The Magnificent Scotch Ale

Bomber from Suzy Greenberg. Thanks Ben. Pours dark ruby with a fine foamy tan head. Smells like malt. Medium body with fine carbonation. Flavor is smooth malt with some smoke and vanilla. There’s enough bitter to help sooth the malt. Drinks very well.

Courtesy of sebletitje. Pours bright amber with thin off white head. The aroma is malts and dark fruitiness with a background of booze. The taste is smooth and rich with chewy rich malts mixing with pears, prunes, ripe cherries and dates. It moves into a bit of earthiness as the finish draws closer. Very nice superposition of flavors.

On Tap at BrewPub. Pours out a Dark redish topped with a small off white head. Another one of there brews with a sweet malt aroma and tast. not bad.

Draught tulip at Redbones on 11/11/06
Glassy, but mostly clear body is a amalgam of browns, purples, magentas and auburns. Beige head is small, quickly receding to a ring, with only a light film left behind on the glass. No visible carbonation in the liquid.
Esters and melanoidins galore in the nose. Overlaying everything is a bit of char which provides good contrast. Singular black currant-like notes are very vinous and provide acid and plenty of dryness. Char diminishes to a crunchy, almost coffee-like roast. Not all that much sweetness, though some soft, medium-sweet toffee is apparent with warming. The melanoidins are the main show here, dancing about in the nose. Light oxidation, with just a touch of phenolic dryness on the end and a hint of warming alcohol vapors. Fairly full aroma, especially considering the very low carbonation and draught nature of the beer.
Chewy berry jam clusters on the tongue at first sip, slowly slipping in to a light chocolate and toffee note that dries out immensely through the middle, gaining a lightly smoked/roasted character and ending with raw graininess (crystal malts), a bit of char and some modestly acidic, dark malt vinousness. Sweetness never really builds up, and the beer is dry through and through. Probably too dry, though fortunately a low carbonation does not pick apart the little malt softness there is. With each subsequent sip, the same complex, highly flavorful berry-like opening is present (blueberries, apples, raspberries, strawberries, currants, etc...), but the beer is just very attenuated and the roastiness and scratchy crystal malts take things too far down the dry path. Light alcohol warmth on the end, moderately phenolic as well. Slick, nearly oily texture.

(Bottle 65 cl) Pours a beautiful, clear, reddish brown with a small, off-white head. Aroma of wood and dried fruit. Very soft mouthfeel. Medium body with lots of sweetness and roasted malts, some dried fruit and some wood. Very pleasant indeed. 061006

Bottle Pours a clear, very dark redish brown with a small light tan head. Lacing is soptty. Woody, and fruity aroma. Raisons, pitted fruit, licorice. Flavor is similar, a bit vinous, lightly smokey, a bit sweet and of dark brown sugar, and plums. Some alcohol nets as well, but does not detract Thin but slick feel and fairly lively carbonation.

Cask Dark brown; small brownish head. Licorice, dark malts, rather bready & hints of Belgian yeast; Sweet; little bitterness, rounded malt (dark) flavours, chocolate and green wood. Well-bodied, roasted but not smokey. Strange "Scottish" but pleasing brew. Bottled version, thanks to DGS No idea I had had it, but nice comparison. Nose suggests moderate sweetness, bready, dark candi sugar. Dry, near piney aroma. Taste is more bitterish, with again piney flavours, very dry, near wry. Less liquoriceflavour. . Well bodied. Nice brew, botttled too. Why the Bastard fell, probably Stone can tell?

Bottled. Clear nut brown. Appley toffee aroma. Sweet and mellow with medium body and sticky mouthfeel. Low bitterness. Warming perhaps, but it’s too cloying.

[At GABF 2004] A brown beer with a beutiful light brown head. The aroma is malty with notes of caramel. The flavor is very sweet and fruity with a slight note of alcohol. A nice Scotch ale.