Brewdog Riptide Stout
After my initial introduction to the Brewdog line of beers earlier this year with the Paradox Islay (Batch 009), I’ve been on the look out for anything from them that I can find. Luckily for me, I found just the beer they used in their barrel aged stout series.
While the Paradox is something other-worldly taste-wise, I was still expecting a good deal from this beer. Riptide Stout turned out to be a pretty decent imperial stout, but (and perhaps my expectations were a bit high) it fell in the middle of what I like from this style of beer. It’s tasty and very drinkable, but not as robust as I personally would want from an imperial brew.
Appearance
Riptide poured nearly black with a deep garnet edge. A thin, wispy head rested at the top of the glass.
Aroma
This one has a very smooth, well balanced nose with roasted malt, semi-sweet chocolates, vanilla and a touch of coffee.
Taste
With the smoother nose on the beer, I wasn’t really expecting the flavor to be much different. It does pour a bit thin for the style, but the roasted malt and chocolates are a bit more assertive on the tongue. The overall palate is a bit subdued, yet quite smooth and easy to drink. There’s a slightly bitter and dry finish to the beer, but it doesn’t linger too long.
Overall
Like I stated earlier, perhaps I was expecting too much from this beer. Then again, perhaps, it’s just a well balanced, drinkable middle of the road Imperial Stout — which could be a good thing. This night, however, I was in the mood for something with a little more of a robust character. That said, I might pick this one up again at the right price.
Rating: 3/5