Highway 78 Scotch Ale - Scotch Whiskey Barrel Aged
Stone Brewing

Highway 78 Scotch Ale - Scotch Whiskey Barrel AgedHighway 78 Scotch Ale - Scotch Whiskey Barrel Aged
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From:
Stone Brewing
 
California, United States
Style:
Scotch Ale / Wee Heavy
ABV:
12.5%
Score:
86
Avg:
3.81 | pDev: 14.96%
Reviews:
12
Ratings:
91
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Mar 03, 2022
Added:
Jul 17, 2012
Wants:
  6
Gots:
  19
Collaboration with Green Flash Brewing and Pizza Port Brewing

Brewmasters Stone's Mitch Steele, Green Flash's Chuck Silva and Pizza Port Carlsbad's Jeff Bagby created this intensely malty brew named after an 18 mile stretch of asphalt uniting their three breweries.

Unfiltered and aged 16 months, 20% Highland Malt Whiskey Barrels, 40% Islay Malt Whiskey Barrels, 40% Lowland Grain Whiskey Barrels. Producing a complex beer with a harmony of rich flavors. Bitter oaky tones, sweet vanilla and maple flavors and earthy smokiness.

There are two different bottlings of this release. Batch #1 (Chuck/Jeff/Mitch Blend) and batch #2 (Wagner Blend). The Wagner Blend is higher in Highland Malt Whiskey and much lower in Lowland Whiskey.

Batch 01: Green Flash/Pizza Port Carlsbad/Stone Highway 78 Scotch Ale aged in Scotch Whisky Barrels: “Chuck/Jeff/Mitch” Blend (Released: 02.10.13) - 12.5% ABV

Batch 02: Green Flash/Pizza Port Carlsbad/Stone Highway 78 Scotch Ale aged in Scotch Whisky Barrels: “Wagner” Blend (Released: 02.10.13) - 12.2% ABV
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by facundoCNB:
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Reviewed by facundoCNB from New Jersey

3.94/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.75
a reddish burgundy/brown in color, 2 fingers of very transparent looking foamy head which dissipated quickly. aromas of sweet malt, coffee, chocolate, raisins, figs, pecans, vanilla/oak. the flavor is bourbon all the way.. actually even getting some smoky pepper in there too, warming up you get more of the sweet malt, some charred oak characteristics, grapes, raisins. honestly, for the abv, and the barrel aging - the booze is pretty well hidden. the body is quite thin for as heavy as the beer is, carbonation is barely there.. not really enjoying how this feels.

i'm honestly kind of dissapointed in this beer. i remember LOVING the beer fresh (non barrel aged), but this just isn't what i remember.. by any stretch. if you like cask whiskey barrel aged beers then this should be up your alley. i like some carbonation in my beer, so i'm not really into the way this drank.. the flavor and aroma were on point, but it just lacks without the bubbles.
Oct 16, 2013
More User Ratings:
Photo of EMV
Reviewed by EMV from Pennsylvania

2.23/5  rDev -41.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 1 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 2
Batch 01. Poured from a cork'n'cage 16 oz bottle into a Dogfish Head tulip

This one was pretty obviously infected so my rating means squat. Although.. from what I've read a LOT of these bottles were infected so I don't feel so bad posting it. I drank some of it anyways as it made an interesting smoked wild ale, but most was a drainpour. Disappointing, but... c'est la vie.
Mar 03, 2022
 
Rated: 1.29 by CheapBeerBuzz from California

Mar 18, 2017
 
Rated: 3.59 by Angerhaus from Rhode Island

Feb 11, 2016
 
Rated: 3.36 by Zaphog from Michigan

Apr 27, 2015
 
Rated: 4.3 by ivegot3Dvision from Oregon

Mar 11, 2015
 
Rated: 3.75 by lysergicdream from Colorado

Oct 19, 2014
 
Rated: 3.5 by spycow from Illinois

Oct 12, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by Beersnake from California

Aug 28, 2014
 
Rated: 3.25 by 2beerdogs from California

Aug 01, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by BKotch from Texas

Jul 31, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by zestar from California

Jul 19, 2014
Photo of sweemzander
Reviewed by sweemzander from Illinois

4.2/5  rDev +10.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Corked and caged bottle poured into a snifter. Chuck/Jeff/Mitch blend

(A)- Pours a cloudy caramel brown color. Some off-white froth.

(S)- Slight briny saltiness (peat) from the barrel. Sweet yet slightly meaty with caramel and oak.

(T)- Love the peated scotch barrel on this. Slightly sweet yet lighter than expected with a meaty (jerky) middle.

(M)- A great balance for me. The peated aspect of this really turns this into something special. One of the few peated scotch barreled beers that pulled this off without making it overly salty or jerky-like (its there but in subtle nuances).

(O)- Well balanced and one of the better peated scotch barrel treatments I have had to date
Jul 17, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by DrBier from Pennsylvania

Jul 11, 2014
Photo of scottfrie
Reviewed by scottfrie from California

3.82/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
500ml bottle into snifter. Chuck/Jeff/Mitch blend, bottled January 2013.

A: Pours a clear woody dark brown with a couple fingers of fizzy dark tan head. Head quickly faded into a faint collar that left minimal spotty lace down the glass.
S: Sweet notes of caramel, raisins, whisky, balsamic vinegar, maple syrup, wood, and sherry come through on the nose. I get a hint of peat but apple as well.
T: Follows the nose with strange flavors of peat, whisky, woody barrel, caramel, and slight apple, but I also get hints of vanilla, scotch, bread crust, smoke, and stone fruits. The finish is sweet and full of whisky flavors, but there is no booziness to the brew at all. The sweetness carries over to the aftertaste, which leaves a peat/whisky/sugary/butterscotch taste in my mouth.
M: Medium body, lighter than I expected, with fizzy carbonation made up of tiny, tight, bubbles that tingle on my palate. The mouthfeel is sweet and smooth yet finishes rather dry and slightly gritty. No trace of alcohol at all.
O: At first I wasn’t really digging this, but after a while it started to grow on me. It has a very unique taste that I can’t quite put my finger on, but I’d say it’s an improvement on the original.
Jun 25, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by Latarnik from New Jersey

Jun 01, 2014
 
Rated: 4.5 by robear from Wisconsin

May 28, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by MystikCelt from New York

May 14, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by BG24 from California

Apr 25, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by Mike from New Hampshire

Apr 19, 2014
Highway 78 Scotch Ale - Scotch Whiskey Barrel Aged from Stone Brewing
Beer rating: 86 out of 100 with 91 ratings