Scottish Holiday Ale
Lucky Labrador Brewing Company

 

On draft at Bailey's, Portland, Oregon.

Poured a deep amber hue with a one finger foamy white head. There was very good retention and lacing.

The smell featured a round cereal malts and a faint grassy hop.

The taste consisted of full soft malts, caramel, earthy notes and a touch of balancing hop.

The mouthfeel was toward the creamier end of the style.

Overall a nice example of the style. Smooth and easy to drink.

Found this on-tap at the LL Beer Hall in NW today. An imperial pint on 'Tightwad Tuesday' at the bargain price of $3.25. Paired along with an Italian Grinder and potato chips.

A: Gorgeous pour, a deep mahogany brown, tinged with a ruby/cherry. Cap is very thin, but extremely long-lived and exceedingly creamy, a sandy-khaki tan. Very nice lace, hanging in creamy rings.

S: Mild spice and a generally sweet malt-cereal aroma.

T: Tangy and yet fruity (dried, leathery), sweet and husky grain, mild spice. Has a toffee, almost butterscotch, sweetness melded with big pithy and grassy hops. Finishes dry and vaguely herbal, like black tea.

M: Good medium body, nice creamy texture. Lasting bitterness of toasted grain mixed with a deep, dark fruit sweetness. Doesn't give away much by hiding it's nearly 7% abv.

D: Tasty brew, easy to drink, one I'd order again. I believe this is a winter seasonal (given the name Scottish Holiday), so grab one if you find it. A good pairing with lunch and a nice, sipable warmer.

Shaker draught at Higgins, the Scottish Holiday is a really dark ruby with a very tight, creamy tan head, small but long lasting, with lots of foamy lace.

Smell is sweet crystal and grape esters, pretty subdued though even as it warmed.

Taste is nice, roasty malt, caramel, cured fruit, leather and some booze, with a firm, hoppy bitterness. There's a bit of astringent spice which is amplified by the the dry, bitter finish that's definitely not true to style, more winter warmer/scotch hybrid, but hearty and tasty.

Mouthfeel is on the drier side, with a surprisingly light body.

Drinkability is pretty good, taste is full and satisfying, digestibility is high and alcohol is just enough to warm without overwhelming. Still, I reckon I'd tire of the spice by my 3rd pint or so.

Scottish Holiday falls more towards Holiday and less towards Scottish. It pours a deep dark brown, murky but bejewelled, with a tiny head and crests of lace. The aroma is fruity and pleasing, with lots of character and hints of berries and cinnamon. The taste is equally good; the malts are dark and meaty with the healthiness and organic quality of a forest floor covered with leaves. An authoritative piney, minty hop crispness brings this out of Scottish territory and into winter warmerland. The mouthfeel is slightly thin and foams up in the mouth a little; the beer needs some sort of aeration. The drinkability is good for the style, but keep in mind this is a slow sippin' winter ale.