This is the last part of my four-part review of the Brewdog IPA is Dead series, which (surprise, surprise) consists of 4 different single hop India Pale Ales. They are all brewed with the same malt base, to the same ABV, and to 75 IBU. The last one up is Sorachi Ace, which is a hop variety originally from Japan. Nowadays alot of the Sorachi Ace is grown in the USA. Alpha Acid % is high, and usually around 13-16, and the hop is known for its very lemony aroma and flavour. Other hops used in the series are: Bramling X, Citra, And Nelson Sauvin.
| Brewdog Sorachi Ace | |
|---|---|
| Appearance |   |
| The beers in the series all have a similar appearance, that is a golden-amber color, slightly hazy, with a minimal white head, leaving some traces of lacing along the glass. | |
| Smell |  |
| This one has a very interesting aroma, with hints of lemon, lemongrass, herbs, and even a bit of bubblegum. The hops dominate the aroma, with only a little sweetness coming through. | |
| Taste | |
| The flavour is initially sweet and caramelly, with lemon taking over the flavour quickly. Lemon, grapefruit, spices and ginger dominate the flavour. This hop definitely lives up to its reputation, as it almost tastes as if there is lemon juice in the beer. The aftertaste is bitter, but not as harsh as the Bramling X. Very interesting hop, but not really my cup of tea. | |
| Mouthfeel | |
| The beer is quite smooth, with a medium body and carbonation level, and just a slightly oily texture. The beer is easy to drink, and quite well balanced. | |
| Overall | |
|---|---|
| A perfect end to a series of beers offering a lot of surprises. Even though they were brewed with the same malt base and to the same specs, the beers all had very different aroma and taste, which show how much the hops can do to a beer. The beers were all really interesting, but I liked some more than others. Nelson Sauvin and Citra were my favorites, with Bramling X also being good, and Sorachi Ace just a bit too strange for me. Single hop beers are a good way of showcasing different hop varieties, but they usually seem to lack a bit of complexity that makes a really good beer. | |
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