Wee Heavy | Belhaven Brewery Company Ltd.
Brewed by:
Belhaven Brewery Company Ltd.
Scotland, United Kingdom
belhaven.co.uk
Style: Scotch Ale / Wee Heavy
Alcohol by volume (ABV): 6.50%
Availability: Year-round
Notes / Commercial Description:
No notes at this time.
Added by BeerAdvocate on 03-24-1998
HISTOGRAM
View: Beers
Ratings: 1,072 | Reviews: 573
Reviews by burnerfinger:
4.91/5 rDev +20.9%
look: 4.75 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
really one of the best I've tried.
Bought this just because I liked the name - "Wee " heavy made me think of Groundskeeper Willie from the simpsons. OMG what a surprise:
A Khaki head settles to a thin film, leaving no lacing at all
ULtra clear when held to a light - and the color made reminds me of rosewood
S a touch of sweet caramel, and a touch of the "skunk" weed I smoked in my twenties.
T HOORAY! nicely complex caramel with a piney hops touch. LOVE this.
M solid body
D ultra fine - sip in order to fully appreciate the beauty of this GEM.
554 characters
look: 4.75 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
really one of the best I've tried.
Bought this just because I liked the name - "Wee " heavy made me think of Groundskeeper Willie from the simpsons. OMG what a surprise:
A Khaki head settles to a thin film, leaving no lacing at all
ULtra clear when held to a light - and the color made reminds me of rosewood
S a touch of sweet caramel, and a touch of the "skunk" weed I smoked in my twenties.
T HOORAY! nicely complex caramel with a piney hops touch. LOVE this.
M solid body
D ultra fine - sip in order to fully appreciate the beauty of this GEM.
554 characters
More User Reviews:
3.93/5 rDev -3.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Poured a nice auburn/brown color with creamy head,malty,sweet,alcohol smell to it.Taste was sweet and caramelly with some earthiness coming in at the end.Something to have before goin to bed on a chilly early spring night.The alcohol content will help turn the lights out for bed.
280 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Poured a nice auburn/brown color with creamy head,malty,sweet,alcohol smell to it.Taste was sweet and caramelly with some earthiness coming in at the end.Something to have before goin to bed on a chilly early spring night.The alcohol content will help turn the lights out for bed.
280 characters
4.03/5 rDev -0.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Appearance Very dark brown body with a foaming head that I controlled at the pour.
Smell Nice, smoked scotch aroma similar to Bowmore if youve ever had it. Theres also a deeply complex malt nose to this one.
Taste This is like a strong/old ale with a hint of smoky scotch. The malt flavors are very complex. I can pick up the standard toasted-malt flavors, then theres another more sweetened style. Lastly, theres a slight hint of bread.
The sweet flavors are oriented towards maple, although theres some table sugar in there as well. Overall, a very complex and enjoyable flavor.
Mouthfeel This is a real heavy hitter. Full in the mouth and decently carbonated, this one is all about the malt. No hoppy dryness to speak of.
Drinkability I dont think that this style is for everyone, and in fact its the first that Ive tasted. But, if youre into big, heavy ales and are looking for something a little different than the standard grocery store fare, give this one a try. Its inexpensive, not too alcoholic (6.5 ABV), and if you like scotch its fun to drink.
Update I first rated this in 2003 so thought Id do a re-review with an 04 bottle. It just looks magnificent on an easy pour. Its definitely wee heavy with a big belt of scotch flavor.
1,308 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Appearance Very dark brown body with a foaming head that I controlled at the pour.
Smell Nice, smoked scotch aroma similar to Bowmore if youve ever had it. Theres also a deeply complex malt nose to this one.
Taste This is like a strong/old ale with a hint of smoky scotch. The malt flavors are very complex. I can pick up the standard toasted-malt flavors, then theres another more sweetened style. Lastly, theres a slight hint of bread.
The sweet flavors are oriented towards maple, although theres some table sugar in there as well. Overall, a very complex and enjoyable flavor.
Mouthfeel This is a real heavy hitter. Full in the mouth and decently carbonated, this one is all about the malt. No hoppy dryness to speak of.
Drinkability I dont think that this style is for everyone, and in fact its the first that Ive tasted. But, if youre into big, heavy ales and are looking for something a little different than the standard grocery store fare, give this one a try. Its inexpensive, not too alcoholic (6.5 ABV), and if you like scotch its fun to drink.
Update I first rated this in 2003 so thought Id do a re-review with an 04 bottle. It just looks magnificent on an easy pour. Its definitely wee heavy with a big belt of scotch flavor.
1,308 characters
4.35/5 rDev +7.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Presentation: Impressive wide 500ml brown bottle with raised lettering, "Belhaven est. 1719." Old Scottish Lion on the label, with a big dull gold "Wee Heavy."
