Brewery: BrewDog / Mikkeller
Location: Fraserburgh, Scotland / København, Denmark
ABV: 12.1%
Version: Bottled
Source: Brewdog.com

I’ve been very keen indeed to try this new collaboration from two of modern brewing’s most talked-about operators, ever since I first read about its creation last December. So I ordered a mixed six-pack of Devine Rebel and How to Disappear Completely (via the Deals for Punks page on the BrewDog site to make up the numbers on my recent Zephyr order (and I have a few more Mikkeller brews to try as well, courtesy of a case of rare Belgians from Beermerchants.com).

Devine Rebel is a barley wine, a style of beer that I’ve not had a huge amount of experience with, so that was another cause for much sampling-anticipation. The opening of the bottle releases a quite wonderful aroma of rich caramel with just a hint of herbs. The pour is almost entirely effervescence-free – I’m guessing this is normal for the style, hence the ‘wine’ appellation? – and the first sip is rich, sweet, almost medicinal in character; the beer has definitely imported some distinctly whisky-like qualities from the quarter that has been aged in Scottish whisky barrels. The beer has a wonderfully rich mouth-feel, that conveys the flavours superbly, as well. Damn, this one’s good…

One thing that’s definitely noticeable (and I’m using the present tense because I’m drinking this one at the moment – live-action tasting notes, folks!) is that despite the 12.1% ABV the alcohol content doesn’t overpower the more subtle flavours. In fact, as you get towards the bottom of the glass, the flavours become even smoother, the medicinal rough-edges rounded-off a bit, the warm toffee-caramel notes more pronounced. All in all, it’s an absolutely delicious brew. Very highly recommended indeed!