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Claymore
Great Divide Brewing Company
- From:
- Great Divide Brewing Company
- Colorado, United States
- Style:
- Scotch Ale / Wee Heavy
Ranked #100 - ABV:
- 7.7%
- Score:
- 87
Ranked #17,869 - Avg:
- 3.85 | pDev: 11.43%
- Reviews:
- 524
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Sep 03, 2022
- Added:
- Jan 22, 2009
- Wants:
- 52
- Gots:
- 244
Named for a medieval Scottish sword, Claymore Scotch Ale is our tribute to the legendary “Wee Heavy” beers of Scotland. This malty, deep-ruby beauty features lots of caramel sweetness, a reserved hop profile, and a subtle warming character. Unlike its namesake, this beer only requires one hand, but it’ll still make you feel like nobility.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by pkalix:
Reviewed by pkalix from California
4.42/5 rDev +14.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
4.42/5 rDev +14.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
poured into the glass a very dark brown with ruby red around the thinner edges, very minor foam on top.
smell from the bottle is a dark earthen, peatiness(?), like a rich fertile soil...
taste is rich, malty, smoky, and a little sweet. almost a chocalte-y taste around the sides of the tongue, although there seems to be something missing at the end of each draw- like it's a bit lighter than it tasted on the tongue.
it's a bit heavier, toward the stout, but not that heavy.
overall, a pleasant venture into another untried brew for me. two scotch ales in a row; i do like the style. partial to the dopplebocks and looking for others and i really like this style. just not as much as the sweet malty dopples.... but i imagine i could do a few of these in a row and they would be awesome with a shot of some good bourbon or really good whiskey. in fact, a good evening would be these two in moderate amounts...
Dec 16, 2012smell from the bottle is a dark earthen, peatiness(?), like a rich fertile soil...
taste is rich, malty, smoky, and a little sweet. almost a chocalte-y taste around the sides of the tongue, although there seems to be something missing at the end of each draw- like it's a bit lighter than it tasted on the tongue.
it's a bit heavier, toward the stout, but not that heavy.
overall, a pleasant venture into another untried brew for me. two scotch ales in a row; i do like the style. partial to the dopplebocks and looking for others and i really like this style. just not as much as the sweet malty dopples.... but i imagine i could do a few of these in a row and they would be awesome with a shot of some good bourbon or really good whiskey. in fact, a good evening would be these two in moderate amounts...
More User Ratings:
Reviewed by Sigmund from Norway
3.25/5 rDev -15.6%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
3.25/5 rDev -15.6%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
355 ml bottle, Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. ABV is 7.7%. Very dark brown colour, thin beige head of poor retention. Malty aroma, some caramel and a hint of wood, but a bit anonymous. A faint hint of smoke. Malts, caramel and wood in the medium sweet flavour too, minimal hops. Not a bad beer, but this is not my favourite style.
Sep 03, 2022Reviewed by MaltsOfGlory from Oregon
3.74/5 rDev -2.9%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
3.74/5 rDev -2.9%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
12oz can
Pours only a finger of fizzy light brown head into my nitro glass. Retention is very poor and the “head” is gone in less than a minute. Initial lacing looks poor as well. Body is basically black, with hues of brown. Doesn’t look very good so far.
Nose is very clean and “wet”. Primarily roasted malt on the nose, extremely faint chocolate. Thankfully not peaty, though I don’t find many Scotch ales to live up to that reputation anyways. Not much caramel either. There is a mineral aspect to it, which clashes interestingly with the wetness. Overall a pretty small and one dimensional aroma.
Flavor has a fair amount fruit towards the end of the palate - plum/fig, accompanied by a big sweetness. A small spice and a very mild roast come out as the beer warms. Again, not a whole lot going on, but it’s actually pretty enjoyable.
Carbonation is medium-high. For having such a big sweetness, the body is surprisingly light. Cloying at times, but generally clean. Has some bitterness, and some astringency. All things considered, it’s not a bad mouthfeel.
Drinkability isn’t all that great, mostly due to the slight astringency. The palate adapts to the sweetness, and it’s actually not a huge deal.
Appearance didn’t get any better, zero lacing.
Overall an interesting beer. While the flavor was similar to the nose in its one-dimensional nature, it actually tasted good enough and smooth enough (emphasis on enough) to work. Much better in the glass than out of the can, which I can’t say very often.
Mar 09, 2022Pours only a finger of fizzy light brown head into my nitro glass. Retention is very poor and the “head” is gone in less than a minute. Initial lacing looks poor as well. Body is basically black, with hues of brown. Doesn’t look very good so far.
Nose is very clean and “wet”. Primarily roasted malt on the nose, extremely faint chocolate. Thankfully not peaty, though I don’t find many Scotch ales to live up to that reputation anyways. Not much caramel either. There is a mineral aspect to it, which clashes interestingly with the wetness. Overall a pretty small and one dimensional aroma.
Flavor has a fair amount fruit towards the end of the palate - plum/fig, accompanied by a big sweetness. A small spice and a very mild roast come out as the beer warms. Again, not a whole lot going on, but it’s actually pretty enjoyable.
Carbonation is medium-high. For having such a big sweetness, the body is surprisingly light. Cloying at times, but generally clean. Has some bitterness, and some astringency. All things considered, it’s not a bad mouthfeel.
Drinkability isn’t all that great, mostly due to the slight astringency. The palate adapts to the sweetness, and it’s actually not a huge deal.
Appearance didn’t get any better, zero lacing.
Overall an interesting beer. While the flavor was similar to the nose in its one-dimensional nature, it actually tasted good enough and smooth enough (emphasis on enough) to work. Much better in the glass than out of the can, which I can’t say very often.
