Thanks to russpowell for this opportunity. 650 mL bottle, with a red wax-dipped neck. Nice presentation.
Pour is VERY good looking. GREAT clarity, super head and some lace but with a delicious looking, dark copper colored body – really nice presentation. More sticky lace would have scored it a 5. Frankly at this ABV it’s a miracle that it has any at all.
Aroma threatens some sweetness with plenty of alcohol.
Despite the 10%, this drinks well under that number with a very nice mouthfeel – I was half expecting a nasty, syrupy mess. Alcohol is there in the taste but so is a lovely, balanced (as much as you can hope for in a 10% ABV DIPA) malt backbone. Obviously sweet and boozy, but this is one of the better attempts at such a big beer – I really enjoyed it.
Drinkability is a 5 for me, not because this is especially easy to quaff (no more than one 650 mL bottle needs to be consumed in a sitting, and sharing would be nice), but taking into account the style and the ABV I was delighted with the ease of putting it away.
Very nice stuff, tasty, high quality beer.