Tasting Notes: Mikkeller/Brewdog Devine Rebel 2010

Mikkeller/Brewdog Devine Rebel 2010 (Scotland: Barley Wine: 13.8% ABV)

(Note: this version has higher alcohol than the original version of the beer)

Visual: Froths up a large fizzy head that’s gone in an instant to leave nothing but the dark blackcherry red beer.

Nose: Cherries, some sourness and almost medicinal touches. Christmas pudding and brandy cream. Hint of a sea breeze.

Body: Ripe cherries and marzipan, peat chunks, Iodine. Almost lambic sourness, very bitter. Smoke. Vanilla hits at the very back and slight sweetness comes out.

Finish: Bitter and charcoal – like licking a coal face whilst sucking a cherry stone, as the sourness comes out and opens up. A harsh rockiness comes in along with a champagne finish.

Conclusion: A very challenging beer that mixes lambic sourness, whisky harshness (if I had not been told this was speyside influenced I would have sworn it was an island whisky that was used) and barley wine punch.

Not easy going in the slightest. Does it work? I’m not 100% sure. You have to be ready for a harsh coalface of a beer, but I canna say I dislike it.

Uncompromising, this is a beer if you want to push the senses, but not one for a simple days drinking.

A marmite of a beer with all that entails.

(Disclaimer: I am not an unbiased actor when it comes to Brewdog beers)