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Iron Thistle
Rahr & Sons Brewing Company
- From:
- Rahr & Sons Brewing Company
- Texas, United States
- Style:
- Scotch Ale / Wee Heavy
Ranked #94 - ABV:
- 7%
- Score:
- 87
Ranked #17,403 - Avg:
- 3.86 | pDev: 12.69%
- Reviews:
- 90
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Mar 22, 2023
- Added:
- May 30, 2009
- Wants:
- 20
- Gots:
- 91
SCOTTISH STYLE ALE
Available : February Release
Break out the bagpipes with your lederhosen! We’re proud to present our Iron Thistle Scotch Ale – Rahr’s first National Grand Champion winner. This dark, Scottish ale has a bold taste dominated by a smooth, sweet maltiness balanced with a low, hoppy bitterness. So don your kilts and enjoy. Here’s to your health – Slàinte! Prosit!
IBU
35
HOP VARIETIES
Warrior
MALTS
2 Row, Vienna, Crystal, Chocolate, Carafa Special II
Available : February Release
Break out the bagpipes with your lederhosen! We’re proud to present our Iron Thistle Scotch Ale – Rahr’s first National Grand Champion winner. This dark, Scottish ale has a bold taste dominated by a smooth, sweet maltiness balanced with a low, hoppy bitterness. So don your kilts and enjoy. Here’s to your health – Slàinte! Prosit!
IBU
35
HOP VARIETIES
Warrior
MALTS
2 Row, Vienna, Crystal, Chocolate, Carafa Special II
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by BeardedRiker:
Reviewed by BeardedRiker from Texas
3.97/5 rDev +2.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
3.97/5 rDev +2.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
You know, when I first started drinking Rahr beers, I wasn't too impressed, but over the last year or so I've come to appreciating much more. It probably started when I first tried their Winter Warmer. I thought it was delicious. Then I drank their BBWW and was extremely impressed. It's one of those beers you can't get enough of. Now I've had their Iron Thistle and I'm convinced any of their beers that use roasted and/or chocolate malts then I'll like the beer. The Iron Thistle is no exception. Also, I don't think I've had a Scotch Ale that I've disliked.
Iron Thistle pours out clear and the darkest of brown, but a brown-ruby color when held up to the light. The head is light brown while being about a finger and a half high. It fizzes itself out fairly quickly. No lacing. With the name Iron Thistle, it's not a tantalizing name as far as the beer goes, but this does look good.
Mmm...I like the smell. As expected, it's malty as hell. Dark roasted malts bring out nuttiniess, coffee, and a brown sugar sweetness. Chocolate malt is present too. There's a bit of anise or liquorice. I do get some hops that warm the nose with spice.
The taste is where this beer shines. Coffee and chocolate malts are strong with a brown sugar sweetness that's underneath. It has a nice nuttiness throughout, as well as a slight hint of booze. This sort of reminds me of the BBWW but the flavors are not as strong. You know, at the end I get a sort of tobacco-ish essence with it. I've decided while I'm a hop head, I also love beers that use the roasted, dark malts.
This has a medium-low carbonation that makes it very smooth with its medium body. Iron Thistle is oh so drinkable.
Another Rahr beer that's damn good and another Scotch Ale that I really like. Rahr is now one of my favorite Texas breweries.
Feb 04, 2012Iron Thistle pours out clear and the darkest of brown, but a brown-ruby color when held up to the light. The head is light brown while being about a finger and a half high. It fizzes itself out fairly quickly. No lacing. With the name Iron Thistle, it's not a tantalizing name as far as the beer goes, but this does look good.
Mmm...I like the smell. As expected, it's malty as hell. Dark roasted malts bring out nuttiniess, coffee, and a brown sugar sweetness. Chocolate malt is present too. There's a bit of anise or liquorice. I do get some hops that warm the nose with spice.
The taste is where this beer shines. Coffee and chocolate malts are strong with a brown sugar sweetness that's underneath. It has a nice nuttiness throughout, as well as a slight hint of booze. This sort of reminds me of the BBWW but the flavors are not as strong. You know, at the end I get a sort of tobacco-ish essence with it. I've decided while I'm a hop head, I also love beers that use the roasted, dark malts.
This has a medium-low carbonation that makes it very smooth with its medium body. Iron Thistle is oh so drinkable.
Another Rahr beer that's damn good and another Scotch Ale that I really like. Rahr is now one of my favorite Texas breweries.
More User Ratings:
Rated by ScottGutzmann from Wisconsin
4.58/5 rDev +18.7%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
4.58/5 rDev +18.7%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
My favorite Scotch Ale
Mar 22, 2023Rated by MartyBaumbach
3.71/5 rDev -3.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.71/5 rDev -3.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Like Guinness? This is a little sharper, not quite as smooth, but similar caramel notes. A basic flavor that quells your need for a stout.
Mar 07, 2023Rated by Balrog
4.73/5 rDev +22.5%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.73/5 rDev +22.5%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Found at bar next to C11 gate in DFW. EXCELLENT flavor and good to look at. A keeper.
Mar 31, 2022Reviewed by puck1225 from Texas
4.02/5 rDev +4.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4.02/5 rDev +4.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Bought a can at a local grocery store. I am surprised that I hadn’t reviewed this before.
Pours a beautiful mahogany brown into a tulip glass. Nice beige fluffy head and godd lacing. Smell and taste of caramel and sweet pears. Nice earthy bitterness. Was very nice on a wet, cold January evening. Will buy again.
Jan 25, 2022Pours a beautiful mahogany brown into a tulip glass. Nice beige fluffy head and godd lacing. Smell and taste of caramel and sweet pears. Nice earthy bitterness. Was very nice on a wet, cold January evening. Will buy again.
