Tartan Ale
McNeill's Brewery

Poured into an English pint glass, the appearance was a semi-burnt orange to red to brown color with a thin layer of white foaminess. Quickly dissipates. No lacing. The aroma centers around caramel, toffee and nutty malts. Grassy and earthy hops. Sly peat, with a crisp English black tea to it. The flavor was a decent earthy bitter to sweet profile. Some soft black tea. Black tea and caramel in the aftertaste. Sly crisp finish. On the palate, this one sat about a light to medium on the body with a fair sessionability about it. Carbonation seems to hit decently but low, it’s good for the style. Overall, decent for the style and trying to build it together, but the blend isn’t quite there yet.

 

From a bottle clipped "Best by Feb." Sampled on January 26, 2012 so I assume that meane February 2012. It pours an extremely heady medium amber to light brown. Aromas are mild, malty, yeasty, and crisp. The body is medium. Sadly, it tasted a bit off and it could have been a bad bottle. There was a sour creaminess going on which I thought I could attribute to yeast and herbal hops. But it reminded me more of one of my home brews that had not fully fermented. Kind of sulfurery. It looked and smelled nice though and the label art was fun.

22oz. bottle purchased at the Brattleboro Co-op. Best by end of February notched on the label. Served in a standard pint. Pours a an auburn hue with a hazy clarity and a latte-like, two inch, cream-colored head. Head eventually settles into a solid, half inch cap, leaving concentric rings of textured foam as the brew recedes. Nose expresses vinous and earthy notes as a well as yeast (perhaps ringworm) and a trace of acidic/tart rind towards the back. Taste follows nose; however, there's quite a bit more acidity/astringency and less of an earthy quality than I've come to associate with the style. Mouthfeel is light-medium in consistency with a lively carbonation and an acidity that lightly stimulates the salivary glands. Overall, not a style I am overly familiar with; however, I find this offering a bit too acidic, with less of a malt profile than I am accustomed to. Not something I will seek out again.