Scotch Ale
Brau Brothers Brewing Co. LLC

Scotch AleScotch Ale
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From:
Brau Brothers Brewing Co. LLC
 
Minnesota, United States
Style:
Scotch Ale / Wee Heavy
ABV:
7.3%
Score:
77
Avg:
3.32 | pDev: 21.08%
Reviews:
71
Ratings:
80
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Jun 13, 2014
Added:
Mar 14, 2007
Wants:
  0
Gots:
  2
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by Viggo:
Photo of Viggo
Reviewed by Viggo from Canada (ON)

3.9/5  rDev +17.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Thanks to JeffKrenner for sending this my way for BC2!

Pours a very clear orange/copper, thick half inch head forms, off white, quickly settles to a thin ring, some lace spots. Smell insane malty, butterscotch, alcohol, smokey undertone, very rich, dates, hint of vanilla, more toffee, nice. Taste is super malty as well, very rich caramel, light smoke, vanilla, citrus, kind of a sourness in the finish, very smooth. Mouthfeel is full bodied, low carbonation, very silky smooth, nice touch of smoke. I enjoyed this! Thanks Jeff.
Jun 07, 2007
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3 by Mealhouse from Minnesota

Jun 13, 2014
 
Rated: 3 by MonkeyPilates from Minnesota

Apr 26, 2013
 
Rated: 2.5 by TStout from South Dakota

Sep 06, 2012
 
Rated: 3.5 by t0rin0 from California

Sep 01, 2012
 
Rated: 3 by KevdoggNasty from California

Mar 31, 2012
 
Rated: 4 by Mdodge8837 from Minnesota

Dec 19, 2011
 
Rated: 1 by fuzzcherry from Minnesota

Nov 28, 2011
 
Rated: 3 by I2uss from Minnesota

Nov 18, 2011
 
Rated: 3.5 by doucmehu from Oregon

Nov 17, 2011
Photo of MattyG85
Reviewed by MattyG85 from Minnesota

3.77/5  rDev +13.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Poured from 12 oz. bottle into a Sam Adams pint glass.

Appearance: Dark and cloudy brownish orange with a small white head that fades into a patchy layer. Not much lacing.

Smell: Lots of malty sweetness with a nutty and smoked character. Caramel and toffee is mixed with hints of grassy hops.

Taste: Very malty and sweet up front from the caramel and toffee. Has a nutty and grassy taste throughout. Hints of earthy hops but the bitterness is very low.

Mouthfeel: Medium body and carbonation. Very crisp and smooth.

Overall: A solid version of a Scotch ale. Sweet but not overbearing.
May 22, 2011
Photo of ccrida
Reviewed by ccrida from Oregon

3.65/5  rDev +9.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Poured into my Schell's shaker pint, Brau Bros Scotch Ale is a dull burnt, ruddy gold with an off-white head leaving very light scattered lace. Paler then I expected.

Smell is a bit of over-ripe fruit, and smokey, peat.

Taste is good, a nice balance of sweet malt and smokey peat. Perhaps a bit of diacetyl.

Mouthfeel is light, a touch dry.

Drinkability is pretty good, this is a well executed peat ale, the sweetness of the pale malt provide great balance with the moderate smoke.
Apr 29, 2011
Photo of DesMoinesMike
Reviewed by DesMoinesMike from Iowa

3.73/5  rDev +12.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
I'd say this is a decent scotch ale. It's a dark copper color with foam that disappears in seconds, kinda weird. The aroma is some sweet malt with some nutmeg. The taste is a bit sweet with some caramel and cinnamon and nutmeg. It's smooth but seems a tad watered down and the aftertaste is just a smidge metallic. I'd say it's a decent version but there's several better examples out there.
Apr 20, 2011
Photo of ToasterChef
Reviewed by ToasterChef from Maine

3.47/5  rDev +4.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
A cellar temperature bottle is poured into a pint glass. There isn't much of a hiss as the cap is popped, but a small amount of vapor begins to seep out of the bottle.

The beer is a slightly translucent liquid with a brownish/orange color. A very small head made up of small tan bubbles sits on top. The head quickly settles to a skim. Swirling the glass when it is this full doesn't bring the head back, but does leave an even film coating the walls of my pint. It also releases plenty of aromas.

Crystal sugars, alcohol and some sweet malts make up the strong aroma. Although there are a lot of sugary smells, it doesn't come across as a sweet beer. Instead, I expect it to be strong (and the 7.3 ABV proves me right).

