MacPelican's Scottish Style Ale
Pelican Pub & Brewery

3.41/5  rDev -4.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5

From tap to glass at the Brewery at Cape Kiwanda, Pacific City, OR
Appearance: amber, clear liquid, medium off white foam
Aroma: malty, grainy aroma
Taste: low bitterness
Feel: medium carbonation, flat
Overall: good beer, not a good value for the price
Drank: May 6, 2016

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3.04/5  rDev -14.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3

Bomber from Bert's Growler Garage. Not as "dirty" or earthy as others in this style, picking up more sweetness. Also realized it's well past its shelf life (ex. 11.29.14, thank you Pelican for dating your beers!), but its held up very well. Will have to try again fresh. Caramel and some toffee, light bodied.

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3.87/5  rDev +8.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

22oz. Bomber

Poured into a DFH glass a nice cloudy amber color, very nice carbonation, with a nice one-finger creamy off-white head, leaves some nice sticky lacing behind. The nose is mostly malty, very slight hop note. The taste is slightly sweet, and malty. Medium body. Overall a tasty brew and is a good thirst quencher.

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3.24/5  rDev -9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25

Clear dark amber to light brown colored ale with a medium sized tan colored head.

Smells malty with a burned sugar scent and faint smoke. Caramel scent with a faint flowery hop scent. Best as I can ID the flower it is Honeysuckle.

Starts out on the sweet side with lots of malt. Caramel and some burnt sugar taste. Faint smoke but there is more burnt sugar flavor. Toffee and that is about it, hits all the bases.

Mouthfeel is OK.

Overall a tasty mild Scottish ale that is a little on the sweet side.

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3.58/5  rDev +0.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Shared by someone at Francois cellar cleaning party.

Decent fizzy head, hazy reddish color.

Nose sweet candy malts, very toasted reddish malt, little bready caramel like,, hint of candied fruit,

Taste sweet candy but drier, little candied fruit again, watery grainy malt, chewy malt almost nougat like, little butterscotch candy, not super sweet but little tingly booze. Finish bit more booze, sweet candy malt, little flat and thin, little earthy hop, mild soapy note.

Mouth med to heavier bod, little syrupy but thin, lighter carb.

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3.49/5  rDev -2%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

22oz : tulip

Clear, amber red with a thin, foamy, short lived head.

Delicate blend of floral, herbal hops and caramel malts in both the aroma and taste.

Medium body, foamy carbonation.

An enjoyable, tasty Scottish Ale that is easy drinking and approachable.

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3.52/5  rDev -1.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Attractive dark amber color in the Duvel tulip with a white cap of foam. Some bubbly lacing and quite spritzy on the tongue. What's odd is how thin this is for the category, so I am having to re-think my expectations to judge this fairly. So maybe it's a 60 shilling lighter style, which we never see in this country.

The first few sips seem light and very dry. Then there is a hint of something smokey, and gradually the malt flavors become more accessible. Still, the malt seems diluted and the flavors are subdued. The sweet smokiness is more of a suggestion, with some scorched malt and a faint bitterness of hops in the mix.

Or maybe this is an edgier Oktoberfest with a whiff of wood smoke. Whatever this is, it's really quite drinkable. Actually, this is ideal mixed 50/50 with a sweeter and heavier Scottish Ale, like the one I have a growler of from Kulshan in Bellingham. From the 22 oz bottle purchased at Market of Choice on 29th in Eugene.

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3.44/5  rDev -3.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

MacPelican's is an ale seriously red in color, with a big earthy sweet aroma. I get molasses and a hint of smoke -- perhaps emanating from a bakery. The flavor is much less "big beer"... it tastes much like it smells, but turned down, resulting in a well-balanced, simple, and refreshing experience. Totally sessionable, if a little on the watery side.

22 oz bomber, "BTLD 120312"

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2.99/5  rDev -16%
look: 2.75 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Despised 22oz bottle poured into 10oz goblet. Poured a very still mahogany color with no head at all, but lots of clingy bubbles on the side of the glass. Weird.

The aroma was very malty-sweet, and lacked any peat which I look for in the style, but was otherwise typical. The flavor profile was nearly identical, with the addition of just a slight bit of earthy hops. The beer just wasn't as bold as I expected.

The body was probably just a wee bit thinner than typical for the style, just a bit more than medium. Drinkability was nice and smooth, but the lack of character reminds me why 12oz servings are better than these big bottles. Overall, not a bad beer, by any means, but also not one worth going out of your way for. Worth trying if you see it.

