Scottish Ale
Great Waters Brewing

I had this beer at the Great Waters facility as we stop in often. I try to take notes on the beers I try but sometimes forget. This one I did have and I am surprised that it is retired as I thought it was very good. It was a nice red color with a thick and creamy head. There was a heavy malt nose that was very pleasant. The attack was very smooth and there was a sweet and smooth flavor with faint hops character at the finish. I don't think I have had any cask beers at Great Waters that I didn't like. Next time I stop in there I will review the "place."

Getting a good aroma profile was significantly hindered by the smell of smoke and ashtray. Was only able to pick up some low level qualities of malt, that seemed pleasing enough. Very nice long settling that produced a thinnish but very sturdy head. Slightly cloudy, and brownish more than red. Taste wasn't overpowering or robust (as I expect for this style), but relative freshness noted anyway. Fairly light straight malt taste with hops noted in slight bitterness. Not particularily dry. Some lingering on the tongue. Extremely smooth and easy drinking with mild richness. Overall nice but not extremely impressive. Straight and unsophisticated. Because of it's lack of sharpness could do well with food.

On cask at the brewpub...

Hazy clove brown, milky light brown 1/4 inch head. Patchy laces continue to slide down rather than mark the glass. Decided sense of peach aroma in the malt-dominated smell. Flavor is medium chocolate in tone, finishing with a slightest bit of orange and on the somwhat light and watery side. Hops are just there to balance. Not a bad beer, appropriate to style as this isn't supposed to be a heavy Scotch Ale. Not incredibly interesting either, but drinkable in its attractive cask condition...

Cask-conditioned: Well.....beyond its lovely sheeting cascade and cloudy, pale brown color this was a big disappointment. Along with its awesome cascade of fast, light yellowy sheets flying up the sides of the glass like the locusts of the apocolypse, the head got to about two fingers high, is white and lumpy with divets and some unclinging lace sheets that faded fairly fast. Smell, well there wasn't much there at all, a big swirl and a big wiff produced a barely noticable sweet malt. Taste is very mild at best, with a very watery sweet malt and mild hop thats a bit bitter sweet. Feel is light and watery clean and a bit gritty and slightly sweetish but mild and played out, one nice highlight was a slight smokey sense that showed up very late in the finish. This was not all that enjoyable, frankly, I'm hoping that this place steps it up a notch with there boldness and character. Cuz right now the character of all their beers, with the exception of a few I've had, is watery and played out. I want so much more, cuz it's just down the street from me and it was once a pretty good place to enjoy a good beer, not a mediocre beer.