Water, barley malt, hops and yeast are the quartet that make up the foundation of every beer we make. Sometimes, we add a different grain (wheat, oats or rye) or we might mix it up with the infusion of citrus peel, vanilla, or coffee, but the four fundamentals rarely ever change.
Something we don’t always talk about is the other essential piece of the puzzle, present in everything we craft. Not passion, care, or attention, although all are ever-present in our beers. No, that other essential component of brewing; time. Time is an essential ingredient in our process, from the hours it can take for an imperial stout to lauter, through the days it takes for our wort to ferment, to the weeks the beer may spend cold-conditioning. A small percentage of our finished beer then takes the next step, developing further in barrel, for months, or in some cases years or more.
2018 sees the return of Paradox Grain.
This super small batch of our imperial stout has been resting in grain whisky casks for one and a half years (or 575 days for those keeping count). Paradox Grain has appeared several times over the years, and this edition continues to showcase the incredible depth one can draw from the symbiosis of liquid and wood.
Going into barrel, our Paradox brings with it an intense dark chocolate presence, hints of smoke, and loads of coffee character. Now removed from cask, it has developed into something far bigger. Pouring like Indian ink, it clings to the glass like sherry. Huge aromas of molasses unfold into bitter cacao, raisin, and cocoa-dusted chocolates, with a touch of woodsmoke. On the palate it’s warming; there’s more than a nod to Dog F here, with the spirit character of the wood providing an almost chili-like heat. As the beer warms, it softens and out comes the mocha flavour – espresso blended with liquid chocolate. The warmth and the full-bodied mouthfeel evoke chocolate fondant, with only a background note of the roastiness we often encounter in such a style. In a surprising twist, the finish is lighter than you’d expect, with a coffee liqueur note providing a lingering flavour.
Paradox Grain 2018 is only the latest in our longest-running beer series, and more will follow (keep your eyes peeled for a future release showcasing Uncle Duke’s casks), but for now, this limited release offers a chance to dip back into a beer that essentially started the BrewDog story over ten years ago.
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