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Copper John Scotch Ale
Madison River Brewing Company
- From:
- Madison River Brewing Company
- Montana, United States
- Style:
- Scotch Ale / Wee Heavy
Ranked #113 - ABV:
- 7%
- Score:
- 85
Ranked #20,119 - Avg:
- 3.79 | pDev: 12.14%
- Reviews:
- 42
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Dec 11, 2023
- Added:
- Mar 01, 2005
- Wants:
- 2
- Gots:
- 12
This is a Scottish ale like no other. The brewers use the finest smoked malt for flavor complexity and then combine it with roasted barley, and caramel malts for a rich distinctive and smoky flavor. These ingredients give it a deep, dark color with a smooth, rich finish that is surprisingly drinkable.
19 IBU
19 IBU
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Reviewed by muchloveforhops3 from Montana
4.2/5 rDev +10.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
4.2/5 rDev +10.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
from a sixer picked up at the Mountainview Co-op in Helena, MT
12oz bottle poured into a Coin Toss Belgian-style tulip
P deep mahogany/cola color; not much of a head- a touch of light tan foam
N med-bold, sweet bready malts and caramelized dark sugars; very inviting
T a delicious blend of sweet bready malt, dark sugars, and hints of dark fruit; cohesive, w/ an element of richness
Mf med-full bodied w/ med-high carb; smooth
O an excellent scotch ale; aside from the pour, nearly perfect, imo; a pleasant surprise
review date: 10.21.22
bottle date: not captured
Dec 11, 202312oz bottle poured into a Coin Toss Belgian-style tulip
P deep mahogany/cola color; not much of a head- a touch of light tan foam
N med-bold, sweet bready malts and caramelized dark sugars; very inviting
T a delicious blend of sweet bready malt, dark sugars, and hints of dark fruit; cohesive, w/ an element of richness
Mf med-full bodied w/ med-high carb; smooth
O an excellent scotch ale; aside from the pour, nearly perfect, imo; a pleasant surprise
review date: 10.21.22
bottle date: not captured
Reviewed by WoodBrew from Ohio
4/5 rDev +5.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
4/5 rDev +5.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
I mixed my own 6pck of bottles at the local market in Gardiner, Montana whilst there visiting Yellowstone. It poured a clear amber with thin white head that is leaving a spotty lace. The scent had beautiful caramel malt notes. The taste was nicely balanced and easy to drink with caramel malt base and peat presence. The mouthfeel was medium in body and had good carbonation. Overall it is a solid beer.
May 31, 2023Reviewed by colts9016 from Idaho
4.05/5 rDev +6.9%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4.05/5 rDev +6.9%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Review 1675
Copper John Scotch-Style Ale
Madison River Brewing
Date: unknown
I poured into tulip glass; the temperature was 46 degrees. A frothy and airy two-fingered light tan head was created. Chunks of lacing were left on the glass after the slow dissipation. The color charts around SRM 20, dark brown with ruby highlights. An outstanding appearance for this style.
During the first couple of sniffs, I smell toffee, caramel, and some floral esters. Nosing it further, I detected earthiness and a hint of citrus. I pick up a little bit of herbal and a faint hint of band-aids.
The malt-forward beer is on display here; I taste caramel, roasty noes, a slight hint of char, and bread. A few more sips in, flavors of floral ester, a touch of cloves, herbal, and earthiness. The char note is distracting the beer.
The mouthfeel is creamy yet dry. The body is medium, has medium carbonation, and has a lasting finish.
When I consumed a few pints a year or two back a the brewery, I did not taste the char note. The hint of cloves and char stands like the malt was a touch overroasted. Not sure where the clove-like comes from. I did enjoy the big maltiness of the beer, balanced well the hops. The hops are more of support. Well done, except for the few issues I found.
Oct 15, 2021Copper John Scotch-Style Ale
Madison River Brewing
Date: unknown
I poured into tulip glass; the temperature was 46 degrees. A frothy and airy two-fingered light tan head was created. Chunks of lacing were left on the glass after the slow dissipation. The color charts around SRM 20, dark brown with ruby highlights. An outstanding appearance for this style.
During the first couple of sniffs, I smell toffee, caramel, and some floral esters. Nosing it further, I detected earthiness and a hint of citrus. I pick up a little bit of herbal and a faint hint of band-aids.
The malt-forward beer is on display here; I taste caramel, roasty noes, a slight hint of char, and bread. A few more sips in, flavors of floral ester, a touch of cloves, herbal, and earthiness. The char note is distracting the beer.
The mouthfeel is creamy yet dry. The body is medium, has medium carbonation, and has a lasting finish.
When I consumed a few pints a year or two back a the brewery, I did not taste the char note. The hint of cloves and char stands like the malt was a touch overroasted. Not sure where the clove-like comes from. I did enjoy the big maltiness of the beer, balanced well the hops. The hops are more of support. Well done, except for the few issues I found.
