Battle of the Punks! This Thursday @ The Rake

Published - 15.11.2010 Comments (30)

Battle of the Punks! Thurs 18^th Nov from 5pm-12pm @ The Rake.

The Rake, 14a Winchester Walk
City of London SE1 9AG
020 7407 0557

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This Thursday we have a Battle on our hands!

Punk IPA was the first beer we ever brewed when we set up BrewDog. A few months and 4 prototype batches ago we set out on a mission to use everything we have learned about brewing beer since we started BrewDog to try and make our flagship beer even better. A small batch of the prototype beer, Punk X was the result. We are now leaving it up to our drinkers to decide which Punk we should brew!

Punk X, which may or may not become Punk IPA in 2011, is a 5.6% IPA with loads more hops than the original Punk. It is also massively dry-hopped compared to the original Punk which only had kettle hops. The hops in Punk and Punk X are exactly the same, just more hops and used in a different way in the prototype Punk X. In addition in Punk X and we have reduced the bitterness from 70 to 45 to give the beer a bit more balance.

BrewDog Tom (aka Magic Dog!) will be there all night taking a running score. Which Punk wins, you decide!

The Specs look like this:

Original Punk

ABV: 6% OG: 1.056 IBU’s: 68

Malts: Marris Otter Extra Pale Malt

Hops: Chinook, Simcoe, Ahtanum, Nelson Sauvin

Dry Hops: none

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Punk X

ABV: 5.6% OG: 1053 IBU’s: 45

Malts: Marris Otter Extra Pale Malt, Caramalt

Hops: Chinook, Simcoe, Ahtanum, Nelson Sauvin

Dry Hops: Simcoe, Ahtanum, Nelson Sauvin

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Don’t worry if you can’t make it to the event. We will have bottles of Punk X for sale online soon along with an online voting system so you can all have your say. Which Punk wins is in your hands!

Some of you may have already tasted Punk X, we have had a few sneaky kegs at special bars. We would love to hear your thoughts below.

Buy some Punk X http://www.brewdog.com/product.php?id=35

Join the Discussion

Comments (30)

Jon 20.12.2010 @ 7:07pm

Punk X wins my vote. Great aroma and flavour. Original Punk IPA is great on keg and cask but the bottled stuff is very inconsistent; I've had more disappointing batches than great this year.

Rick Furzer 23.11.2010 @ 10:23am

These two beers are pretty different. I like the way the dry hopping has given the Punk X a real orange/citrus (mandarin?) nose but I've also got a lotta love for the full on hop bitterness that the Punk IPA has whichas been toned down in the Punk X. I'd buy both but if you want to go with one why not dry hop the punk but keep the hop bitterness and have the best of both worlds?

David Wood 23.11.2010 @ 9:20am

Punk X is MUCH better (IMO) - make that the new Punk IPA! :)Or actually do both! Keep everyone happy!

C Stewart 22.11.2010 @ 8:15pm

I think that change can only be good. I have never had a draft Punk IPA, but the consistency of bottled Punk IPA is poor. When I first tasted it I was thinking sweet, some local IPA to replace Stone, Odell's, Avery, Rogue and all the bad as brews I had become accustomed to while stateside. However, the Punk IPA is so inconsistent I quit drinking it. Sometimes it has the nice aromatic qualities, and sometimes it just tastes like a lager with too much bittering hops which tastes like metal. If this is gonna bring a more balanced brew with more aromatic qualities that you SHOULD have in a quality Yanqui style IPA, then bring it on. L

Francis 21.11.2010 @ 12:22pm

Wow, that Punk X was amazing. Very tasty indeed, not too bitter at the back, well rounded. I need to buy some now! My favourite Brew Dog beer so far.

Chris 20.11.2010 @ 1:29pm

@Neil W... It was Punk X you tried at The Waiting Room

Andrew Montgomery 18.11.2010 @ 10:20pm

Popped into The Rake earlier on.... Essentially, they're 2 very different beers. Punk X had aromatic qualities very similar to 5AM Saint (only without the hints of tinned mandarin segments!) and was certainly less 'in your face' than Punk IPA taste-wise. Given your marketing skills, there surely must be room for Punk IPA to remain unchanged (if it ain't broke.....) and for Punk X to exist on its own merits. Not sure why you're thinking of having 2 such different beers vying for the same name....!

McGargle 17.11.2010 @ 4:52pm

This was how I reviewed Punk X at BrewDog Aberdeen.Imagine a blend of 5am Saint and Punk IPA and you have this. It misses the focus and freshness of Punk and the booming hops of 5am. If you stand in the middle of the road you're going to get run down.Hope you retain Punk as a core beer with Punk X as an interesting occasional.

Maf 17.11.2010 @ 11:02am

Punk really does vary in bottle form, but I'm guessing this is just the age of the bottles that is effecting the taste. Some taste kinda dull and almost like (an albeit decent) lager, whereas some just pop your socks off. I guess with buying from a supermarket you're never quite sure how long a palette's been sat there for.How come you guys get to have Nelson Sauvin all year round? I thought it was like Gold Dust (not the wrestler)!

Darren T 17.11.2010 @ 7:57am

Punk X - anything at all like the Punk Monk you guys trialled a while back? That was pretty damn tasty.

