Kilted Lass: The Plaid Frock
Paradox Beer Company

750ml bottle which looks like it was from earlier this year in February. Dark brown color with flocculated yeast landing on top of the ample head, kind of gross. Aroma was this ugly sour and malts, not enticing. Flavor was sour but it tasted like an infected Wee Heavy which is probably what they were going for? Some beers are not meant to be soured because this was awful, total drainpour.

 

 

 

 

Opened with a normal psssh, no gush, and not overly foam. Dark reddish brown in color in the Oral chalice. Whiff of varnish and wine vinegar. Really sweet at first sip, and then that sourish, burnt, bitter spew. It tastes like overripe garbage smells. Spoiled red wine with butterscotch cookies and orange soda, only not that good. Unbelievable bitterness on top of all that.

I hate to say this about a beer but it's got that backwash of stomach acid taste that is so revolting I am going to pour boiling water in this glass after I wash it. I see this is at least a year old, but you wouldn't know without reading the reviews. The wild yeast have clearly torn the place up, but there is still that overdose of aspartame taste, oddly and horribly sweet in a chemical way.

The 750 ml swingtop purchased at Grapevine Liquors in Denver for $11.39. Looking at my reviews I see I liked one out of five Paradox products, so I think this is my last one.

for one, stop saying ameri-belgo, its been bastardized here to the point of no meaning, so discontinue using it please. a wine barrel aged scotch ale explodes from the swing top bottle, covering at least a yard and stinking like old coffee and red wine tannins. plenty of yeasty chunks and barrel char sinking to the bottom of my wine glass. earthy coffee front end seems odd, i am looking for smoked malt here but get that coffee acidity instead. rich red grains as well in nose and taste. tons of acid either from red wine barrel or strange infection on the finish, and the alcohol is exposed as it can be. not denying the complexity of this beer, but i am absolutely denying its palatability. this may have been pretty good when it first came out, but like many paradox beers, has not aged flatteringly. had to dump in after just half a glass, an expensive shame.

 

Beer pours a deep deep red color with an off white foam that soon falls back into the glass.

Aroma is dominated by alcohol, some peat like smoke and caramel notes in the background.

Beer is full of caramel and toast. Some notes of peat or something like molasses or burnt sugar.

Beer is very full, almost to the point of being cloying.

Overall the beer is okay. It does not have enough going on the be a good sipper and has too much alcohol to be a session beer. It needs some more depth to really shine. I would like to see more flavors in the beer like a nutty flavor or a rich maltiness.

750 ml swing top bottle poured a clear reddish brown with a lasting amber head. Aroma of tobacco, toffee, earthiess, red wine, oak, carmel and a hint of smoke.Palate was medium to full bodied and smooth. Flavors of tobacco, toffee, earthiness, dark fruit and light oak with a smooth lingering tobacco finish.

 

 

 

Unknown bottle number out of 1200 (looks like the bottle number didn't print).

Partially cloudy, dark amber body with a thick, foamy light brown head. Charred, almost smokey aroma with roasted nuts and coffee notes. Slightly burnt toast flavor and a touch of vanilla with a background of sour cherry or grapefruit. Medium bodied, clean, smooth and soft (nearly creamy), semi-dry finish.

This is certainly unlike any other wee heavy I've experienced. The malt flavors are there yet the smokey characteristic adds an odd yet delightfully interesting aspect to the overall flavor. The wine barrel aging adds a nice yet subtle touch, too. Nicely balanced and complex plus doing a nice job of keeping the 10.0% ABV hidden far in the background. Unique and well-worth exploring...

A - Pours a brown color with light amber highlights. Some brown head formation, bit frothy and well retained.

S - Starts off with chocolate and some lightly roasted notes, and then some of the peated malts sneak through. Very rich. Not much alcohol or oak barrels.

T - Starts off lightly sweet, malty, raisins, some toffee. Mid-stream gets a little bit more yeasty, trying to bring in some of those belgian notes. Some funkiness from the barrel aging comes in, and then it finishes with peated malts.

M - Full bodied, a little bit sticky and sweet. Alcohol warmth appears as it sits on the palette.

O/D - A decent drinking beer, just not really jumping out and defining itself. It could be an okay wee heavy, but when you buy this you are looking for the wine barrels. It might be there, but its only as a light contributor.