Executioner’s Scotch Ale
Hideout Brewing Company

 

 

 

22 ounce bottle into a snifter.

Pours a hazy, deep ruby, medium head, lots of foamy cling. Smell brings a lot of malt, dates, raisins, figs, yeast, caramel, some plums. Kind of a spicy aroma when very warm. Taste is also a bit malt forward, stronger caramel and yeast. Still some dates, figs, raisins, less plums, touch of vanilla. A little sweeter than most for the style, not a lot, some bitterness on the back end. Smooth, well carbonated, full bodied for the style.

This was a very pleasant surprise, great depth flavor and aroma, very drinkable for the ABV. Price point was great, as well. Don't think a lot of bottles were made, but grab one if you can.

22oz bottle. Clear reddish-brown color with a tight, tan foam. Malty nose with a hint of sour nuts. Bready, caramel malt, dark, dried fruit and a light lactic sourness. Some alcohol warmth on the finish. Full bodied, medium carbonation.

 

22 ounce bottle into snifter; no bottle dating, but is a recent release. Pours fairly crystal clear dark reddish brown color with a 1-2 finger dense light khaki head with good retention, that reduces to a thin cap that lingers. Light spotty soapy lacing clings on the glass, with a moderate amount of streaming carbonation retaining the cap. Aromas of big caramel, brown sugar, raisin, plum, fig, pear, apple, toast, biscuit, nuttiness, light chocolate, herbal, and yeast/toasted earthiness. Very nice aromas with good balance and complexity of dark/bready malt, fruity yeast, and light earthy hop notes; with good strength. Taste of big caramel, brown sugar, raisin, plum, fig, pear, apple, toast, biscuit, nuttiness, light chocolate, herbal, and yeast/toasted earthiness. Light-moderate herbal bitterness on the finish; with lingering notes of caramel, brown sugar, raisin, plum, fig, pear, apple, toast, biscuit, nuttiness, light chocolate, and herbal/toasted earthiness on the finish for a while. Very nice complexity, robustness, and balance of dark/bready malt, fruity yeast, and light earthy hops flavors; with a great malt/yeast/bitterness balance and zero cloying flavors after the finish. Light carbonation and medium-full bodied; with a very smooth, moderately creamy/bready, and slightly slick mouthfeel that is very nice. Alcohol is very well hidden with only a light warmth lingering after the finish. Overall this is a very nice scotch ale style. All around good complexity, robustness, and balance of dark/bready malt, fruity yeast, and light earthy hop flavor; and very smooth to sip on for the big ABV. A very enjoyable offering.

My first beer from Hidout, and I'm pleasantly surprised. A very dark amber, darker than I'd have expected...nearly looks like a porter except around the edges, then in the light it's clear and amber and pretty. Off-white thinnish head that keeps a little cap for a while, and reasonable lacing (probably let it get too cold). Smells caramel and bready, some detectable earthy hops, and some dark fruity goodness. Taste is similar, with just enough hops to keep it balanced and from ever being too sweet. Perhaps black cherry or something almost tart on the finish, but it works with the mild hops and big rich malt base. Mouthfeel is good, full-bodied, smooth, just a touch of alcohol burn at (apparently) 9.5%. Overall pretty well to style for how big it is, and the alcohol is pretty well hidden. A sipper for sure, but not so much that it's difficult to finish a bottle. At $7-8/22oz for a nice MI-brewed scotch ale, I'm happy. In my experience, a hit-or-miss style for random purchases, this one is good. Will be picking up another if I come across it.