Scotch Style Ale
(has 3 batches)

2 year old bottle:
Hazy brown coloured body with a muddy red coloured tint. Nice dense tan head tops the beer. Aroma of bubble gum, malt, prunes, peat and some light nuts. Full-bodied; Prunes and peat dominate the taste with some other spices and lighter tastes running throughout the palate. Nuts, malt and some sugars are noticeable in the aftertaste. Overall, a good scotch ale-really nice after these two years! I sampled this 65 cL bottle purchased at Norm’s in Vienna, Virginia on 10-December-2004.

2004 bottle compliments of Eyedrinkale (thanks!). Pours a deep purple mixed with dark mahogany brown. Big creamy beige head. Aroma is intense and filling. Plums, elderberries, blackberries, lightly bittersweet yeast and a semi-sweet roast. Lightly fruity bitterness as well. Maybe I got a particularly good bottle, but wow is this stuff underated. Starts out with a huge rich velvety feel on the mouth, tons of fruity yeast (blackberries to the extreme) with flavorful hops and lightly sweet roasted notes all combining to produce a marvelously balanced flavor (if tending somewhat on the sweet side). I will say that I did detect the ethanol right after my first few sips, but after drinking more, I dont notice it (I seem to detect this in a number of their beers). Flavor makes its way through a big body of caramel, sticky toffee, rich maple and more hops goodness. Ends with citrus masked by yeast and sugar. Carbonation is low and provides for a rich, luxurious body. The flavor and richness of the brew are astounding, but I will admit to being disappointed by the lack of any peat-notes, smokey or otherwise, perhaps could use a bit more dryness somehow. The hops, while not to style necessarily, provide great flavor.

Another winner in the Big Beer series - candy, malt nose - amber color with moderate white lacing - complex flavor, with chocolate, cherries, lavender and a touch of heather - hops arrive late to balance the sweet and flower flavors - long, malty finish - most impressive.