, black
pepper, soy/worcestershire flavor akin to a heavy beefy flavor, scotch flavors
also arise with warmth amongst bitter malt and leather notes.
Feel is the real interesting thing on this one; no carbonation, slick, hot,
smooth....I don't think I can feel my face...ahem...coating, and finishing
with a bitter malt/soy note.
A brew that has been on my bucket list for years and thanks to Bluejacket
one to check off. Excellent!
A novelty with teeth!
Cheers
Jan 01, 2020This mighty beast pours a thick, oily, black strap molasses color.
No head, no lacing, but this brew has more legs than ZZ Top's famous song.
Nose of black currants, soy, pepper, char, and booze---lots and lots of booze.
Flavors with a few exceptions. Heavy astringent fiery booze, char, black
pepper, soy/worcestershire flavor akin to a heavy beefy flavor, scotch flavors
also arise with warmth amongst bitter malt and leather notes.
Feel is the real interesting thing on this one; no carbonation, slick, hot,
smooth....I don't think I can feel my face...ahem...coating, and finishing
with a bitter malt/soy note.
A brew that has been on my bucket list for years and thanks to Bluejacket
one to check off. Excellent!
A novelty with teeth!
Cheers
Reviewed by StraightNoChaser from Georgia
4.4/5 rDev +23.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.4/5 rDev +23.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
look: Dark brown with ruby highlights. No carbonation to speak of, as expected.
smell: Rich toasty stout with peaty Scotch, some boozy caramel.
taste: If a Scotch whiskey and Imp Stout had a baby, it would taste like this. All gimmicks aside, a unique beverage and i really like it.
Nov 17, 2019smell: Rich toasty stout with peaty Scotch, some boozy caramel.
taste: If a Scotch whiskey and Imp Stout had a baby, it would taste like this. All gimmicks aside, a unique beverage and i really like it.
Reviewed by Casey3236 from Pennsylvania
4.41/5 rDev +23.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.41/5 rDev +23.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
I'm sorry, there's no effing way this is 32%! Granted, I could smell this 1 1/2 ounce pour from 6 feet away. Coated the glass like varnish, but smell is very reminiscent of World Wide Stout from DFH. Taste reminds me of WWS with a couple years on it. Caramel, brown sugar,vanilla, molasses, booze of course but 15% or 16%, NOT 32%! So pleasantly surprised, thought I'd have to choke this down but I actually have to resist the desire for another pour.
Oct 18, 2017Reviewed by jgasparine from Maryland
3.75/5 rDev +5.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
3.75/5 rDev +5.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
This is a hard one to review. The things I didn't like about the beer- excessive booziness and astringency- are to be expected from a 32% brew.
Overall, this midnight black liquid was oaky and slightly peaty from maturation in scotch casks. No carbonation. The body was a little thinner than I would have expected from something that was freeze-distilled. Excellent sipping beer for those that love scotch.
Glad I tried it and would endorse for the rare occasion.
Aug 28, 2017Overall, this midnight black liquid was oaky and slightly peaty from maturation in scotch casks. No carbonation. The body was a little thinner than I would have expected from something that was freeze-distilled. Excellent sipping beer for those that love scotch.
Glad I tried it and would endorse for the rare occasion.
Reviewed by WickedBeer from Alabama
3.7/5 rDev +3.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5
3.7/5 rDev +3.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5
A badass name with a deserving punch. This beer is a doozy!
Pours a sort of burnt crimson hue, no carbonation, no head, and no lace.
This nose on this has some serious bite. Very boozy; getting a lot of dried fruit and molasses. Also a good bit of nuttiness coming through.
Again, molasses comes through with a thorough boozy warmth and sharp bite. Agreeing with some other reviews, getting a lot of walnut and anise character as well.
Although it pours surprisingly thin, it has a very syrupy body that reminds me a bit too much of Robitussin. Very sticky residuals left over.
Overall, quite the experience. This monster can never be prepared for, however it's worth trying if you get the chance. The booze is so clear and often overwhelming. But if you take the time to sip it and let it warm, this beer has a lot to offer. Take your time and let this one develop on your palate!
Aug 14, 2017Pours a sort of burnt crimson hue, no carbonation, no head, and no lace.
This nose on this has some serious bite. Very boozy; getting a lot of dried fruit and molasses. Also a good bit of nuttiness coming through.
Again, molasses comes through with a thorough boozy warmth and sharp bite. Agreeing with some other reviews, getting a lot of walnut and anise character as well.
Although it pours surprisingly thin, it has a very syrupy body that reminds me a bit too much of Robitussin. Very sticky residuals left over.
Overall, quite the experience. This monster can never be prepared for, however it's worth trying if you get the chance. The booze is so clear and often overwhelming. But if you take the time to sip it and let it warm, this beer has a lot to offer. Take your time and let this one develop on your palate!
Reviewed by earljones199 from New Hampshire
3.83/5 rDev +7.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
3.83/5 rDev +7.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Taste is dry walnuts. Booze is comes out as a slow warming as it goes down. I get a little bit of licorice but not as much as the dry walnut flavor. I enjoyed this one but can't imagine taking it on solo.
Aug 13, 2017Reviewed by StJamesGate from New York
4.05/5 rDev +13.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
4.05/5 rDev +13.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Glowing garnet black with legs. 4
Worcestershire, molasses, and a bang of heat. 4
Chewy natural licorice, bang of salt, fish sauce, pomegranate, and astringent cut. 4
Heavy, cut, hot. 4
For the ABV, still recognizable as an RIS. But doesn’t quite work as a liqueur - more a salty, bitter aperitif. Deep, rough, intricate. 4.25
Jul 08, 2016Worcestershire, molasses, and a bang of heat. 4
Chewy natural licorice, bang of salt, fish sauce, pomegranate, and astringent cut. 4
Heavy, cut, hot. 4
For the ABV, still recognizable as an RIS. But doesn’t quite work as a liqueur - more a salty, bitter aperitif. Deep, rough, intricate. 4.25
Reviewed by CraigTravor from California
3.98/5 rDev +11.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 4
3.98/5 rDev +11.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 4
Good Lord!!! This thing hits like a... nuclear weapon... yep The name kinda makes sense. Strong roasty flavour with a solid alcohol mouthfeel. This beer does not lie about what it is. Obviously, you should try it if you can.
Apr 05, 2016
Tactical Nuclear Penguin from BrewDog
Beer rating:
81 out of
100 with
342 ratings
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