Speedbird 100, Transatlantic IPA
BrewDog

Flight from London 5/7 2019. 33 cl can from British Airways. Usual BrewDog design in Black, dark Blue and silver. Tagline is “Transatlantic IPA”. Beer made for British Airways to celebrate their Centenary.

Pours unclear amber with a big white head. Settles as 1,5 cm thick layer of foam covering the surface of the beer. Crawling up the sides of the glass. Substantial Lacing.

Aroma is moderately intense. Backbone of malty caramel. Light odor of exotic fruit with stronger notes of citric bitterness. Grape fruit and citrus.

Light carbonation. Slightly thick, smooth, Soft texture.

Flavor is medium sweet followed by a slightly stronger, citric bitterness. Aftertaste is lightly bitter. Finish is semi-dry.

Moderately intense IPA which could use a little zest. Quite ok for an airplane beer - but not more than that.

 

 

I really enjoyed this on a BA flight to Denmark. It didn't look great in my little plastic cup, but did have a consistent fluffy tea. It smelled gorgeous, quite fruity (which i don't normally like), grapefruity even. Taste was a pleasing blend of hops and fruit, with a pleasant lingering after taste. A little more body would have been even better.
Then I had another one. Hoping BDog release the recipe for us to replicate at home - would definitely give this one a go.

Amber golden color with a thick thin head.
Aroma with bright notes of grapefruit. Hints of roses, caramel and pine.
Flavor with notes of caramel malt, lots of grapefruit juice, roses, pine and tea leaves. Dry aftertaste with a medium bitterness.
Light body with appropriate carbonation.
Grapefruit American IPA to please most thirsty travelers’ mouths. A bit thin and unidirectional.

 

 

 

I know BrewDog is famous for taking extreme American styles and making them even more extreme.
So, Speedbird 100 maybe could be an AIPA. Except that the storyline says it was commissioned to celebrate British Airways' 100th anniversary. So, it would be an insult to call this an AIPA. Hence, my choice of an EIPA in adding Speedbird 100.

This is a good-Looking ale: fluffy foam, then nice lace and all shown better by its clear amber at 36,000 feet. It Smells mostly of malt and a few loads of fruity hops. Tastes will be rated better by hop-heads; but for me, the bitter hops come on too strong and really don't leave my buds alone... annoying them. This after-taste affects my mouth Feel. I am not the person to review this beer and will be over-ruled. So it goes on BA.

BrewDog is a success story. They soon will have 100 pubs; seemingly individualistic, just like their 200+ beers on Beer Advocate. They have new production facilities in Scotland and the U.S. and will soon have two in Asia. And they started only in 2009. Besides extreme beers, their other stock-in-trade is controversy and shock marketing. It's all good and I'm glad to have added this beer; showing BrewDog has loosened-up the national character to help celebrate 100 years of British commercial flights.

After that... What is next for BrewDog ? Well, they just missed the 70th birthday of the Prince of Wales. But maybe they can position themselves to get the commission to celebrate #75.