Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 6 | Flavor - 5 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 6
2006 Swingtop bottle from Oldgrowth, drunk on 5/26/07
Still plentiful carbonation resulting in a massive, auburn-specked-beige head that is slow to recede, yet eventually falls to cover, leaving light lacing. Mostly clear body, with nearly no sediment on the bottom is a chartreuse-orange with darker chestnut tints.
Smells meaty. Like gruit meaty. I was sort of expecting something of a spiced scotch ale, but I didnt really get that. Like they used lots of heather and a darker spice, not as dry and distinctive as cinnamon, but still quite astringent and puzzling. The rest of the beer seems to be an amber ale, with crystal malts hardening things and not really complementing the already dry spiciness. That meaty, almost vegetal quality returns on the end, with some vanilla and lots of toast. Maybe some anise in there too? Alcohol is well-concealed, but there could be a bit of DMS and the spices just dont provide any enjoyment that I can find.
Sweet caramel, with tons of esters providing plums, red apples and figs. Crystal malt hardness never really allows for a soft or full texture and the spicing goes from weird to astringent. An interesting cherry-orange-vanilla-anise thing going on on the finish, with lots of lightly tannic grains. Needs a lot more base malt, just gets too crunchy/earthy/toasty. Carbonation is quite high. Not really flawed, just overspiced and with a really strange malt bill.
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 7
Bottle from Ross; nose of sweet caramel and vanilla; rusty red with a small straw head; sweet and spicy with some caramel malt, fruitiness, and a tiny bit of hops. A decent Christmas ale!
JK (8181) reviewed Tasgall Ale from Highland Brewing Company 18 years ago
Appearance - 10 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 10 | Overall - 8
This is very good. Sweet and malty aroma. Flavor is sweet with fruit and port wine, as well as lots of malt and a light roasted character. Very heavy palate on this black beer. As good as it is, the flavors and aromas would benefit from more complexity.
Appearance - 10 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 10 | Overall - 8
Bottle. Chocolate and burnt wood malt aroma. Opaque black-brown color with large tan head and nice lacing. Nice chocolate and coffee malt flavor - extremely smooth with light hops and charcoal finish. A great beer - a stout I could drink anytime.
jcr (3164) reviewed Oatmeal Porter from Highland Brewing Company 18 years ago
Appearance - 3 | Aroma - 6 | Flavor - 6 | Texture - 3 | Overall - 14
Flavorful and dry, this above-average porter was a pleasant experience. At the same time, it did nothing to make me wake up and take notice. Average, light brown head above a dark brown body. Average to heavy toasted malt aroma of coffee and dark chocolate. Very little sweetness in the flavor. Instead, the hop bitterness came to the front quickly. The texture was thin and slightly gritty. Average carbonation. Bitter finish.
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 7.5
Pours clear deep amber with a large off-white head. The aroma is big in it’s malt profile. Some bitterness that builds to a dry finish rounds out and compliments the flavors that the malts provide. Thanks to kp for sharing this at the pre cask tasting.
Irishboy (4674) reviewed Gaelic Ale from Highland Brewing Company 19 years ago
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 7
Bomber from Ross, TRhanks! Nose of caramel, with light floral, smoke, and nut notes, along with a hint of dark fruitiness as in Belgians; rusty red with a small reddish beige head; flavor has smoky sweetness, with the caramel, fruitiness and smoke! Mouthfeel is lightly tingling!
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 6 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 7.5
Bottle (Winter 2006-07). Light cinnamon and vanilla malt aroma. Dark amber color with small head. Raw sugar cookie dough/cinnamon/vanilla (snickerdoodle) flavor. Mild hops finish - high acidity and carbonation. Has a nice cookie flavor without being cloying or with the strong spice flavors that are usually present in this style. (Winter 2007-08) - not really detecting a great deal of difference - similar aroma, color and taste but a bigger head. Still a quality brew.
jcr (3164) reviewed Tasgall Ale from Highland Brewing Company 19 years ago
Appearance - 3 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 4 | Overall - 16
Pleasantly sweet with nice hop balance underneath. Dark reddish-brown pour with small off-white head. Aromas of caramel, malts, peat. Very sweet flavor that reveal some fruits and earthiness. Hops show up at the end. Full body is sticky for a long finish. Comfortable mouthfeel. Reduced carbonation. Very nice.
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 4 | Flavor - 5 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 5
A pale orange beer with a thin beige head. The aroma is very lightly malty, while the flavor is sweet malty with notes of oranges. Very ordinary.