Scotch Fumée
Microbrasserie de l'ile d'Orléans

Appearance: Dark brown with red highlights when light-struck. Initially an aggressive two fingers of head that calms to a half finger that stayed around but offered no lace, which to be fair is the most head I've really had from a Scotch Ale. The only downside is who will notice the shadow of sediment in the body.

Smell: Smokey peat is by far the dominant smell, as only a background of toffee malt can be detected behind it. It did need a bit of warming, but it reached solid potency quick. Sadly this may be a be foreboding, for while I like the smoky smell of peat, when I've had peated scotch, it hasn't agreed with my palate.

Taste: As I said, I'm not a big fan of that peat smoke that permeates the beer, but I will say here, they've done a great job of restraining it well and balancing it with sweet toffee malt initially as tea notes give way to dates and berries to end things.

Mouthfeel: This is where this beer shines as the carbonation is far frothier than any other scotch ale I've had. That balance is good and passes into a mild aftertaste of toffee and peat that doesn't get past a whisper and the transitioning while good, wasn't a long journey. That and the peat adds a weird dry note that doesn't really lend itself to either drinking more or refreshing you. Still, very well done.

Drinkability: Despite it not tipping it's ABV, you know this beer is boozier then most. The frothy carbonation is doing as best a job it can to to conceal a medium-heavy body and the malt, fruity yeast and frankly...scotch like aspects despite not given that more solvent note to it. Settles down well enough.

Final Thoughts: This is probably the most scotch like a scotch ale I've had, and probably the most carbonated scotch ale I've had. It's just a shame it's not the more milder Highland or Speyside scotch they were trying to emulate here, but instead the peattier offerings of Islay. If that's your jam, and you like it with a sweet undertone, this is probably your beer. For me, it's still a good offering, but despite that, I probably wouldn't seek it out again personally, despite it faring so well with me. I'll just end that is would be a great drink to have by the fireplace in the winter.

Slightly muddy with a light brown color. No head, no lace.

Dark malt aroma. I do not initially smell any smoke but the flavor is almost entirely smoke. My daughter thought there were vanilla notes to the smell.

Fuller bodied with enough carbonation to cut any sweetness present. Some light alcohol warmth. The start, swallow, and aftertaste are all dominated by the aforementioned smoke.