Gordon Highland Scotch Ale (John Martin N.V.)
The Caledonian Brewing Company
- From:
- The Caledonian Brewing Company
- Scotland, United Kingdom
- Style:
- Scotch Ale / Wee Heavy
- ABV:
- 8.6%
- Score:
- 86
- Avg:
- 3.81 | pDev: 9.97%
- Ratings:
- | reviews: 21
- Status:
- Retired
- Rated:
- Nov 21, 2018
- Added:
- Oct 16, 2003
- Wants:
- 8
- Gots:
- 8
SCORE
86
Very Good
86
Very Good
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Reviewed by VirtualEagle from Texas
4.54/5 rDev +19.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.54/5 rDev +19.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
I first discovered this brew, while on the Grand Platz of Mons, in 1992. Since my family comes from the Gordan Highlanders, I naturally had to check it out. I was not disappointed. I love the dark color and that taste is great. The bar even let me have one of the beautifully etched glasses (Belgians have a specific glass for almost of the brews they offer). The only disappointment is that I have yet to find anybody in the US that offers it. Fortunately, I was able to bring back a six pack or two when the Army brought me back to the US, in 1995. Unfortunately, I finished the last bottle years ago. Since then, I've tried to find substitutes that equal it, but I'm still looking. If you ever get a chance
Jul 11, 2016
Reviewed by MrDell from Switzerland
4.09/5 rDev +7.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
4.09/5 rDev +7.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
12.02.2106
Gordon Finest Scotch Ale
Scotch Ale / Wee Heavy - 8% - 330ml Bottle - Best before 13.03.2016
Appearance: Dark mahogany coloured beer with a rocky, off white, three finger head. Medium levels of carbonation. Loads of lacing. Very nice.
Aroma: Sweet malt whisky, toffee, ground pepper and, unfortunately, what smells like skunked hops.
Taste: WOW! Certainly no evidence of the skunked hops here, perhaps I was off there. What we have got are lots of lovely sweet malt flavours, with toffee and caramel upfront (reminds me of the ‘Highland Toffee’ chewbars I used to eat as a kid), this is backed up by a nice warming scotch taste in the finish, which becomes more and more pronounced as this dark ale warms up.
Mouth feel: Very smooth and gentle on the palate
Overall: I was really surprised by how much better this tastes than I thought it would , going by the aroma. This is a lovely nightcap type beer and I will definitely be re-visiting it as I did thoroughly enjoy it and, I would be interested to see how a fresher bottle would compare aroma-wise (this one has travelled all over Europe with me, before finally being opened in Germany, and the best before date is looming). Overall, is a sloid 8.5 / 10 beer for me, which could score higher if a) the aroma was better, and b) it was bottle conditioned.
Feb 13, 2016Gordon Finest Scotch Ale
Scotch Ale / Wee Heavy - 8% - 330ml Bottle - Best before 13.03.2016
Appearance: Dark mahogany coloured beer with a rocky, off white, three finger head. Medium levels of carbonation. Loads of lacing. Very nice.
Aroma: Sweet malt whisky, toffee, ground pepper and, unfortunately, what smells like skunked hops.
Taste: WOW! Certainly no evidence of the skunked hops here, perhaps I was off there. What we have got are lots of lovely sweet malt flavours, with toffee and caramel upfront (reminds me of the ‘Highland Toffee’ chewbars I used to eat as a kid), this is backed up by a nice warming scotch taste in the finish, which becomes more and more pronounced as this dark ale warms up.
Mouth feel: Very smooth and gentle on the palate
Overall: I was really surprised by how much better this tastes than I thought it would , going by the aroma. This is a lovely nightcap type beer and I will definitely be re-visiting it as I did thoroughly enjoy it and, I would be interested to see how a fresher bottle would compare aroma-wise (this one has travelled all over Europe with me, before finally being opened in Germany, and the best before date is looming). Overall, is a sloid 8.5 / 10 beer for me, which could score higher if a) the aroma was better, and b) it was bottle conditioned.
Reviewed by drmeto from Germany
2.56/5 rDev -32.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 2 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2
2.56/5 rDev -32.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 2 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2
L:
-pours a clear dark brown with ruby tinges and a small,quickly dissipating beige head
S:
-caramel,toffee,vinous tartness,cherries
T:
-corn,ridiculous amounts of sugar,caramel,toffee,underlying tartness with a toasty finish
F:
-medium body,low-medium carbonation
O:
Ridiculously sweet Beer,possibly to hide the tartness.
Don't know how close this comes to a proper scotch ale,since this was my first
May 30, 2015-pours a clear dark brown with ruby tinges and a small,quickly dissipating beige head
S:
-caramel,toffee,vinous tartness,cherries
T:
-corn,ridiculous amounts of sugar,caramel,toffee,underlying tartness with a toasty finish
F:
-medium body,low-medium carbonation
O:
Ridiculously sweet Beer,possibly to hide the tartness.
