Twin Stag Scottish Ale
Yakima Craft Brewing Co. / Hop Capital Brewing Co.

Don't recognize this brewery or beer, must have had at a Brewfest somewhere. I like Scottish Ale but only gave it an average rating so nothing special.

a well made beer, but perhaps a little light for the style. i liked this one better than their others though, and thought they did a better job in general with the malt forward beers than the hoppy ones. this has some nice layers to the grain, a heavily kilned richness and a dry earthy toasted property as well, even the slightest hint of wet wood in there too, baked warm, comforting, not as sweet as others, and with a very approachable abv for a style that can tend to run. despite all the flavor in the grain, the beer felt a little thin to me in terms of body, its not watery because its well carbonated and smooth and slow, but i like these with more structure, especially for the fall season that is coming fast here. a little not of molasses, wet soil, faint caramel, very nice as it finishes. these guys were the least impressive i thought of the local operations we tasted up here, but this was one of their better beers. cool little taproom they have right in town too remote from their brewery, cozy place for a few pints!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Review from 2/2010 notes. Poured into a Gulden Draak tulip. Pours a very dark brown with a two finger brown head and lacing. Nice malt aroma. Flavors rather subdued. Caramel and malt dominate. Body nice, medium to heavy. A dark, dark understated Scottish ale, nice looking and feeling ale, but rather tame. A few odd flavors that kind of grow on you as you drink it. Medium bodied. Seems like with a bit more assertive malt or flavor could be quite an excellent ale.

Bought a 22oz (651ml-not 650ml here?!?!) bottle of this from the Beer Shoppe in Yakima, WA for $4.99. Poured from the Green Labeled bottle w/ Reindeer on the front?? into a 16oz Arcadia IPA Pint Glass. Has no freshness date but not worried since its a local brew.

Aroma- A malty, sweet aroma with some light roasty characters. Not strong enough but all around has what the style should be focusing on.

Appearance- Pours a 1 finger head that has decent head retention. Has a medium brown with copper highlights in the body and leaves a few suds behind.

Flavor- Rich, malty, and has a good espresso roast flavor. Medium bitterness in the finish leading me to ask how much hop they really put in here!?!? Very good! Bit of caramel in the background.

Mouthfeel- Medium Bodied, Medium Carbonation, Semi-chewy, and very smooth with well-balanced malt to hop ratio.

Overall Impression- A nicely brewed sweet, scottish ale with a good amount of roast and light coffee attribute. It was very drinkable and never had too much or too little of anything. Aroma could be a bit more character involved and strong but not too bad!

 

 

 

On tap at the micropub.
A pours a cola brown with little head.
S coffee and coco with a hint of fruit.
T more coffee and coco maltiness with dark fruit with a metallic note on the finish.
M full and thick that lingers on the tounge.
Overall a very average porter. Not bad just not good.

Appearance is a very dark almost black having a thin head and nil lace. Smell of sweet rich malts with dried plums. Taste has the rich malt sweetness, light roast and dark fruits with a low hop to round the scottish ale. Mouthfeel is a heavy medium with low carbonation. A rich scottish ale that rounds out nicley with the low hop and carbonation.

From BeerAdvocate Magazine Volume III, Issue II:

Darkness surrounds this ale--nearly full-on black. Thin tan lacing forms after the head slowly crackles and dissipates. Faint whiff of burnt sugar and smoke; a toasted breadiness within. Steady medium body with a nice bite from the carbonation. Mouthful of malt sweetness is quickly balanced with a mild burnt and smoky flavor. The maltiness does stay dominant, but never becomes cloying, even with the modest hopping here. The hops do dial in some bitterness with a slight peppery flavor. Big brown bread flavor throughout with a suggestion of dried fig and raisins. Finishes with an edge of roasted malt, ghost-like smoke and lingering sweetness.

A bit of a malt bomb, and a tasty one at that. A juicy treat that will appease anyone who isn't looking for a mouthful of hops. Easily sessionable.

Pours black with a modest tan head. Aroma some coffee or dark chocolate. Taste is sweet dark malts with just a touch of bitter hops. Nothing bad to report but IMHO this is just a Stout not a Scottish Ale. I brought this to a friends retirement party and poured a bit for all who were game. The general opinion was "nice stout". The one person who loves Scottish Ales was in full agreement with the Stout not Scottish Ale.