Across The Nation 'New' Scottish Ale
Central City Brewers + Distillers
- From:
- Central City Brewers + Distillers
- British Columbia, Canada
- Style:
- Scottish Ale
- ABV:
- 5.5%
- Score:
- 83
- Avg:
- 3.61 | pDev: 11.91%
- Ratings:
- | reviews: 10
- Status:
- Retired
- Rated:
- Apr 05, 2018
- Added:
- Apr 30, 2017
- Wants:
- 0
- Gots:
- 5
SCORE
83
Good
83
Good
Collaboration with Garrison Brewing Company
In Latin, Nova Scotia literally means "New Scotland". To celebrate Canada's Scottish roots, we have brewed up a lightly peated Scottish Ale.
In Latin, Nova Scotia literally means "New Scotland". To celebrate Canada's Scottish roots, we have brewed up a lightly peated Scottish Ale.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by thehyperduck:
Reviewed by thehyperduck from Canada (ON)
4.18/5 rDev +15.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
4.18/5 rDev +15.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
330 mL from the LCBO; the last of 12 bottles included in their Across the Nation Collaboration mixed packs. Dated Mar 27 2017 and served slightly chilled.
Pours a cloudy copper-auburn colour, with nearly two fingers of frothy white foam situated atop. It soon settles into a creamier, denser-looking cap roughly 1 cm thick, which holds its position for a solid ten minutes or more. With lots of lovely lacing also now in place, it looks positively fantastic in the glass. The peated malts come through loud and clear on the nose, with woodsmoke aromas being the most attention-grabbing element by far, and a rather ham/smoked bacon-like note taking runner up. There's also some toffee sweetness and toasted, bready malts, with maybe a faint hint of dark fruit. I was honestly not expecting it to smell this smoky, and that is not meant to be a complaint - more of a pleasant surprise.
This is actually a damn good smoked ale. Moderately sweet, with bready malts and caramelized sugars comprising much of the background flavour. Suggestions of plum and smoked ham; its peaty smokiness is inescapable throughout the sip - lasting from start through to the finish, but peaking towards the latter. An ashy campfire smoke sensation briefly arises before being gradually eroded by a bittersweet, herbal earthiness in the aftertaste. Not especially dry, but not all that sweet either - the peatiness is what lingers on the palate. Medium in body, with low-ish carbonation levels that gently nudge the surface of the palate. Fairly soft-textured, and I found it quite easy to gulp back (though to be fair, BAs who don't care for smoke as much as I do will likely find it a bit tiresome).
Final Grade: 4.18, an A-. Garrison is known as a quality brewer - I've personally enjoyed about a half-dozen of their beers in the past - which is why I had pretty high hopes for this particular offering. Needless to say, it did not disappoint: in fact, I'd say it's easily one of the top three inclusions (out of the total 12 beers) in this collaboration - both in terms of creativity and overall quality. Of course, that's coming from someone who really likes rauchbiers and the like, so your mileage may vary significantly. I doubt I'll ever see a fresh batch of this beer again... but if I do, I'll buy more.
Oct 04, 2017Pours a cloudy copper-auburn colour, with nearly two fingers of frothy white foam situated atop. It soon settles into a creamier, denser-looking cap roughly 1 cm thick, which holds its position for a solid ten minutes or more. With lots of lovely lacing also now in place, it looks positively fantastic in the glass. The peated malts come through loud and clear on the nose, with woodsmoke aromas being the most attention-grabbing element by far, and a rather ham/smoked bacon-like note taking runner up. There's also some toffee sweetness and toasted, bready malts, with maybe a faint hint of dark fruit. I was honestly not expecting it to smell this smoky, and that is not meant to be a complaint - more of a pleasant surprise.
This is actually a damn good smoked ale. Moderately sweet, with bready malts and caramelized sugars comprising much of the background flavour. Suggestions of plum and smoked ham; its peaty smokiness is inescapable throughout the sip - lasting from start through to the finish, but peaking towards the latter. An ashy campfire smoke sensation briefly arises before being gradually eroded by a bittersweet, herbal earthiness in the aftertaste. Not especially dry, but not all that sweet either - the peatiness is what lingers on the palate. Medium in body, with low-ish carbonation levels that gently nudge the surface of the palate. Fairly soft-textured, and I found it quite easy to gulp back (though to be fair, BAs who don't care for smoke as much as I do will likely find it a bit tiresome).
