Paradox - Smokehead (Batch 015)
(Batch of Paradox - Smokehead)

Sampled on draft at Hou Thou this beer poured a black color with a huge creamy brown head that lingered and left a bit of lacing. The aroma was amazingly strong peat, seaweed, campfire and salt. The flavor was strong wood followed by very strong peat and touches of oil, seaweed and salt. Tasted like Laphroig scotch. Amazingly long finish. Thick body. If you like Islay scotch you would love this - me, I detest Islays.

Bottle bought some place I can’t remember. Pours black with a frothy dark mocha head that leaves a small trace on the glass while dissipating. Smell is heavy smokey and malty with roasted malts, smoke, peat, dark roast coffee, bitter chocolate, burnt wood, vanilla fudge and smoldering hay. Taste is sweet, bitter, malty and heavy smokey with roasted malts, smoke, peat, tar, minerals, cookie dough, alcohol, sweetened coffee, milk chocolate, burnt hay and burnt wood. Mouthfeel is soft, roasted astringent and medium to full bodied. Finish is sweet, bitter and heavy smokey with roasted malts, peat, smoke, alcohol, cookie dough, hay and burnt wood. Over the top...

Bottle. Pours very dark red, with a mocha head. Aroma is smoke, liquorice, coffee and some alcoholic notes of port wine. Flavour is burned malts, nice bitter coffee, nuts, chocolate and toffee. Some notes of alcohol with a long, very nice and growing sweetly finish.

Bottle courtesy of and shared with friends. Poured a a murky deep mahogany with a thin broken white head. The aroma is rich smoke and hop medicinal liqourice. The flavour is medium to strong bitter with a smoky dry alcoholic palate. Medium to full bodied with soft carbonation.

Bouteille 11,2oz (batch 015). De couleur noire-brune et opaque. Nez de malt fumé (tourbe, léger de fumée de bois et de cigarette) et rôti, légèrement boisé (fût de whisky), léger de fruits (fruits confits foncés), avec des notes d’alcool, de chocolat noir et de café. Moyennement ronde en bouche avec un pétillement doux ainsi qu’une texture légèrement huileuse et aux petites notes crémeuses. Goût de malt fumé (tourbe, léger de cigarette, traces de fumée de bois), légèrement boisé (fût de whisky) avec un léger goût fruité (fruits foncés confits) ainsi qu’avec de faibles traces de réglisse noire lors de l’entrée en bouche auquel se rajoute un goût de malt rôti avec des petites notes de chocolat noir. Parallèlement, l’on retrouve un léger goût d’alcool aux notes réchauffantes avec des notes de café et des traces de houblon herbeux. Post-goût long, léger-moyen amer de rôti avec un goût fumé toujours bien présent ainsi que des notes de chocolat noir et d’alcool boisé (fût de whisky).

Consumer alongside islay cask scotch Dark brown to black one finger head Huge peat with a brisket stew nose. Nice blend of smoke, soy sauce / teriyaki with a hint of chocolate. Not very complex. Still, an interesting beer