Bridge Road ‘B2 Bomber – Mach 11’ Black Belgian Double IPA

Rating:

“In 2021, we celebrate our 16th year as a brewery. To mark the milestone, we’ve brewed this beauty: The 11th edition of our annual birthday beer, the fabled B2 Bomber. This year’s incarnation, brings the unmistakable combination of complex dark malts, fruity Belgian yeast characters and big punchy hops. What do we call it? A Black Belgian Double IPA. Weighing in at 9.3%, Mach 11, artfully balances these complex elements and makes for another memorable beer to celebrate a rather memorable year.”

Glassware: IPA.

Appearance: Glossy black with a tightly held three finger head which holds its shape. Excellent lacing as it subsides. Well our Co2 concerns may be quickly put to bed already.

Aroma: It appears they’ve dealt with their Co2 issues that have been plaguing this release for the last couple of years and are back to their best. We’re taking in a beautifully balanced hop to malt ratio; big piney, citrus and herbaceous notes slicing through the rich and hearty roasted malts. Then there’s the semi sweet and candy-esque yeast profile throwing out oodles of musk, bubblegum and spice. Supoib!

Flavour: And it follows through! Intense roasted malts immediately battle it out with the piney and citrusy hops. Then there’s the sweet and spicy yeast playing almost a mediator role. Ferocious roasty-ness, big and dry hop bitterness, Candi sugars and spicy notes flowing through and then punctuated by a perfectly balanced finish with incredible duration.

Mouthfeel: Nice and dense but also rather creamy and a little dry in the swallow. Just a hint of warmth from the 9.3% ABV. But the big one…. perfectly carbonated.

Overall: As far as annual limited releases go this is one we literally hold out for. As most of us know BR had some bad Co2 issues with Mach 9 and 10 so we’re stoked to see that they’ve overcome it and come back bigger and better from it. Top notch stuff.