Belgian IPAs. If I’m honest I’ve never really seen the point. I mean a few have been decent, but as a rule why don’t we all just concentrate on what we do well, carry on working to perfect those things, and let others do their things? Lanes are important. Let’s stay in them.

This beer is heavier than it needs to be. There’s a real viscous look and feel about the beer even before we get to the ABV which is a whopping 9.5%! From the deep honey color to the viscous mouthfeel this is a punishing beer. That isn’t to say that it doesn’t form nicely in the glass, even though I would prefer a less ‘orange’ hue.

Typical flavors for the style are there, plus a little extra aniseed. Hops continually poke holes in the candy malt backbone. It does what it say on the can so it’s hard to be too critical, but I don’t care for this much; it’s just too … much! After 6 oz of the 12, this is beginning to feel a bit like work.

Lots of sugary, fruit ester notes and plenty of sticky, dank hops which, to be fair is exactly as it should be, but I really don’t feel the need for such an ABV in the style.

There’s nothing light about the beer that would resemble a Houblon Chouffe for example, and that beer is what I consider to be the standard and original for the style. The ABV on Houblon is up there too, but it drinks dramatically differently than this.

Hard work in a style that shouldn’t be so.