The main flavor is of fermented plum. I am getting a lot of dark fruit and alcohol in each sip. Some sweetness up front, but more in the aftertaste. Low bitterness.

This is a full bodied beer with a lot of carbonation. I can feel the bubbles all over my mouth. The coat is fairly flavorful and not too sticky, especially considering the ABV.

This is an enjoyable Wee Heavy. It isn't going to get national attention, but it is an impressive local. I'd love for a nearby brew pub to make a beer like this.
Apr 04, 2011
Photo of ForWhatAlesYou
Reviewed by ForWhatAlesYou from Minnesota

4.05/5  rDev +22%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
12 oz bottle into a pint glass

A: Hazy/cloudy deep amber-brown.

S: Earthy maltiness. Smoky caramel/toffee.

T: Very peaty and a good amount of smoke, too. Rich finish with only a slight bitter. Coffee flavors linger.

M: Thick, rich, full.

D: In the right circumstances I could see more than a few of these. Great example of a great style.
Mar 28, 2011
Photo of zeledonia
Reviewed by zeledonia from Washington

3.33/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
Reviewed from notes, December 2010. Pours a nice medium amber with a bit of gold, a two-finger head that slowly gives way to decent lacing. Smell is somewhat malty, but the strongest odor is something I can't identify (maybe the peat-smoked malt?) - an odd earthy smell. Flavor also has that rich earthiness, pretty light on the malt and the hops, but with a lingering slight bitterness. Mouthfeel is okay, fairly light but substantial enough. Medium carbonation. A decent beer, but nothing special, and not as malty and flavorful as I'd like a scotch ale to be. I don't pick up the alcohol at all.
Mar 06, 2011
Photo of AmericanGothic
Reviewed by AmericanGothic from Iowa

4.2/5  rDev +26.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Poured from a 12 oz bottle into a Unibroue tulip. If I squint my eyes, it's a thistle.

A: Rich copper/amber color, creamy light tan 2 finger head, decent retention and nice lace. Carbonation is fairly active.

S: Roasted malts, yeast, faint hops and a whiff of smoke.

T: Really delivers here. Smoke and roasted notes linger nicely throughout. Some sweetness up front fades a bit more quickly in the finish, producing a nice change of character during each sip. Oh yeah, gimme more.

M: Pretty good here, medium body, smooth feel and finish.

D: Alcohol is well hidden, hitting all the right notes-- if I don't watch myself, I'll drink myself to sleep with this. Not that that would be all bad....

After reading other reviews, I had decided to pass this one over. However, there was a tasting tonight and I gave it a try. Fell in love at the tasting and brought home a six. This is my second Brau Brothers, and I'm pretty impressed. Will definitely buy again. Slainte!
Mar 05, 2011
Photo of cpetrone84
Reviewed by cpetrone84 from Pennsylvania

2.71/5  rDev -18.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
A-pours a burnt copper color with a dirty white head, thinner and bubbly.

S-the nose has a light meaty note, hints of smoke, tin, burnt toffee and mild sweetness.

T-lots of smoked meat in the taste, burnt toffee, sweet caramel and light berry sweetness. hints of earthy hops very light in the back.

M-syrupy body with a thin finish and fair amount of carbonation.

D-more smokey than I was hoping for and for the style. messy malt flavors and a thin body make this below average.
Feb 28, 2011
Photo of zeff80
Reviewed by zeff80 from Missouri

3.85/5  rDev +16%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Tap at Stub and Herbs.

A - In snifter, a clear, copper/burgundy color with a small, khaki-colored head of foam. It left some thin rings of lace on the glass.

S - It smelled grassy and earthy with some good maltiness.

T - Very malty and sweet upon first sip. There is a mossy/grassy presence like all scotch ales have.

M - It was crisp, sharp and smooth. A light to medium bodied ale.

D - This was a nice scotch ale.
Jan 08, 2011
Photo of drabmuh
Reviewed by drabmuh from Maryland

3.23/5  rDev -2.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
Bottle poured into a Russian River tulip. Beer is brown with a slight haze and medium head of small bubbles. Carbonation low and lacing is low. Head doesn't stick around long.

Aroma is a little peaty and smoky. Mild malt, smells OK.

Smoke. This is the dominant flavor here, it is very rauch-y. A little hard to drink. I think I've figured out finally what I like about smoke beers when I have them, if they don't finish dry they are good, if they finish dry it is just too much for my palate. This was OK but too dry for my tastes.
Dec 19, 2010
Scotch Ale from Brau Brothers Brewing Co. LLC
Beer rating: 77 out of 100 with 80 ratings