Hel & Verdoemenis - Bowmore BA
Brouwerij De Molen

Yes 11.8% but questionable as American IS. Bottled jan 2018. I think past prime as European hop flavour eased. Still smoke. Carbonation low. Still good sipper. Balanced.

My bottle is marked as ABV10.5%
L- Jet black, poured with 1mm deep tan head that's now just a ring and patch.
S- I seem to get a deep charred cocoa first, and a general sense of liquor being present. Blind-tasted I'm unsure if I would ID the liquor note.
T- Deep-roasted very dark cocoa, charred, fireplaces, morning-after log ashes - all extremely pungent. Again I notice the clear liquor note, it's fair thumping on my palate but it's not screaming whisky! It's only when I sloosh+swallow and then slap/slosh my tongue about do I get a definitive whisky note.
F- Big, very big indeed. It's pungent and clearly powerful so for me it's a slow-sipping beer; good for winter!
O- The barrel-note is different. Assuming Bowmore is whisky, then it's subtle. Actually I just thought I got a wine-like note there. It's certainly enjoyable but I doubt I'll be paying this for it again. It's a thumping statement beer, something I suspect most have once, enjoy then move on...
Hard to rate, it's big on $, presence and drama but the liquor note is rather non-specific and it's full-on to the point I ask myself if it's bigger than I enjoy, striking as 10.5% isn't that high (versus some Icelandic heavies I've had this year!!).
330ml bottle £7.10 BB: 28/08/2043!! (bottled: 28/05/2018) Bought from TremblingMadness/York as part of a large pick-your own consignment to London.
- I haven't read other reviews here of detail on the lable, now I'll check the bottle for clues... =nope