Appearance: Dark crimson with an off-white chunky head that retains.
Smell: Earthy dark malt aroma, with wood in the back.
Taste: Rich fruit flavours, like spirit soaked raisins. A note of spicy bitterness is overtaken by a true smoked flavour that permeates the mouth entirely.
Notes: A delicious Scottish Ale with depths of flavour. Indulge and spend the $3+.
533 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Presentation: Impressive wide 500ml brown bottle with raised lettering, "Belhaven est. 1719." Old Scottish Lion on the label, with a big dull gold "Wee Heavy."
Appearance: Dark crimson with an off-white chunky head that retains.
Smell: Earthy dark malt aroma, with wood in the back.
Taste: Rich fruit flavours, like spirit soaked raisins. A note of spicy bitterness is overtaken by a true smoked flavour that permeates the mouth entirely.
Notes: A delicious Scottish Ale with depths of flavour. Indulge and spend the $3+.
533 characters
4.68/5 rDev +15.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
4.06/5 rDev 0%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Great milkshakey, frothy eggshell of a head. Nice cola color with carbination rising up. Very vineous and grapey scents. Taste is dry, but yet it leaves your mouth moist. Nice and malty, bit of chocolate and coffee flavors, -nice flavoring. Carbination is medium, just right. Medium bodied. Slight chardonnay tastes. Maybe a bit more towards apple juice? Tiny bit of molasses, some darkness. Everything is so nicely blended in this one. Good drinkability here too.
464 characters
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Great milkshakey, frothy eggshell of a head. Nice cola color with carbination rising up. Very vineous and grapey scents. Taste is dry, but yet it leaves your mouth moist. Nice and malty, bit of chocolate and coffee flavors, -nice flavoring. Carbination is medium, just right. Medium bodied. Slight chardonnay tastes. Maybe a bit more towards apple juice? Tiny bit of molasses, some darkness. Everything is so nicely blended in this one. Good drinkability here too.
464 characters
4/5 rDev -1.5%
Nose of caramels and brown sugar with bits of toffee and butterscotch supported by moderately toasted malts and a touch of ABV. Taste is rich caramels on a foundation of toasted malts that lasts through the finish. Body is a tad on the light side for a wee heavy. Beer is a solid, classic presentation of the style.
318 characters
Nose of caramels and brown sugar with bits of toffee and butterscotch supported by moderately toasted malts and a touch of ABV. Taste is rich caramels on a foundation of toasted malts that lasts through the finish. Body is a tad on the light side for a wee heavy. Beer is a solid, classic presentation of the style.
318 characters
4.08/5 rDev +0.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5
500ml bottle pours a clear, garnet mahogany body with a one finger, beige head that quickly drops into some nicely woven lace.
Aroma is malty, in the Scotch tradition, with toffee and molasses up front. A fascinating note of whiskey soaked, wooden barrels is easily picked up in the background.
Mouthfeel is medium bodied, and is awash with prickles of many of the flavors that soon arrive, in full bloom, in the taste.
Taste: Malty caramel and toffee are prominent here. A cloud of smokiness(peat?) envelopes the strong malt essence. Herbal hop bitterness is present, but in a minor role. This is a friendly, easy sipping, Scottish ale that is worthy of sitting down with for a good spell. Consider it that old, Scottish uncle that you always wanted to sit down and chat with for an evening.
Drinkability is sublime. This is a thinking man(or woman's) beer. Sip this while dressed comfortbly, curled up with a book of Robert Burns poetry, and be sure to listen to some old Gaelic music.
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look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5
500ml bottle pours a clear, garnet mahogany body with a one finger, beige head that quickly drops into some nicely woven lace.
Aroma is malty, in the Scotch tradition, with toffee and molasses up front. A fascinating note of whiskey soaked, wooden barrels is easily picked up in the background.
Mouthfeel is medium bodied, and is awash with prickles of many of the flavors that soon arrive, in full bloom, in the taste.
Taste: Malty caramel and toffee are prominent here. A cloud of smokiness(peat?) envelopes the strong malt essence. Herbal hop bitterness is present, but in a minor role. This is a friendly, easy sipping, Scottish ale that is worthy of sitting down with for a good spell. Consider it that old, Scottish uncle that you always wanted to sit down and chat with for an evening.
Drinkability is sublime. This is a thinking man(or woman's) beer. Sip this while dressed comfortbly, curled up with a book of Robert Burns poetry, and be sure to listen to some old Gaelic music.
