Cold Smoke Scotch Ale
KettleHouse Brewing Co. (Southside Taproom)

Cold Smoke Scotch AleCold Smoke Scotch Ale
Beer Geek Stats | Print Shelf Talker
From:
KettleHouse Brewing Co. (Southside Taproom)
 
Montana, United States
Style:
Scotch Ale / Wee Heavy
Ranked #59
ABV:
6.5%
Score:
89
Ranked #12,086
Avg:
3.97 | pDev: 11.08%
Reviews:
104
Ratings:
337
Status:
Active
Rated:
Jan 15, 2024
Added:
Aug 20, 2002
Wants:
  36
Gots:
  69
Formulated with Montana grown 2-row barley, northwest Goldings hops, and lotsa love, this hearty ale drinks very smooth. Not bitter at all and not too sweet either. Novice beer drinkers have been known to take a taste and then say, “WOW! That’s not what I expected… that’s GOOD!” A hint of roasted barley lends a slight coffee-like smoky finish. With a 6.5% abv, this beer is perfect after a day of rippin’ lines on area or your favorite back country getaway.

11 IBU
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by radioscooter:
Photo of radioscooter
Reviewed by radioscooter from Pennsylvania

2.43/5  rDev -38.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 2
Got in a BIF. One of a very few potential saving graces of a wildly disappointing haul.

Poured into a Thistleglass. Nice 2 finger head with no lacing but many little bubbles left behind.

Aroma is too many Hops for a Scotch Ale. No matter how you describe or interpret it. Plus that "US beer phenolic ugg. Sigh. Ah well. Down we go.

Ah. Too bad. Utter crap.

Basically a food colored PBR. Well, not unexpected. Crazy high carbonation, as if we're 15 again and squirreling away Mickey's Big Mouth.

Let me describe this to you: 1. Grab some cheap, BMC beer (any) Decant it into a 16 oz. can. Add some dark brown food coloring. Put a "Scotch Ale" label on it and hope that some of the trailer folks want to spread their wings a little but really still want to drink to get drunk.

Time waster. Drain + pour. Not remotely a Scotch Ale. I cannot believe the other reviewers were drinking the same product as I.
Nov 21, 2011
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 4.04 by dshansen1184 from Washington

Jan 15, 2024
Photo of NorsemanOne
Reviewed by NorsemanOne from Utah

3.87/5  rDev -2.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Canned 5.30.23

Purchased from the dabc for ~$4

Poured at fridge temp into a tulip glass

Pours a very dark cola brown with caramel sides and tall caramel soda-like head that left substantial lacing before settling into a 1/2F ring. 4

While waiting for it to warm a bit, I picked up a bit of plum/ sweet fig and dark toasty malt. 3.75

Hard to pick up distinct flavor notes at fridge temp. Dark malty sweetness, horehound/hard rootbeer candy. Coffee is light and barely noticeable as it warms. 3.75

Body was remarkably light, though most my experience with scotch ale/wee heavy have been considerably higher abv, so I found this refreshing and quaffable. Carbo was moderate and fitting. Goldilocks if you will. Lightly dry finish. 4.25

Overall I really enjoyed this one and liked the body especially for what I consider a perfect mouthfeel + abv experience. Taste seemed a bit light, but I suspect that's due to my familiarity with thicker/ heavier versions of the style. 4
Oct 08, 2023
Photo of mpruden
Reviewed by mpruden from Ohio

3.74/5  rDev -5.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
Poured from a pint can into a pint glass at Miazga’s Restaurant in Jackson, WY.

Appearance: Dark brown with a one-finger tan head that lingered, leaving plenty of finely-bubbled lacing.

Nose: Malt and caramel, a little dried fruit.

Mouthfeel: Medium, plenty of carbonation, maybe a bit too much.

Attack: Follows the nose, though not intensely. The alcohol warms on the way down.

Finish: Hop bitterness to balance.

Overall: While not as full/deeply-flavored as some Wee Heavys, it’s maybe the most drinkable one I’ve had. I’m enjoying it, and I wouldn’t hesitate to order it again.
Sep 23, 2023
 
Rated: 4.19 by _Adam_ from Maryland

Aug 31, 2023
Photo of Harrison8
Reviewed by Harrison8 from Missouri

3.9/5  rDev -1.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Pours a dark burgundy-brown with a mild haze to the translucency. Head is a finger of tan foam. Aroma is caramel and toffee with dark fruits and toasty malts. Pretty quick and simple aroma. Flavor profile is a little smoke with caramel, toffee, and molasses just behind. Mild fig leads out faint dark fruits, which come more forward as the beer warms. Toasty malts throughout. Mouth feel is medium in thickness with a fuzzy, but kind of sharp, texture. Overall, pretty mild, but good temperament.

