St. Andrew's Ale
Belhaven Brewery Company Ltd.

St. Andrew's AleSt. Andrew's Ale
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From:
Belhaven Brewery Company Ltd.
 
Scotland, United Kingdom
Style:
Scottish Ale
Ranked #15
ABV:
4.6%
Score:
86
Ranked #18,242
Avg:
3.84 | pDev: 10.94%
Reviews:
230
Ratings:
340
Status:
Active
Rated:
Dec 03, 2023
Added:
Aug 07, 2001
Wants:
  36
Gots:
  14
No description / notes.
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Ratings by biegaman:
Photo of biegaman
Reviewed by biegaman from Canada (ON)

3.83/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
St. Andrews Ale doesn't look like the kind of beer you'd want to be seen with on the golf course; something this dark, with this much colour, with this much personality, definitely does not conform to what's popular with the others in the club house. This brownish amber tone implies the beer also has way more flavour than mainstream beers.

The aroma is underwhelming (as seems to be standard for most all British bitters). Although unembellished, it isn't entirely dull: a spatter of dried fruits, a trace of heather and hints of wood bark line the customary coffer of butterscotch and dry biscuits. Warming is teasing out more and more subtleties, enough to bump that aroma score above average.

The flavours aren't so numerous that I'll loose count of them, but there are a good many. It's got about as much biscuity malt as the Middle East does sand and it's all drowned in caramelly toffee like bacon is drowned in grease. Little floral spurts and tiny streams of something fruity squirt out like watermelon seeds pressed between the lips.

This would definitely make a nice pint after a long round of golf (playing it; watching it would require something a hell of a lot stronger!) It is only briefly bitter, with just enough of it to bite down and clamp itself to the tongue, and its honeyish malts and fruity clamors keep the taste brisk and sprightly. I find this more relaxing than a day on the links.

St. Andrews is believed to be where the first game of golf was played - the beer that bears its name is not the be all and end all of ales but, like the course itself, is the sum of hundreds of years of tried and tested development, nurturing and tradition. I don't know that this ale would be every beer drinker's dream but it's definitely above (err, below) par.
Apr 11, 2010
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.77 by KeithGreatNorth from Canada (BC)

Dec 03, 2023
Photo of drmeto
Reviewed by drmeto from Germany

2.66/5  rDev -30.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 2.25 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.5
L:
-pours a clear amber with a medium,foamy,white head
-medium carbonation visible
S:
-skunk,caramel,toffee,floral,spicy
T:
-malty,spicy,caramel,slightly fruity,light acidity,lightly roasty
-Finishes dry
F:
-medium carbonation
-light-to-medium body
O:
There's an average Amber Ale hiding behind the skunk (why do they use clear Bottles again ????)
Oct 04, 2022
 
Rated: 3.73 by Shiredave from New York

Aug 01, 2022
Photo of cebsch
Rated by cebsch from Michigan

3.96/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
A quality beer, though not my favorite from this brewery.
Jun 04, 2022
 
Rated: 3.59 by Dentist666 from Russian Federation

Mar 31, 2022
 
Rated: 3.75 by paulish from New York

Oct 07, 2021
Photo of Thisdrinkinglife
Reviewed by Thisdrinkinglife from Switzerland

4.48/5  rDev +16.7%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
Review: 500ml bottle of St. Andrew’s Amber Ale: 4.6% vol.

On the bottle it tells you that the beer was “inspired by the great Scottish invention: golf”, and there is picture of a golfer with a green blazer swinging at a ball.

The bottle is well designed too, looks lovely, and the bottle cap is a thistle, the national flower of Scotland.

On pour we get a very decent sized white head with a ruby amber looking coloured beer, deep in appearance, looks pretty good. Some nice soft carbonation bubbling away.

Head maintains well. A good looking beer, good start!

The smell is also very good. Getting a lovely malty beery smell, nice on the nose. Caramels, roasted barley, sweet malts, grains, and earthy hops.

First impression from the taste is I am getting a nice lovely malty feel, creamy as well, that is going down nice, cold, lovely and crisp on the taste buds.

Caramel and toffee tastes, biscuity malts, barley, all found, all well balanced with the hops. Light but very enjoyable. Lovely served cold.

Malts to the fore, while the hops are on the low level, pretty mild for an ale, but no harm as it went down very well. I like it, very relaxing, a light beer, smooth and oh so easy to enjoy.

Some depth to it, but on the low level, this is tasty and great for sipping while watching a movie or surfing on the net, or even after a few holes of the small game it was inspired by, golf! A good companion to a long night of relaxation. I liked it a lot, smooth and very easy to drink, did the business and will definitely check it out again in the future.

A simple effort here from Belhaven, nothing too crazy or complex, it’s the simplicity on this beer that is just right making this beer very, very drinkable. Recommended.
Jun 05, 2020
 
Rated: 3.89 by smi69 from New York

May 25, 2020
 
Rated: 3.94 by arzt from Germany

Oct 27, 2019
 
Rated: 3.64 by kybeerdrinker from Kentucky

Jul 18, 2017
 
Rated: 4.34 by DarrellK from Florida

Jul 07, 2017
Photo of Dzu
Reviewed by Dzu from Russian Federation

4.02/5  rDev +4.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Poured from bottle.
L: Copper color with a white foam head.
S: Bitterness , red berries.
T: Fruity, juicy.
F: Medium body and carbonation.
O: Not my style but very good.
May 13, 2017
 
Rated: 4.47 by tageury from Florida

Dec 10, 2016
 
Rated: 4.44 by OlegShora from Russian Federation

Nov 19, 2016
Photo of Douggie53
Reviewed by Douggie53 from England

4.62/5  rDev +20.3%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
As mentioned in my previous review, a marked improvement over the Belhaven Best (both from cans). It's all in the taste which I appreciate is a very personal thing, but it hits all the buttons for me. Good prices at some of the discount stores.
Jul 27, 2016
 
Rated: 3.85 by Squire from Mississippi

May 24, 2016
Photo of rodbeermunch
Reviewed by rodbeermunch from Nevada

3.09/5  rDev -19.5%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
Amber colored pour, off white 1/3" head. Aroma was grain and not much else.

Taste was pretty damn mild, easiest drinking scotch ale around (not necessarily a good thing). Just mild and earthy, tobacco, dirt, brown malt.

Not cheap either. Pass again.
Apr 01, 2016
 
Rated: 3.88 by dreidreev from Russian Federation

Feb 21, 2016
Photo of derdtheterd
Reviewed by derdtheterd from Canada (AB)

3.89/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
First had this on draught at a friends pub. He served it ice cold with three limes. It hit the spot in the 33c temperature on the patio. Great beer if you can find it.
Dec 20, 2015
St. Andrew's Ale from Belhaven Brewery Company Ltd.
Beer rating: 86 out of 100 with 340 ratings