Don't know how close this comes to a proper scotch ale,since this was my first
Reviewed by rvdoorn from Netherlands
4/5 rDev +5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4/5 rDev +5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Look: the beer pours a deep dark red-brown color with a big brown head.
Smell: Rich toasted malts, caramel, sugar, vanila, and some spicy herbs
Taste: Toasted malts, caramel dark fruits and nuts. Aftertaste is hoppy and spicy alcohol
Mouthfeel: Medium-thick body, medium carbonation.
Overall: Nice brew. Resembles the xmas brew
Jul 23, 2011Smell: Rich toasted malts, caramel, sugar, vanila, and some spicy herbs
Taste: Toasted malts, caramel dark fruits and nuts. Aftertaste is hoppy and spicy alcohol
Mouthfeel: Medium-thick body, medium carbonation.
Overall: Nice brew. Resembles the xmas brew
Reviewed by mdagnew from Northern Ireland
4/5 rDev +5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4/5 rDev +5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
330ml bottle bought from Belgianshop.com...
Poured a dark copper / chestnut colour. Creamy head poured thick and foamy then faded quite slowly to thickish layer... sparse carbonation... lots of sticky lacing coats the glass almost until the end..
Aroma - Nice lightly toasted biscuity malts, fairly strong toffee / caramel sweetness, nutmeg hints, spicy / peppery hop bitterness, typical Belgian bready / yeasty notes, spicy fruits (raisins, figs, oranges), quite strong rum / whiskey traces, some butterscotch...
Taste - Quite strong sweet toasty caramel malts, buttery, some treacle notes, toffee, alcohol soaked fruits (figs, apples, dates, bitter orages), peppery hops, oaky hints, creamy notes, bready, quite nutty...
Feel - Very smooth and velvety... medium bodied... This would be a little too sweet and strong to be very drinkable - more of a sipping beer...
Overall - A very good example of a scotch ale although it may be a little sweet for some... a nice winter warmer though.. recommended
Feb 10, 2010Poured a dark copper / chestnut colour. Creamy head poured thick and foamy then faded quite slowly to thickish layer... sparse carbonation... lots of sticky lacing coats the glass almost until the end..
Aroma - Nice lightly toasted biscuity malts, fairly strong toffee / caramel sweetness, nutmeg hints, spicy / peppery hop bitterness, typical Belgian bready / yeasty notes, spicy fruits (raisins, figs, oranges), quite strong rum / whiskey traces, some butterscotch...
Taste - Quite strong sweet toasty caramel malts, buttery, some treacle notes, toffee, alcohol soaked fruits (figs, apples, dates, bitter orages), peppery hops, oaky hints, creamy notes, bready, quite nutty...
Feel - Very smooth and velvety... medium bodied... This would be a little too sweet and strong to be very drinkable - more of a sipping beer...
Overall - A very good example of a scotch ale although it may be a little sweet for some... a nice winter warmer though.. recommended
Reviewed by drpimento from Wisconsin
3.54/5 rDev -7.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5
3.54/5 rDev -7.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5
Got this bottle from a shop on the corner across from the train station in Schaerbeek, Brussels, Belgium. Think there's something wrong there as a lot of the beers have off flavors and aromas - even in cans. No idea why. Anyway, this one poured with an excellent head and lots of lace. Great mahoganey color. Aroma has definite skunk. After being open for a bit fades. Good scotch ale, but a little oversweet in a neutral way. Very nice body. If it weren't for the skunk thing, good beer. Scotch ale finish, a bit warming. Little too sweet and strong for a session.
Jan 15, 2010Reviewed by Travlr from District of Columbia
4.33/5 rDev +13.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
4.33/5 rDev +13.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
A: Very dark, almost black, with a big head and massive lacing.
S: Aroma of a highland caber with a few herbs attached.
T: Flavor begins with butterscotch and malt, background of light spice, and then progresses to a slightly dry, bitter finish. Very complex.
M: Good body.
D: definitely to be sought after, a nice wee brew.
Jan 06, 2010S: Aroma of a highland caber with a few herbs attached.
T: Flavor begins with butterscotch and malt, background of light spice, and then progresses to a slightly dry, bitter finish. Very complex.
M: Good body.
D: definitely to be sought after, a nice wee brew.
Reviewed by PapaEugene from Netherlands
3.93/5 rDev +3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
3.93/5 rDev +3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
A: Poored it into my Uhrtel glass. A nice amber/brown color and a cream colored medium head that slowly dissipates.
S: Toffee, roasted malts and citrus.
T: Roasted malts, chocolate, slightly bitter, apple/pear and caramel.
M: Creamy! Medium carbonation and a medium body.
D: I like the creamy texture of this beer. It makes up for the medium body.
Sep 03, 2009S: Toffee, roasted malts and citrus.
T: Roasted malts, chocolate, slightly bitter, apple/pear and caramel.
M: Creamy! Medium carbonation and a medium body.
D: I like the creamy texture of this beer. It makes up for the medium body.
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