Style: Imperial IPA London, England ABV: 10.5 IBU: 95 500ml bottle
Tasted on 22/6/22 Best by 2027 Price: 65R$
This should be a fairly unique take on the overcrowded stage of imperial IPA’s as it’s a very strong version of an English IPA so it should quite heavily malty and also only English hops have been used so it won’t be fruity rather earthy and resinous also it’s got black pepper added to it and it’s aged 5 years so might have an aged alcohol component. It’s also the last in Fuller’s imperial range that I’ve tried.
It’s a very dark IPA and looks more like a red or even brown ale, it looks a bit hazy and has a fine light beige head. It also smells very differently from a traditional (American) IPA as it’s got a full on malty aroma, which is really strong and it has an almost whisky like note. the hops are really earthy and piney with lots of hedgerow and mulchy aromas. It’s very boozy and there does seem to be an aged alcohol component. It almost smells like a hoppy barley wine or extra strength old ale but I kind of like it as it has nothing to do with a modern American IPA and has gone in a very different direction.
It feels very heavy and thick in the mouth like a boozy imperial stout and it also has very light and soft carbonation. It is very malty with lots of whisky and cereal sweetness which mixes with the almost harsh earthy hoppy bitterness which is also piney and resinous but not at all fruity. The black pepper gives it a light spiciness and it’s boozy and aged with lots of warmth. There’s some strong brewed black tea too but somehow it’s quite smooth and rounded. It has a long boozy and malty finish.
I can see why some wouldn’t appreciate this beer as it really is far from the generally accepted profile of a regular imperial IPA but I do like it and it’s a turbo charged English IPA and there aren’t too many of them about.
Score: 4.2
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