Scotch Ale
Fitger's Brewhouse

Originally reviewed on November 12, 2005. Also known as "Sasquatch Scotch Ale." Ruby fringed hazlenute pour, with a frothy cream of a head. Light caramel and banana aroma. Extremely sugary off the bat. Toffee and caramel dominate, backed by oats and earthy tones. Nutty all the way. Blend this with hints of warm bourbon and rum. Bright and sharp on the back end, with mellow cherry truffle. Well done, but a little hot from the alcohol. Lots of vanilla note s and some hints of cinnamon. Surprisingly this has some spicy and estery yeast notes, despite the presence of Fitger’s characteristic malt and yeast flavor running the gamut of the background. Starts off sweet, but melds into a balanced, savory supple example.

On-tap at the brewpub: Chestnut brown with a slow crimson hint, slim cap of darkened ivory, some stringing lacing sticks.

Aroma is clean and somewhat subdued of a molasses caramel maltyness and slight chocolate with a good load of spicy alcoholic heat.

Flavors are well into the full-on malt load here, yummy darkened sweet molasses, caramel and fig hints with a soothing backing of hefty chocolate thats mild and taming; mixing well with the other malts. Nothing overwhelms, very balanced, clean, chewy, big on flavors right from the get go and keeps a giving with malty goodness. Both of a slightly sweetness and mild milk chocolateyness; barely a roast noticeable way underneath. Warm and coating to the belly.

Smooth and thick malt feel, medium bodied, clean chewyness, sensational drinkability, coats, soothes and warms. A perfect winter warmer after a day of hiking in the cold.

Seems a little light for a Wee Heavy...I asked the bartender and he seemed to not know...then checked with someone who said it was not a wee heavy just a regular scotch ale...

Nice malty flavor to it...some hints of peat....nose is peat, and sweet malt...I tend to like Scotch ales to start with and this is a good tasting scotch ale....a far cry from McEwens in body and strength but a nice tasting Scotch Ale I would drink again...some hints of alcohol on the finish so who knows maybe it is a wee heavy...as a wee heavy the body is too light..as a regular scotch it is just fine....either way a tasty beverage from a quality brewery..

On tap, Winterfest 2003, St. Paul, MN...

Medium brown color, nice 1/4 inch head. A little candy sugar and caramel to the nose. A bight mix of upbeat citrus and sweet caramel early, starts full-bodied. But it seems to thin way too fast for a Scotch Ale and finishes on the "oh, a little weak" side. Flavor is pleasant and the malt sense seems nice but I can’t rate this as more than OK for this type of brew.