Andy Watson 16.11.2010 @ 9:10pm

Like others who have posted here. I love both Punk X and ordinary Punk. They are different beers though and each have their own place. That said when i tried Punk X at the White Horse event last month it blew my mind (well until End of History sent me over the edge). I do hope that you guys decide that there is a place in your catalogue for both but if you do decide not to go with Punk X, would it be possible to sell a batch through the online store so i can buy some?

tania_nexust 16.11.2010 @ 1:12pm

I've found the Punk IPA in bottles to be so variable over the past year - used to be great for the first year or so of it being out & available bottled, then about 12 months ago, every batch we got from the supermarket was pretty horrid (have recorded the batch numbers for comparison) which was very upsetting as it was such a reliably good beer - and I loved the bitterness and great hop aroma, then it felt like the recipe changed and the flavour, hops, and any reason to drink it were taken out.To my knowledge I haven't tasted the Punk X, but I would just be happy enough if a previously good-tasting beer would be consistently great again - so I'd know what I'm getting each time I buy it and can go back to stocking up on it!

Glyn Roberts 16.11.2010 @ 12:35pm

Timings are wrong there folks. The Rake is only open until 11pm on thursday.SO THAT'S 5pm -11pm! and not the 17hr shift as published.

Beer Hawk 16.11.2010 @ 9:05am

Different isn't always better, but better is always different.Can't wait to get my hands on the X!

Matt 16.11.2010 @ 1:18am

The Punk X at the BrewDog Bar was phenomenal.best every day beer I have ever tasted? probably

jeffery 16.11.2010 @ 12:05am

I haven't tried Punk X yet.....but love the original. What's wrong with having both?

Justin 15.11.2010 @ 7:49pm

While I think that Punk X is definitely more sessionable, I'm partial to the original and I think there's no reason to change your "uncompromising" flagship brew...

Jock 15.11.2010 @ 7:42pm

I'm looking forward to trying this. I think Punk was great when it had a slight sediment in the bottle. Batches this year have been hit and miss - some almost being soapy tasting. If Punk X is an improved recipe then I welcome it. Hardcore IPA is my favourite beer since that was improved this year. Maybe Punk X could be my second favourite. Dry- hopped BrewDog beers are great.

Rich 15.11.2010 @ 7:20pm

Punk is your absolute classic beer, in my humble opinion. It's just the perfect flavour and strength for a decent session! The thought of you changing such an amazing beer scares me. In fact, why change it? Why not keep Punk and Punk X as separate brands and have them happily co-exist in the Brewdog shop? Saying all that, if you are going to change it, I'm sure it'll be for the better!!!!!

Alex Wilson 15.11.2010 @ 7:18pm

I was lucky enough to get Punk X last week in Brewdog Aberdeen and as much as I love the original I felt this was possibly one of the best beers I'd ever had (and I've had alot). The balance was perfect, it remains bitter enough for anyone believe me and the aroma was stunning.

Dan 15.11.2010 @ 7:12pm

@Lardy boy, just seemed odd, seeing that Brewdog has managed to build such a focused brand image. It was lovely though, and I guess that's the main thing.

Steven Dehn 15.11.2010 @ 6:59pm

I can't agree more with Anders, the bitterness is really the best thing about Punk IPA. It's what gives Punk it's punky edge surely?

Lardy boy 15.11.2010 @ 6:29pm

@ Dan. I disagree. The more people who see the Brewdog name the better. Plus, it's a quality product, which I am plugging like mad to friends and fambly. Yes it would be nicer to see it branded as Brewdog as opposed to Tesco, but the beer itself is well lush. Or something.

Alan Simpson 15.11.2010 @ 6:05pm

The new Punk X is stunning (and this is from a longstanding fan of old school Punk). The group of us that were drinking it at Brewdog Aberdeen recently unanimously loved it - similar to the recent new recipe Hardcore (nice peachy nose) but far fuller flavour, very tasty indeed - sooner it's on the shelves and in bars the better ;)

Dan 15.11.2010 @ 6:05pm

What's the deal with 'double strength IPA' branded with Tesco? Distribution of Brewdog through tesco = lesser of two evils. Co-branding with Tesco range = Brand dilution and alienation of loyal customer base in my opinion...

Neil W 15.11.2010 @ 5:53pm

Mmm, at the weekend I had a cask pint of Punk IPA at the Kenilworth (Rose Street, Edinburgh) followed by a keg (I think - Brewdog tap) pint shortly after at the Waiting Room (Morningside). The pint at the Waiting Room was noticeably better, much more aroma and fresher tasting. Could it have been a sneaky Punk X, or was it just keg vs cask/a second pint going down easier/a comfier seat/who knows...

Anders N. Bratlie 15.11.2010 @ 5:30pm

I meant love.. not live.. of course.. that's what you get from writing comments on your mobile I guess..

rondo 15.11.2010 @ 5:26pm

Will it taste like Mr. Dickie's Jaipur recipe?

rondo 15.11.2010 @ 5:25pm

Will it taste like Mr. Dickie's Jaipur recipe?

Anders N. Bratlie 15.11.2010 @ 5:25pm

No!! oh god, please do not reduce the bitterness, that's the best thing about the Punk (apart from all the hoppiness that practically kicks your teeth through the back of your neck). That nice, nice, nice and lovely bitterness.. oh that sweet bitterness.I'm proud to admit that I'm in live with the Punk IPA. There.. I've said it.