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3.97/5  rDev +11.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Served from the bottle into a nonic glass

A- Poured a very clear dark amber color with visible carbonation, soapy and bubbly off-white head dissipated instantly and left no lace

S- Butterscotch, caramel, toffee and mineral notes

T- Lots of cereal graininess, butterscotch, brown sugar, toffee, and mineral notes

M- Smooth, soft carbonation, medium body, dry

O- A good example of the style, very easy to drink. Great session beer with all the flavors you want from a Scottish Ale

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3.5/5  rDev -1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Pours a copper color, just like a penny. Is very transparent. A small white head recedes quickly leaving no lace on glass. Buttery, musty and woodsy aromas. Very malty, mild sweetness with a mild hop spice at the end. It has a slick body thats lightly carbonated. Subtle raisin or dark fruit in the finish. Very mild beer. Kind of rich, no smokiness. Easy to drink but not exciting or flavorfull at all. A bit boring.

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3.58/5  rDev +0.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Served slightly chilled into a snifter.

Pours a nice hazy bronze color with 3/4" light tan head that quickly recedes leaving a light surface layer with light lacing.

Aromas of carmelized sugar and figs. With a mild smokey and mineral background.

Tastes of figs, raisins and other dried fruits. Caramel malts, light smoke and a hint of leather with a slight floral aftertaste.

Mouthfeel is sweet but crisp with moderate carbonation.

Overall a very drinkable, mild bodied scottish ale. I prefer a little more smoke in my scottish ales, but this was well balanced example of the style.

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3.7/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Poured from 22oz bomber into a pint glass.

Appearance: rich copper hue with a haze-free body and a good effervescence. Head pours a couple of fingers of dense tan foam with decent retention. A good looking brew.

Smell: fairly complex malt aroma which is toasty, caramelly, nutty, bready and biscuity. There's a definite sweetness and it's just a bit floral; whether this is due to yeast or hops, I can't tell. You know, the malt character is not necessarily my favorite, but I salute this beer's complexity.

Taste: biscuity, bready and caramelly malt; starts of drier than the aroma but a sticky caramel sweetness builds. Bitterness is minmal. Complexity is not quite as intriguing as in the aroma; overally, not exactly my bag, but if you like Scottish style beers this one is definitely still worth a try.

Mouthfeel: medium body with a good carbonation and a big, if a bit evanescent, mouth-filling creaminess. I like it.

Overall: I think this beer is a good example of the style, but the flavors that come to the fore just don't suit my palate. Like I said, worth a try if you are into the style.

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3.53/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured from the bottle into a nonic pint glass. 2012 Bronze medal GABF winner for Scottish style ale. Bottled September 17th 2012.

A real nice copper ruby body and very clear. There's a little bit of cola sized carbonation, but it settles with some faint rising small wisps that rise from the bottom. Head makes three fingers, a little fluffy with not too much retention to hold it all together. Manages to fall at a good pace. Fairly nice looking beer.

Very toasty malt, almost kind of wooden. Splintery with a faint hint of caramel backbone hiding. A little wet and clean.

Hits the palate with a somewhat weak texture. A little watery, almost fizzy. Light malts match from the nose, with a good toasty brown bread. Faint sweet maple on the finish but really hiding.

Overall not bad, but nothing too memorable, the mouthfeel doesn't seem to hold up the flavor well enough.

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3.86/5  rDev +8.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

poured from 22oz bottle into imperial pint glass

A-nice copper colored with a 2 finger head that fades to a nice cap

S-some carmel and a hint of dark fruit

T-fruit doesn't really come through here it is mostly some bready carmel

M-good carbonation

O-pretty good scottish the is well crafted

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3.47/5  rDev -2.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

22oz bottle. Thanks Ayn!

A: Pours a clear medium-amber color with a fizzy short lived off-white head that quickly faded into a thin collar that left wisps of lace.
S: Toasted notes of malted grains. Roasted overall, light sweetness. Bread crust. Light overall.
T: Bread crust and roasted malts all the way. Faint caramley sweetness with some brown sugar, toffee and roast come through near the finish. Hops are earthy and mildly spicy, and I get a nice buttery quality overall.
M: Medium-thin body, light mouthfeel, lightly sweet, good carbonation, a bit airy.
O: Not as sweet as most which I appreciate. Not a bad drinking beer at all. Seek out if a fan of the style.