999 characters
4.07/5 rDev +0.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
500 Ml. broad shouldered bottle. Pours darker almond amber, darker khaki head, bits of lace. Nice malty, nutty, caramel infused nose. Rich, malty brew. Notes of plenty of caramel, sweet malts and a subtle smokyness. Sultry and delicious stuff. A solid and quite worthy example of this old school style
301 characters
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
500 Ml. broad shouldered bottle. Pours darker almond amber, darker khaki head, bits of lace. Nice malty, nutty, caramel infused nose. Rich, malty brew. Notes of plenty of caramel, sweet malts and a subtle smokyness. Sultry and delicious stuff. A solid and quite worthy example of this old school style
301 characters
2.88/5 rDev -29.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5
I was a little dissapointed by this beer.
The flavour was ok but it was nothing special. I like the high alcohol content, as I think this helps bring out the flavour, but really, I just didn't think it was warranted in this case.
Colour was good, but the head vanished very quickly.
Worth a try if you are a fan of the style, I suppose, but it just didn't do anything for me. It is certainly drinkable, and is certainly pleasant enough - it just doesn't ring my bells.
480 characters
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5
I was a little dissapointed by this beer.
The flavour was ok but it was nothing special. I like the high alcohol content, as I think this helps bring out the flavour, but really, I just didn't think it was warranted in this case.
Colour was good, but the head vanished very quickly.
Worth a try if you are a fan of the style, I suppose, but it just didn't do anything for me. It is certainly drinkable, and is certainly pleasant enough - it just doesn't ring my bells.
480 characters
3.85/5 rDev -5.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
4.25/5 rDev +4.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Pours a deep brown with highlights of ruby and bronze with a solid frothy tan head that maintains itself for a while then falls to keep a nice eigth-inch lacing.
Nose is thick, sweet and malty, with caramel and spice.
Taste is also thick, sweet, tons of malt, some dark fruit. Slight hop finish to give balance.
Mouthfeel is full and sweet, with a hint of carbonation at the mid-back of the tongue. Very nice, a solid session brew.
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look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Pours a deep brown with highlights of ruby and bronze with a solid frothy tan head that maintains itself for a while then falls to keep a nice eigth-inch lacing.
Nose is thick, sweet and malty, with caramel and spice.
Taste is also thick, sweet, tons of malt, some dark fruit. Slight hop finish to give balance.
Mouthfeel is full and sweet, with a hint of carbonation at the mid-back of the tongue. Very nice, a solid session brew.
436 characters
4.75/5 rDev +17%
Rich malt aromas, fresh baked bread crust,
Brilliant dark chestnut, 2” off-white head with fine bubbles, dissipates to ¼”. Very lacy.
Palate: Rich British malt spice, a dark sugary malt flavor, no roast, whole wheat bread.
Chewy, creamy, medium low soft carbonation.
272 characters
Rich malt aromas, fresh baked bread crust,
Brilliant dark chestnut, 2” off-white head with fine bubbles, dissipates to ¼”. Very lacy.
Palate: Rich British malt spice, a dark sugary malt flavor, no roast, whole wheat bread.
Chewy, creamy, medium low soft carbonation.
272 characters
4.38/5 rDev +7.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
A 500ml clear glass bottle with a BB of Aug 2011. Appears to have been destined for the North American market.
Poured into a Sam Smith's pint glass. A deep ruby colour with low carbonation. Yields a good head of light-brown foam that lasts for a minute or two before subsiding. Aroma of rich, sweet malt with notes of caramel, toffee, dried fruit and alcohol accompanied by an underlying vinous quality.
Tastes of sweet, fruity malt. Notes of brown sugar, dried fruit, caramel/toffee and faint stewed leaves in the background. A subtle wine-like flavour is discernible. No bitterness on the finish. Mouthfeel is smooth, thick and tingly. The carbonation gives it the perfect sensation on the palate. Sweet aftertaste of malt and fruit.
Very nice - one to be enjoyed slowly. The sweetness resembles a fortified wine but with a distinct grainy character. Complex yet subtle; well worth sampling at your leisure.
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look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
A 500ml clear glass bottle with a BB of Aug 2011. Appears to have been destined for the North American market.
Poured into a Sam Smith's pint glass. A deep ruby colour with low carbonation. Yields a good head of light-brown foam that lasts for a minute or two before subsiding. Aroma of rich, sweet malt with notes of caramel, toffee, dried fruit and alcohol accompanied by an underlying vinous quality.
Tastes of sweet, fruity malt. Notes of brown sugar, dried fruit, caramel/toffee and faint stewed leaves in the background. A subtle wine-like flavour is discernible. No bitterness on the finish. Mouthfeel is smooth, thick and tingly. The carbonation gives it the perfect sensation on the palate. Sweet aftertaste of malt and fruit.
Very nice - one to be enjoyed slowly. The sweetness resembles a fortified wine but with a distinct grainy character. Complex yet subtle; well worth sampling at your leisure.
912 characters
Wee Heavy from Belhaven Brewery Company Ltd.
Beer rating:
4.06 out of
5 with
1,072 ratings
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