Draft. Reviewed from notes.
Aug 20, 2023
 
Rated: 3.87 by darktronica from Indiana

Jul 02, 2023
Photo of crm871
Reviewed by crm871 from Utah

3.72/5  rDev -6.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Look: Pours a dark brown, nearly obsidian hue with a frothy beige-colored head.

Smell: Malts, roasted walnuts, caramel.

Taste: The taste isn’t super complex - I’m getting the malt from the nose along with caramel, barley, toffee, and some coffee notes at the end. It works well for the style although I’m not getting as much of the smoke as I’d prefer.

Feel: Medium body, feels almost light for a scotch ale, but again it works.

Overall: This one was weird for me because at first I didn’t really like it. However as it went on it got better and better, and it’s a pretty darn good scotch ale that I would buy again.
Jun 19, 2023
Photo of WoodBrew
Reviewed by WoodBrew from Ohio

4.05/5  rDev +2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
I tried this beer off the tapper at Montana Ale Works in Bozeman, Montana as part of a three sample flight. It poured a clear amber with white head that did not leave any lace. The scent had earthen notes. The taste was nicely balanced and easy to drink with smeil sweet caramel malt base and peat and distilled grain presence. The mouthfeel was lighter in body and had good carbonation. Overall it is a solid beer.
Jun 02, 2023
Photo of jzeilinger
Reviewed by jzeilinger from Pennsylvania

4.16/5  rDev +4.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Many thx to muchloveforhops3 for this can!

Canned on: 3-07-23

A - Nice garnet colored pour with a dense layer of light caramel colored creamy foam resting on top.

S - Sweet toasted caramel toffee malt with some light earthiness and delicate smoke.

T - Toasted sweet caramel and toffee malt, light earthiness and ends with a balanced smokey coffee bitterness on the back side to even things out.

M - Nice medium body with light carbonation and a semi-dry finish.

O - This is a really fantastic Scotch Ale and worth checking out.
May 15, 2023
Photo of Garanova
Rated by Garanova from Georgia

4.89/5  rDev +23.2%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5
Loved it.
Smoke taste. Malt taste. Looks like a lager. Tastes like a dark malty ale
Mar 13, 2023
 
Rated: 3.96 by Jay430 from Montana

Feb 22, 2023
 
Rated: 4 by woemad from Washington

Feb 12, 2023
Photo of RJLarse
Reviewed by RJLarse from Washington

4.17/5  rDev +5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
16 ounce can pours a translucent mahogany color with a creamy off white head. Smells of light roasted barley. Tastes like mild coffee flavors, lacks the typical scotch flavor. Mild bitter finish.
Jan 08, 2023
Photo of DanO1066
Reviewed by DanO1066 from Maryland

3.81/5  rDev -4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Draught 12oz snifter at the Signal Mtn Lodge, Grand Teton N.P., WY: Lovely looking. Taste & feel improve as it warms (aroma goes the other way). On first go around not my favorite of this style, but worth another try.
Oct 14, 2022
 
Rated: 3.75 by BlueSpader from Washington

Oct 01, 2022
Photo of Victory_Sabre1973
Reviewed by Victory_Sabre1973 from Minnesota

4/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
This is copied from my Untapped review. Rating 4.0

Dark brown pour with a very thick tan head.
Hints of caramel on the nose from the malts.
Tons of caramel and toffee in the flavor from the malts. Coffee also hits in the flavor. The flavors are deep and rich.
The body is thick, full and rich.
Damn amazing.
Sep 26, 2022
 
Rated: 3.53 by BlueTrain

Sep 07, 2022
 
Rated: 4 by FLBeerGuy from Florida

Aug 28, 2022
 
Rated: 4 by bpfrush from Wisconsin

Aug 17, 2022
Cold Smoke Scotch Ale from KettleHouse Brewing Co. (Southside Taproom)
Beer rating: 89 out of 100 with 337 ratings