Reviewed by KenjiN from Massachusetts
4.72/5 rDev +22.6%
look: 5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
4.72/5 rDev +22.6%
look: 5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
Pours a dark mahogany color; in the glass, it appears black. Beer boasts a dense, tan head. Smoky, malty, peaty, almost woody aroma -- very complex. Full-bodied, even syrupy. 7.7# ABV is *utterly* undetectable in nose and palate. Malt flavors are gloriously complex. I tried a second sample, this time chilled, and detected dark fruit notes as well as chocolatey ones. It reminded me of a milk chocolate-covered cherry. Fantastic.
This was the best Scotch Ale I have ever tasted.
Jan 11, 2022This was the best Scotch Ale I have ever tasted.
Reviewed by mscott
4.35/5 rDev +13%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.5
4.35/5 rDev +13%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.5
Really a very good Scotch Ale that I enjoy even more than McEwans but not as much as Belhaven which is the best in class I have had. Have brewed many Wee Heavy's and love the the smoked notes which are authentic for class. This is best Scotch Ale made in USA I have had. A very drinkable beer. A pleasure that is true to the Scotch Ale class though not best.
Aug 01, 2021Reviewed by KT3418 from Colorado
3.94/5 rDev +2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
3.94/5 rDev +2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Pitch black brew, hint of red in tge sun, very light head, good and malty, upon first sip i got tons of malt which kind of reminded me of the porter vibe but I have littke experience with Scotch ales. Good stuff, ready to have again.
Mar 23, 2021Reviewed by TheBricenator from Oregon
3.79/5 rDev -1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
3.79/5 rDev -1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Look: Dark brownish red and looks black in the glass with a huge beige head that forms and settles quickly, leaving good lacing behind
Aroma: Dark fruit – raisins, prunes, and plums, wafts of smoky malt, brown bread, toffee, and earthiness
Taste: Huge dark fruit notes hit first and followed by nice smoky and toffee led sweet malt. Breadiness and earthy notes come in as the initial punch starts to fade and then fruity smoky notes regain strength and hold through the finish
Mouthfeel: Full, big and bold but soft, a little chewy, and quite soft on the finish without showing almost any hint of its ABV
Overall: I like this one. A little more dark-fruit-forward than several Scotch ales I occasionally drink in that those seem more bready and malt-forward with the dark fruit as a complimentary part, but this is still good. Almost a Belgian Strong Dark Ale-esque flair but then the smoky notes confirm it’s a Scotch. Nice and warming too and hides its alcohol well. Tasty and recommended
Jan 23, 2021Aroma: Dark fruit – raisins, prunes, and plums, wafts of smoky malt, brown bread, toffee, and earthiness
Taste: Huge dark fruit notes hit first and followed by nice smoky and toffee led sweet malt. Breadiness and earthy notes come in as the initial punch starts to fade and then fruity smoky notes regain strength and hold through the finish
Mouthfeel: Full, big and bold but soft, a little chewy, and quite soft on the finish without showing almost any hint of its ABV
Overall: I like this one. A little more dark-fruit-forward than several Scotch ales I occasionally drink in that those seem more bready and malt-forward with the dark fruit as a complimentary part, but this is still good. Almost a Belgian Strong Dark Ale-esque flair but then the smoky notes confirm it’s a Scotch. Nice and warming too and hides its alcohol well. Tasty and recommended
Reviewed by Iamaskier from Idaho
3.74/5 rDev -2.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.75
3.74/5 rDev -2.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.75
Very dark on the pour, a walnut brownish black. Smell is fairly faint, only really able to discern a malty sweetness. Taste is an upfront sweetness, roasted malt, and a very stout-like chocolate. Carbonation is spot on. All in all a good beer, can’t really go wrong with this style and a meal.
Jan 21, 2021Reviewed by barneyrubble from Colorado
3.78/5 rDev -1.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
3.78/5 rDev -1.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Poured from a can into a tulip glass a short lived 1F medium tan head is formed.
On the nose deep roasted barley malt with a stout like fresh green hop aroma. Molasses, caramel, and dark sugar fill out the aroma profile.
On the palate a sweet smoky caramel malt and a touch of dark barley emerge. Brown licorice, chicory and Ovaltine notes add to the flavor. A touch of light green hops lend some dryness on the finish.
Mouthfeel is stout like medium and slick. Carbonation is on the lighter side of medium and texture is round and finishes slick without becoming cloying.
Overall a very good brown beer, with a shot of smoke. On the lower side for hops and leans more toward sweet caramel malt. It is not bitter and not like coffee or too sweet. The smoke note takes it down a bit as it is a special note and not needed.
Jan 14, 2021On the nose deep roasted barley malt with a stout like fresh green hop aroma. Molasses, caramel, and dark sugar fill out the aroma profile.
On the palate a sweet smoky caramel malt and a touch of dark barley emerge. Brown licorice, chicory and Ovaltine notes add to the flavor. A touch of light green hops lend some dryness on the finish.
Mouthfeel is stout like medium and slick. Carbonation is on the lighter side of medium and texture is round and finishes slick without becoming cloying.
Overall a very good brown beer, with a shot of smoke. On the lower side for hops and leans more toward sweet caramel malt. It is not bitter and not like coffee or too sweet. The smoke note takes it down a bit as it is a special note and not needed.
Reviewed by milkshakebeersucks from Maryland
3.94/5 rDev +2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
3.94/5 rDev +2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Deep mahogany appearance with a large tan head that faded quickly but left good lacing. Caramel malt aroma, some roastiness, some dark fruit. Rich, malty, earthy taste, gently hopped, with toffee and nuts in the background. Medium bodied, modestly carbonated mouthfeel with a long lasting finish.
Dec 07, 2020
Claymore from Great Divide Brewing Company
Beer rating:
87 out of
100 with
1597 ratings
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