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3.53/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

3oz sampler pour
Enjoyed at brewpub on 9/3/12

A: It's a reddish amber color. Pours fairly clear.

S: Pulling that nuttiness. Definitely some smells of caramel malts.

T: True Scottish style, low bitterness from hopping. Nice malty nuttiness and breadiness. It's fairly well balanced. Session brew at that ABV.

M: Medium bodied.

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4/5  rDev +12.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a clear tawny amber color topped by a somewhat eggshell colored rocky head that leaves some minimal lacing around the glass.

Aromas begin with toasted maltiness with a little bit of sweet fruit. As it warms you et a little more honey, nuttiness and more English yeast ester fruitiness.

The tastes begin sweeter but still very smooth, bready/toasted maltiness, a bit of carmelization, a touch of brown sugar and butterscotch, with a sharper, hard water like cleaner finish and pleasant aftertaste.

Mouthfeel is medium bodied with medium carbonation. Finish is creamy but on the drier side.

Overall I really enjoyed this beer. It was cheap, flavorful and low in ABV so you could session it if necessary. Not mind-blowing, but not every beer has to be; just a super solid American take on the style.

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3.03/5  rDev -14.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

A: Poured a mahogany color with a small white head, some bubbles and minimal lacing

S: Sweet with lightly smoked malt scent and some caramel

T: Pretty much same as smell. An initial sticky sweetness with light smokiness, caramel. Pretty straightforward.

M: Medium bodied and thinner than most beers of this style

O: Average and probably would not go back to this one again. My least favorite Pelican beer so far.

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4.13/5  rDev +16%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

app-brilliantly clear. orange with a ruby tint. slight head with a little retention

aroma- strong bready, biscuity malt aroma. slight hop bite. slight hint of milk chocolate

Taste- a light malt flavor. less than the aroma would lead you to believe. A slight hop bitterness. A little earth in the finish.

mf- a dry crisp beer.

Dr- a very enjoyable drinkable beer

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3.93/5  rDev +10.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

amber with a nice clarity to it and adequate carbonation visible trickling up from the bottom of the glass. This gathered at the top and combined to form a delicate head

nice delicate notes of nuts and caramel were mixed and intertwined with a deeply rooted grain filled back. This was a malt monster for sure as the only thing that was easily picked up through all this was the dark roasted malts that made up the majority of it. nice bit of caramel and sweetness right from the start and this really never faded as any other flavors that were here simply mingled and swirled around this. There were hints of roasted nuts as well as a nice bit of overt grassy notes

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3.48/5  rDev -2.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Poured from 22 oz bottle into my Deschutes Brewery tulip glass.
Appearance is reddish brown, clear, ample head.
Smell, nondescript.
Taste balanced. High carbonation.
Mouthfeel, all I feel is the lingering carbonation.
One of my favorite styles.
A disappointment.

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3.41/5  rDev -4.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Thanks, Bobby.

A: The beer pours an opaque amber color with a finger of khaki colored head.

S: Smells watery, but bad. A little bit of caramel and toffee, quite a bit of grass, too. Just a bit of yeast, maybe some hints of fruit. Definitely a bit of cooked vegetable aroma.

T: Tastes better than it smells, luckily. Sweet caramel with a light creaminess. Toasted bread and some hints of yeast. A very light fruitiness, maybe some hop notes, too.

M: Light to medium in body with medium carbonation.

O: So far I've been disappointed with Pelican beers that aren't barleywines.

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3.76/5  rDev +5.6%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

A 22 oz into a pint glass

Appearance: Clear amber-red woth lots of carbonation. Head is quite audible, quickly dissipating, and an off-white color.

Aroma: Bitter smelling pils hops mixed with lighter fruits, apricot, and a slight alcoholic bite.

Flavor: Brief malt breadiness quickly dampens into a lighter flavored biscuit and honey. Hops are sweet and soda-like.

Mouthfeel: High carbonation gives deceptively large body though the flavor is so light that once the carbonation subsides the beer is revealed to be light and sessionable.

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3.59/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Head and lacing quickly evaporate. Pours a golden sap color.

Smell is lovely; caramel, honey, brown sugar, light hops, smells sticky sweet.

Replicates the nose but everything is less prevalent, more subdued.

Light carbonation.

Nicely done, this bottle could easily be finished by a single person, and leave them thirsty for more.

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