main

Beer reviewsFood & Drink

Pressure Drop Brewery: Bosko Absoluto (IIPA) – Beer Review

17 August, 2016 — by Matt Owen0

Weighing in at a hefty 9% ABV, Pressure Drop’s Bosko Absoluto IIPA is a bit heavier than I’d normally go for. But I’m reviewing this on one of the hottest days of the year and it’s been nestled in my fridge for a couple of weeks now, so it seemed like time to crack the cap and see what’s on offer.

Pressure Drop Bosko Absoluto label Coby Walsh

Who brewed it?

Hackney based Pressure Drop may be small, but they’ve been happily brewing up some of the more adventurous beers in London for a few years now.

What kind of beer is it?

An Imperial version of their Bosko IPA. Or an IIPA if you will.

I’ve long been a fan of the regular Bosko, which tends to be sweeter than most IPAs thanks to some very clear crystal malt, and it rewards the slow drinker with some complex tastes, so it’s interesting to see how all of the regular characteristics have been ramped up for the Imperial version.

Strength

9% – So perhaps not for easy drinking but it is a versatile occasional tipple.

What does Pressure Drop say it tastes like?

A ramped up version of its ‘sweet n hoppy’ Bosko.

What does it actually taste like?

On opening there’s a definite caramel hint that you might normally expect from a bitter, or even stout, and this affinity with darker beers is represented in the colour – a rich, dark brown. This carries on through the taste, which is rich, slightly sticky and very rounded. There’s also a strange but not unwelcome edge of boiled sweets in here, that treacly thickness that sticks to the sides of your mouth. Oddly enough, the somewhat-sticky length of the taste put me in mind of sherry, but that’s not a bad thing here.

Pressure drop bosko IPA

Despite the sweetness, there’s no mistaking that this is an IPA all the way through. The American hops give it a lot of aroma and freshness. It also has a dry hit that’s welcome but not overloaded, avoiding the over-hopped trend and instead feeling more like one of the earlier US craft beers.

Obviously a beer of this strength isn’t designed for session drinking, but it’s refreshing enough to enjoy on a hot day with a barbecue, or be a comforting pint to nurse in the depths of winter, possibly with a curry (I’d suggest something medium – Rogan Josh or Jalfrezi would do well here).

Incidentally, we’ve mentioned before that we’re not above trying new beers on the basis of a fancy label. Here the super-cute artwork comes from graffiti artist and general anthropomorhophile Coby Walsh.

Score: 4/5

Date:
Title:
Pressure Drop Bosko Absoluto IIPA
Rating:
41star1star1star1stargray

Leave a Reply