Parallel 49 / Axe & Barrel Brewing Company _Paranoid_ American Double / Imperial Pilsner at 8.5% ABV _(C$2.29 at Willow Park Wine & Spirits, 341 ml, no bottle date or best before, acquired 16-Apr-2016, reviewed 27-May-2016)_
Appearance: clear pale straw with a short, short-lived white head, minimal lacing. (3/5) Aroma: low/muted, lemon, woody, vinous, fruity esters, light funk. (6/10) Taste: moderate-high sweet, moderate-low bitter, moderate tart. (7/10) Medium body, moderate carbonation, warming tart finish. (3/5)
A strange beer. There’s little or no pilsner character here, and the wild aspects dominate. However, I’m a bit surprised by how light the aromas are here: immediately upon decapping, the aromas are present, but they fade fairly rapidly along with the head, and do not return or grow upon warming. Given the pronounced ABV, more robust flavours and aromas would’ve been appropriate. If it sounds like I’m damning this with faint praise, it’s because to some extent I am. Although it’s not unpleasant, it is a bit muddled, and less interesting than it could have been. (13/20)
6.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com
