Tasting Notes: Brewdog: Tokyo Rising Sun: Highland Cask

Brewdog: Tokyo Rising Sun: Highland Cask (Scotland: Imperial Stout: 13.2% ABV)

Visual: Black. Thin browned head that falls quickly to a mere dusting over the beer.

Nose: Oily and smoke. Burnt coffee beans. Quite roasted nuts. Aniseed and treacle.

Body:  Very smooth. Caramel. Mild medicinal touches. Raspberry cream centres. Riesen chocolate chews. Fudge. Menthol fresh. Molasses. Vanilla.

Finish:  Bitter black chocolate. Burnt barbecued bits. Milky coffee. Light oak presence hanging in the air. Menthol liquore^. Orange crème centres.

Conclusion: Hard to write a review on this one. I have to work not to be biased by the fact that it is a) rare b) expensive and c) based on the excellent Tokyo Imperial Stout.  All of which mean I hope for more and I am likely to be very critical if it doesn’t match to those expectations. Still, I will do my best to be reasonable. Here goes.

The first element that is really evident is the four years in the Highland wood has had a distinct influence. There are surprisingly medicinal like touches that I found odd for a Highland cask, but were still distinctly from the wood. The ageing has also given a very smooth style to the beer, and mixes in that oak sweetness, some smoke and distinct oak influence.  Since it wasn’t in the base beer, I presume the wood also brings that slight menthol freshness, an odd touch that makes it far too easy to drink for its strong Imperial Stout style.

Here’s the thing. Despite all this heavy influence it doesn’t bury the base beer, much to my shock. I’ve seen much less time in the wood overwhelm stronger beers. There is still good chocolate, coffee and I could swear raspberry in there present and correct ( I presume the raspberry to be from the original cranberries and altered by age – I could be wrong though).

So despite an amazing ageing length this isn’t just whisky flavoured beer, but the full package. Well mid body anyway, the aroma is pretty much all whisky all the time.

So comparing to the much cheaper Tokyo*. Well Tokyo is a much more easily approachable beer. Very sweet and open. This is harsher but has far more depths to explore, and still surprisingly sweet.  So which would I prefer? Ouch , good question. Depends on the moment.  Tokyo feels brighter and more a beer that you can pass around between friends. Rising sun feels a more contemplative beer, one to sit back and sip while reading a good book.^^. It’s smokier and slightly oily. More booze heavy, never burning but viscous and strong. A different beer, yet still identifiable as Tokyo based.

After much consideration I would consider it’s closest comparison to be Goose Islands Vanilla Bean Bourbon County Stout, but with a Highland twist instead of Bourbon. It holds its head up well against that so I can say without reservation that it is a very good beer.

Bloody expensive though

Background: Drunk to celebrate a friends successful job hunt, and drunk while listening to Ulver’s Perdition City Album. This is some of the original 12% abv Tokyo that has been ageing is Highland Whisky casks for four years. Allegedly the cask was forgotten about until now.  The 18.2% abv Tokyo* is still a preferred Imperial Stout of mine even after trying a wide range of the style.  Usual Disclaimer: I am not an unbiased actor on Brewdog beers but I do my best. Of note, I looked at the tasting note ideas on the label after I finished writing the review and damn of they aren’t spot on, calling great imagery which I missed. Damn it Brewdog, steal hard working blogger’s jobs.

^ The menthol liquore I have in mind is a weird one I tried while in a New Zealand airport, but buggered if I can remember what it was.  It’s like that. Not helpful I know.

^^ In fact after finishing this review I did just that, reading “The Wise Mans Fear” by Patrick Rothfuss.