This was probably Brewdog beer I was looking forward to the release of with most anticipation, those that know me or follow me on twitter will know that I’m just as obsessed with great coffee (usually from the excellent Hasbean) and everything chilli related (see my other blog) So given that AB:04 contained Hasbean coffee, Chilli in the form of the almighty Naga, one of the hottest in the world and a good splattering of cacao, to say I was excited was an understatement.
15% beer in a Baileys glass...that's rock n' roll
I’d been holding onto it since October and with the snow blasting down outside I felt there was no better tie to Open It.
It poured jet black, really thick and oily with a huge deep dark brown head, it looked like a glass of dark chocolate with a frothy milk chocolate head. As the beer swirled around the glass it left obvious legs on the glass, just like a good wine, not surprising when it weighs in at 15% ABV, making it stronger than a lot of wine in the supermarket.
It smells amazing, deep, rich dark roasted malt, loads of  roast coffee and chocolate, there’s a little bit of booze on the nose too but it doesn’t take anything away from the rest of the nose.
The first thing I noticed when I took a sip was just how smooth and how full bodied AB:04 was, it was incredibly rich, the coffee really stands out at first, dry, roasted, fruity and that lovely balanced bitterness that great coffee has, then the chocolate slides in, silky and bitter like real dark chocolate, just when you think it’s over the Naga chilli makes an appearance giving it a green raw chilli tang followed by a pretty decent afterburn, not blow your head off but by the time I’d finished the bottle I knew I’d been drinking beer with chilli in. The flavours hung around in my mouth for ages, most of all the coffee, it was really predominant but it a good way.
It could possibly do with a bit longer in the bottle just to mature a little bit and give it that extra edge, luckily I’ve got one more bottle left in the beer cupboard.
This is possibly one of the most complex and brilliantly put together beers I’ve ever had, the flavours really do blend amazingly well, big hats off to the guys up at Brewdog.
Let’s just hope tomorrow and Sunday’s Open It beers can live up to this stunner.
What a beer! I can’t wait to open the bottle I’ve got left. Whenever AB:05 is released (whatever it may be!), I’ll be very tempted to pick up another 04. I just love how everything works in such brutal balance. They totally nailed 04.
I’ve missed the boat entirely with these AB BD beers – but they sound soooo good. I don’t think I’m alone in saying that I think BD have been hitting an excellent stride of late.
Mmmm sounds amazing. I’m planning on opening all 4 in one session, not on my own tho…!
I think I’ve made my feelings about Brewdog and their PR shenanigans pretty clear but never let it be said I won’t give credit where it’s due ( as much as it pains me!!)
Santa popped a bottle of AB:04in my stocking and it is AMAZING! Smooth,full, coffee, chocolate, chilli – all the things you said – wow!
It’s beer like this that made Brewdog famous – let’s hope they get back to brewing like this in 2011 and put the taxidermy behind them!!