Tartan Ale
Port City Brewing Company in Alexandria, Virginia, United States 🇺🇸
Scottish Ale Regular|
Score
6.59
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Scottish beers in the 1800s were taxed on their strength, with the strong and better quality beers costing more. Customers developed the habit of asking for them by the tax ratings, or Shilling names. The 80 Shilling style was one of the stronger types which could be purchased, containing 4-5% alcohol, traditionally malty, without much hop character.
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6.8/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 7
Flavor 7
Texture 8
Overall 6
Bottled. Pretty darned roast and malty for a low impact beer. A light bit of biscuit as well
Tried
from Bottle
on 20 May 2025
at 01:21
6.5/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 6
Flavor 7
Texture 6
Overall 6
12 oz bottle, pours clear dark amber with brief small white head. Light to medium body. Hops and caramel aroma, malty sweet taste upfront then hops bitterness at the finish. Not something to have a second round of.
Tried
from Bottle
on 19 Oct 2020
at 02:09
6.8/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 7
Flavor 7
Texture 6
Overall 7
From tap. Pours cloudy orange wih a small white head. Aroma is toasted malty and grainy. Bitter, grainy and toasted malty. Dry, bitter and slight herbal. Dry and toasted finish.
Tried
from Draft
on 11 Jul 2017
at 15:53
6.9/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 6
Flavor 7
Texture 8
Overall 6.5
On draft at Mad Fox. Pours a clear pale mahogany with an ecru finish. Nutty nose. Flavors of caramel and toffee. Medium bodied. Clean finish.
Tried
from Draft
on 01 Jul 2016
at 15:11
8.1/10
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Appearance 10
Aroma 8
Flavor 7
Texture 10
Overall 7.5
Aroma: toast, earthy, caramel, Appearance: hazy amber with an off-white head Taste: medium sweetness, medium bitterness, Palate: medium body, creamy, soft carbonation, long finish, Decent
Tried
on 09 Apr 2016
at 10:15
6.1/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 6
Flavor 6
Texture 4
Overall 7.5
The ever elusive Scottish ale is mine on this Sunday afternoon. Amber pour with beige head. Nose is butterscotch and fruits. Tastes of caramel, malty, earth, light spice, plums and Capri sun juice box Smooth lower carbonated. Semi swet finish.
Tried
on 26 Apr 2015
at 15:30
5.5/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 6
Flavor 6
Texture 4
Overall 5
Not great for a style I don’t prefer anyway. Pours murky orange without much head or lacing. Kind of acrid, bitter. Some whiskey barrel but not much. Light sweetness. Doesn’t come together super well. Tap at DC Beer festival.
Tried
from Draft
on 15 Apr 2014
at 09:47
6.1/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 5
Flavor 6
Texture 8
Overall 5.5
Bottle. Pours clear orange amber with a small beige head that diminishes quickly and leaves some lacing. Aroma is caramel, malt, grass, and a touch of metal. Flavor is the same, plus toffee, perhaps anise, medium sweet and lightly bitter, with a nutty ranging to metallic finish. Medium body.
Tried
from Bottle
on 10 Jul 2013
at 23:12
5.5/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 6
Flavor 5
Texture 4
Overall 5
12oz bottle pours a hazy, deep garnet amber with some thin, white head. Nose of stale malt, a little cedar, some raisin, slightly oxidized, some plum. Flavor is malty, raisin, orange, cardboard, cracker. Medium, dry finish. Not like any scotch ale I’ve had. A bit too weak.
Tried
from Bottle
on 11 Apr 2013
at 16:30
7.2/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 7
Flavor 7
Texture 8
Overall 7
The body is clear deep copper with an ample off-white head. The aroma is earthy and woody with caramel notes. Rich malty flavor.
Tried
on 11 Oct 2012
at 17:57