Final Grade: 4.18, an A-. Garrison is known as a quality brewer - I've personally enjoyed about a half-dozen of their beers in the past - which is why I had pretty high hopes for this particular offering. Needless to say, it did not disappoint: in fact, I'd say it's easily one of the top three inclusions (out of the total 12 beers) in this collaboration - both in terms of creativity and overall quality. Of course, that's coming from someone who really likes rauchbiers and the like, so your mileage may vary significantly. I doubt I'll ever see a fresh batch of this beer again... but if I do, I'll buy more.
More User Ratings:
Reviewed by patre_tim from Thailand
3.57/5 rDev -1.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
3.57/5 rDev -1.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
Amber with a lot of sediment, little carbonation and 4 fingers of light beige head.
Smells of toffee, coffee, and slightly smoky like cigarettes.
The taste follows the nose and ends with a vibrantly dull bitterness that lingers in the mouth.
Medium body, with lots of carbonation.
Drinking in Muskoka April 4th, 2018. Decent but lacking, especially for Garrison.
Apr 05, 2018Smells of toffee, coffee, and slightly smoky like cigarettes.
The taste follows the nose and ends with a vibrantly dull bitterness that lingers in the mouth.
Medium body, with lots of carbonation.
Drinking in Muskoka April 4th, 2018. Decent but lacking, especially for Garrison.
Rated by spinrsx from Canada (ON)
3.2/5 rDev -11.4%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3
3.2/5 rDev -11.4%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3
From the lcbo for around $2
Dec 28, 2017
Reviewed by Poljazz22 from Canada (QC)
3.77/5 rDev +4.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
3.77/5 rDev +4.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Review no 8 from the Across the Nation 12 pack
Lovely medium gold with some opacity. Pale beige head with some lacing.
There is some wood smoke some hops some whisky malts.
Quite an interesting beer with lots of character. Feel is quite subtle alcohol well hidden carbonation is just enough to feel.
Sep 21, 2017Lovely medium gold with some opacity. Pale beige head with some lacing.
There is some wood smoke some hops some whisky malts.
Quite an interesting beer with lots of character. Feel is quite subtle alcohol well hidden carbonation is just enough to feel.
Rated by ewpass from Canada (PE)
3.67/5 rDev +1.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
3.67/5 rDev +1.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
Hazy deep Amber with modest head. Light malt nose. Malt body with light smokiness. A lighter Scottish ale.
Sep 16, 2017
Reviewed by taxandbeerguy from Canada (ON)
4.01/5 rDev +11.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
4.01/5 rDev +11.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
330 ml bottle served cold into a chalice. 1st of the second six pack, this is a Scottish Ale in collaboration with Garrison Brewing in Nova Scotia.
Appearance - Hazy, ruddy brown color with little clarity. A finger of rocky tan head is poured and sticks around for a while. Minimal lacing and some sediment stays in the glass.
Smell - Some notes of whisky and a distinctive smokiness within. A little bit of the meatiness often found with Rauchbiers (think grilling meat over a campfire). Faint caramel sweetness in the background.
Taste - Some sweetness with plenty of good smokey flavors. The whiskey and wood on the nose is more subdued. Concludes a bit ashy and bitter. Flavors just a touch thin (prefer a wall of smoke and fire and meat), but really good and more interesting than many in the style.
Mouthfeel - Smooth, medium bodied, plenty of expressive carbonation and drying finish.
Overall - Probably the best collaboration in the Across the Nation 6 packs so far. Glad to have tried and would love to enjoy this again without the hassle of picking up a bunch of other good (but not great) beers.
Jul 23, 2017Appearance - Hazy, ruddy brown color with little clarity. A finger of rocky tan head is poured and sticks around for a while. Minimal lacing and some sediment stays in the glass.
Smell - Some notes of whisky and a distinctive smokiness within. A little bit of the meatiness often found with Rauchbiers (think grilling meat over a campfire). Faint caramel sweetness in the background.
Taste - Some sweetness with plenty of good smokey flavors. The whiskey and wood on the nose is more subdued. Concludes a bit ashy and bitter. Flavors just a touch thin (prefer a wall of smoke and fire and meat), but really good and more interesting than many in the style.
Mouthfeel - Smooth, medium bodied, plenty of expressive carbonation and drying finish.
Overall - Probably the best collaboration in the Across the Nation 6 packs so far. Glad to have tried and would love to enjoy this again without the hassle of picking up a bunch of other good (but not great) beers.
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