I was so excited to try this and find out what BrewDog Counter Strike is like; partly because I do still kinda like BrewDog, partly because I love a good Westie, and partly because years ago I played a lot of Counter Strike (btw, this beer has nothing to do with the Valve game of the same name!).
Marketed as a West Coast IPA at 6.8% ABV, this one promises punchy bitterness, pine, resin, and a clear fruit edge. It hints at the style many of us miss: crisp, dry, and unapologetically bitter. So the real question; can BrewDog actually deliver a straight West Coast IPA without the noise, the stunts, and the usual hype?
The £3.75 I paid for this 440ml can in Sainsbury’s was me hoping they were back to their best.
Appearance
Alarm bells started as soon as I saw the beer. Poured into the glass, Counter Strike has a pale golden colour, not the light amber hue I was expecting. Slightly cloudy but mostly clear. The head is off white, modest in size, and fades quickly, leaving a thin lace on the glass. Nothing revolutionary here, just a bit light for my liking, but it looks clean and inviting.
For a beer marketed as bold, the visual presence feels restrained. No wow factor... just a standard IPA pour.
Aroma
The aroma was not too bad actually. I got a nice whiff of light citrus on the pour, but sniffing further, it did lean lightly toward citrus and pine, though it lacks depth. There is a hint of grapefruit and a whisper of resin, but it is fleeting. Compared with other West Coast IPAs, the aroma is not aggressive or enticing; it does not punch you in the nose the way you would expect from a style that is supposed to be assertive and hop driven.
It is pleasant enough, but it does not hint at the depth the style demands.
Taste
This is where this BrewDog Counter Strike starts to show its weaknesses. The bitterness is present but muted, and the fruity character is surprisingly subtle. There is a touch of citrus and a light pine note, but it does not linger. The finish is short, leaving the palate unsatisfied.
West Coast IPAs should hit hard with hops up front, balance malt in the middle, and finish clean and refreshing, but persistent. Counter Strike tastes like someone tried to tick boxes rather than brew a beer that stands proud on its own.
It is not offensive, but it is slightly forgettable. Compared with classic examples, it falls short on punch, depth, and memorability.
Mouthfeel
Medium light body, low carbonation, and a smooth finish. It drinks easily, which is probably the point, but in a West Coast IPA, easy should not replace impactful. The texture is fine, but it does not do anything to elevate the beer or make it linger in the glass.
This is a beer that goes down fast, and is equally quick to fade from memory.
The Verdict
This BrewDog Counter Strike is a polite West Coast IPA. It looks clean, drinks easily, and will not offend anyone (and I have to admit that it is a beer I might buy again). But if you were expecting bold bitterness, lasting resinous character, or a fruit punch that hits the palate hard, you will be disappointed.
It is a beer that I will try to defend, because it is fairly close, but it does not quite hit the target for me on flavours and bitterness. For that reason, I have labelled it a Gateway beer; one you might want to try if you want to get into the West Coast IPA style but do not like the idea of a big bitter experience.
BrewDog had a chance to deliver a no nonsense IPA without gimmicks and fell short. It is not a disaster, but it is not the beer fans hoped for. If you want a West Coast IPA with presence and punch, there are smaller, sharper brewers doing it far better right now.
For BrewDog, Counter Strike is a reminder that scaling up and aiming for accessibility can sometimes dilute what made the beer, and the brand, special in the first place.
Score: 7/10 (it would have been a 6, but my view that it will make a good Gateway beer added the extra point). It is average. Polite, approachable, but ultimately underwhelming.
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