Reviewed by pmfox155 from Montana
4.23/5 rDev +11.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
4.23/5 rDev +11.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Overall a very good Scotch Ale with deep color and flavor. Bought a six pack of long neck bottles from a Sam's Club in Montana. The beer poors very smooth and very dark. Overall the taste of malts does a great job with hints of a sweet flavor. This beer is one of the better Montana Scotch ales.
Apr 18, 2021Reviewed by vette2006c5r from Minnesota
4.28/5 rDev +12.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25
4.28/5 rDev +12.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25
Copper John Scotch Ale pours a darker brown color, with a massive lacing head. Aroma is rich, sweet, hints of peat and candied sugar. Flavor is a little sweeter, nice peat notes, hint of smoke, sweet sugary undertones. Good body and feel. Overall, very tasty wee heavy, a little sweater, but nice robust peat flavors.
Nov 04, 2020Reviewed by Chickenhawk9932 from Pennsylvania
3.92/5 rDev +3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
3.92/5 rDev +3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Pours a rich mahogany with a tan head that hangs around for days.
Rich bread malt, caramel, toffee, and dark fruit - plumb.
Rich malt bread with notes of caramel, toffee, plumb, and raisin balanced by slightly bitter herb hop. Very highly carbonated.
Sep 25, 2020Rich bread malt, caramel, toffee, and dark fruit - plumb.
Rich malt bread with notes of caramel, toffee, plumb, and raisin balanced by slightly bitter herb hop. Very highly carbonated.
Reviewed by stevoj from Idaho
3.34/5 rDev -11.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
3.34/5 rDev -11.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
Bottle picked up at MarCellars. Medium brown, beige fizzy head. Aroma comes in kind of sweet, more like a brown ale. Taste picks up a bit with some earthy, peaty notes, but is still sticky sweet, with an odd bitterness which lingers for a bit. Not bad, but slightly off target
Aug 11, 2018Reviewed by sulldaddy from Connecticut
3.91/5 rDev +3.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
3.91/5 rDev +3.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Sampling a cellar temp 22 oz bottle poured into a snifter. Beer is part of a trade from mt_griz99, thank you!
The beer pours a deep mahogany color with fluffy khaki colored head of 3 cm even with a gentle pour. The foam fades to a sturdy surface layer and clingy edge layer that leaves tight lattice after each sip.
Aroma is roasted malt with some caramel and a bit of mild smoked hint. I dont get any hops here and any booze is hidden on the nose as well.
The first sip reveals an average to light body with mild spacious carbonation that gently rolls across my palate. Pretty easy drinking physical traits on this beer.
Flavor is all malt, as the nose advertises in my glass. I get roasted malt and caramel with some toffee and other mild sweetness, but also a bit of mild smoked flavor on the finish that lingers just a little after each swallow. I dont get any hops not any booze as I am drinking this beer.
It is an easy drinking malty brew from start to finish, not overly robust or complex but an enjoyable brew.
Jun 26, 2018The beer pours a deep mahogany color with fluffy khaki colored head of 3 cm even with a gentle pour. The foam fades to a sturdy surface layer and clingy edge layer that leaves tight lattice after each sip.
Aroma is roasted malt with some caramel and a bit of mild smoked hint. I dont get any hops here and any booze is hidden on the nose as well.
The first sip reveals an average to light body with mild spacious carbonation that gently rolls across my palate. Pretty easy drinking physical traits on this beer.
Flavor is all malt, as the nose advertises in my glass. I get roasted malt and caramel with some toffee and other mild sweetness, but also a bit of mild smoked flavor on the finish that lingers just a little after each swallow. I dont get any hops not any booze as I am drinking this beer.
It is an easy drinking malty brew from start to finish, not overly robust or complex but an enjoyable brew.
Reviewed by MonDak_Joe1953 from Minnesota
3.6/5 rDev -5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.6/5 rDev -5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Poured from a 12 fluid ounce bottle into glass. '040417' is stamped on label.
Clear, dark copper body. Minimal head and very thin ring. Any lacing settles back into glass.
Aroma of roasted malt, dark fruit, burnt sugar, and a very little smoke.
Taste of dark fruit, some sweetness up front, caramel and smoke at the tail end.
Thin body.
Easy drinking for style, okay all around.
Dec 29, 2017Clear, dark copper body. Minimal head and very thin ring. Any lacing settles back into glass.
Aroma of roasted malt, dark fruit, burnt sugar, and a very little smoke.
Taste of dark fruit, some sweetness up front, caramel and smoke at the tail end.
Thin body.
Easy drinking for style, okay all around.
Copper John Scotch Ale from Madison River Brewing Company
Beer rating:
85 out of
100 with
111 ratings
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