Reviewed by jwp777 from Oklahoma
3.74/5 rDev -3.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.74/5 rDev -3.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Tasted on tap at a craft beer house in Oklahoma City:
Pours a deep brown, almost black, with a murky white head at least two fingers thick to start. Head recedes but does retain well. Good lacing.
Aroma is roasted malts, lots of caramel, toasted nuts, and a little bit of bread.
Taste is initially toasty, nutty, and a bit sweet. There is a bit of an overpowering molasses feel for me. There is a bit of hops, but personally I would like a little bit more of the holy bitterness to balance it out a bit more. Don’t get me wrong, it is a pleasant taste, just a bit one-sided for an 87 score in my opinion.
Feel is quite bold with medium carbonation, but is a bit thick and syrupy. It’s a smooth drinker, but I definitely had to wash it down with water soon after.
Overall, it’s a good winter beer, and at only $5.50 for a 12 oz serving, I felt like it was worth the time and money. I even ordered a second one.
Feb 07, 2020Pours a deep brown, almost black, with a murky white head at least two fingers thick to start. Head recedes but does retain well. Good lacing.
Aroma is roasted malts, lots of caramel, toasted nuts, and a little bit of bread.
Taste is initially toasty, nutty, and a bit sweet. There is a bit of an overpowering molasses feel for me. There is a bit of hops, but personally I would like a little bit more of the holy bitterness to balance it out a bit more. Don’t get me wrong, it is a pleasant taste, just a bit one-sided for an 87 score in my opinion.
Feel is quite bold with medium carbonation, but is a bit thick and syrupy. It’s a smooth drinker, but I definitely had to wash it down with water soon after.
Overall, it’s a good winter beer, and at only $5.50 for a 12 oz serving, I felt like it was worth the time and money. I even ordered a second one.
Reviewed by Darkmagus82 from Texas
3.44/5 rDev -10.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
3.44/5 rDev -10.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
Served on tap in a pint glass
Appearance – The beer is served a deep brown color with a one finger head of tan colored foam. The head has great retention, slowly fading over time to leave a decent sum of foamy lace on the sides of the glass.
Smell – The aroma of the brew is heaviest of a caramel and lightly toasted malt aroma. Mixed with these smells comes some notes of a molasses sweetness as well as a touch of nut and toast.
Taste – The taste begins with a rather sweet flavor of caramel and molasses mixed with some flavors of a lightly toasted malt. For a Scottish style ale the roasted and maltiness was lighter than anticipated with the roasty flavors getting even lighter as the taste moves forward. Also, as the taste advances further some other flavors of nut, some light toast, and an increase in the sweet come to the tongue and leave one with a sweet and moderately roasted malty taste to linger on the tongue.
Mouthfeel – The body of the brew is slightly thicker and chewier with a carbonation level that is rather average. For the sweet tastes mixed with the lighter roast the feel was pretty decent and created an easy drinker overall.
Overall – It was smooth and easy drinking with decent taste, but a little light on the overall scotch like roastiness. Still a nice drinker.
Jan 24, 2020Appearance – The beer is served a deep brown color with a one finger head of tan colored foam. The head has great retention, slowly fading over time to leave a decent sum of foamy lace on the sides of the glass.
Smell – The aroma of the brew is heaviest of a caramel and lightly toasted malt aroma. Mixed with these smells comes some notes of a molasses sweetness as well as a touch of nut and toast.
Taste – The taste begins with a rather sweet flavor of caramel and molasses mixed with some flavors of a lightly toasted malt. For a Scottish style ale the roasted and maltiness was lighter than anticipated with the roasty flavors getting even lighter as the taste moves forward. Also, as the taste advances further some other flavors of nut, some light toast, and an increase in the sweet come to the tongue and leave one with a sweet and moderately roasted malty taste to linger on the tongue.
Mouthfeel – The body of the brew is slightly thicker and chewier with a carbonation level that is rather average. For the sweet tastes mixed with the lighter roast the feel was pretty decent and created an easy drinker overall.
Overall – It was smooth and easy drinking with decent taste, but a little light on the overall scotch like roastiness. Still a nice drinker.
Reviewed by jmbranum from Oklahoma
4.32/5 rDev +11.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
4.32/5 rDev +11.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Bought in an Oklahoma CIty grocery store as part of a variety pack. Poured from a can into a glass.
I generally like Scottish-style beers and this one is not an exception. Very rich, full and toasty. Maybe a little one-dimensional, more herbal elements would have improved it.
Oct 13, 2019I generally like Scottish-style beers and this one is not an exception. Very rich, full and toasty. Maybe a little one-dimensional, more herbal elements would have improved it.
Reviewed by Wigglejig from Arkansas
3.22/5 rDev -16.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
3.22/5 rDev -16.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
Decent Scottish Ale. I picked up a 6er on sale for 5.99, and it was an absolute steal. That being said, would I want to grab one for 10 bucks, probably not, there are better beers, but it is certainly a decent beer. Enjoy at your own risk.
Oct 06, 2019Reviewed by Buck89 from Tennessee
4.21/5 rDev +9.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.21/5 rDev +9.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Great looking beer. A clear dark amber color with a thick and long-lasting tan head. Rich caramel aroma with some plum. There was a great malty complexity to this, with sweet caramel, dark chocolate, toffee, and a subtle fruitiness on the end. Feel was slightly heavy but silky. Really outstanding.
Apr 09, 2019Rated by Tom_Hoover from Texas
3.5/5 rDev -9.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.5/5 rDev -9.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Its ok. Nothing special taste wise.
Feb 04, 2019
Iron Thistle from Rahr & Sons Brewing Company
Beer rating:
87 out of
100 with
328 ratings
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