BrewDog Tokyo
A big, unique stoutScotland’s BrewDog has made quite a name for themselves with higher ABV beers over the past couple of years — ultimately culminating in the 55% ABV Stoat-wrapped End of History. And while I probably won’t be seeing any Tactical Nuclear Penguins swimming my way anytime soon, there is one of their more accessible and potent brews that I’ve had my eye on for a little while now.
On a recent visit to a friend in Richmond, we happened across a stash of the brewery’s Tokyo (batch 007) at the local Total Wine. Tokyo is an Imperial stout that is made with cranberries and jasmine before being dry-hopped with a healthy amount of Galena hops and then finally resting on oak chips for a good while before bottling. When all is said and done, this 18.2% ABV and 90 IBU beer unveils itself in layers of rich depth and character.
Appearance
Tokyo pours a dark, dark brown with a brilliant garnet edge and only the slightest hint of a head.
Aroma
I love the way this beer smells. Hints of molasses, wood, coffee, cranberry, a touch of grassy hops and booze mingle with a decent bit of sweetness for a great smelling beer.
Taste
I’m not going to mix words here. At 18.2% ABV, this beer is hot. There’s no denying that, but it’s also surprisingly smooth considering the alcohol level — and damned tasty. A solid malt sweetness, light roast and molasses blend quite well with a decent woody character and vanilla presence. I’m not generally a fan of cranberries, but they don’t dominate the palate as much as I had initially feared, instead imparting a light tartness toward the very warming and relatively dry finish. I’d have been hard pressed to have guessed this beer had such a high IBU number. It doesn’t really have much in the way of hop bitterness though there is a light level of hop bite present. The beer isn’t as thick as I would have thought, but still has a relatively full character.
Overall
This is a big beer. It’s meant to be enjoyed slowly and perhaps with a friend or two. I went it alone, over a long period of time and thoroughly enjoyed all of teh beer’s nuances that it had to offer. The next time I’m any where near that particular store again, I’ll definitely pick up one or two for cellaring — hopefully a little time will help mellow out that alcohol heat some.
Rating: 4/5