Organic Great Scot Pale Ale
The Caledonian Brewing Company

Organic Great Scot Pale AleOrganic Great Scot Pale Ale
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From:
The Caledonian Brewing Company
 
Scotland, United Kingdom
Style:
English Pale Ale
ABV:
5%
Score:
78
Avg:
3.34 | pDev: 18.26%
Reviews:
44
Ratings:
46
Status:
Active
Rated:
Jul 21, 2016
Added:
Dec 31, 2008
Wants:
  0
Gots:
  0
No description / notes.
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Ratings by theopholis:
Photo of theopholis
Reviewed by theopholis from California

3.65/5  rDev +9.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Appearance- Pours a slightly golden apricot. The head is creamy and slightly off white head. Good head retention, and it leaves a fair amount of lacing through the pint.

Smell- Nice, soft malts with a subdued, grassy hop aroma. Pretty much exactly what you would expect out of an English pale ale.

Taste- Nice, reasonably complex maltiness with malt sweetness. Hints of breadiness, with very subtle hints of caramel. The hops are reasonably well done and blend nicely with the malt sweetness.

Mouthfeel- Good carbonation, medium body.

Drinkability- quite nice.
Jun 14, 2009
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.94 by Jodio from Texas

Jul 21, 2016
 
Rated: 2 by brheuer from New Jersey

Mar 24, 2013
Photo of mikeg67
Reviewed by mikeg67 from New Jersey

2.26/5  rDev -32.3%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5
500 ml bottle from Trader Joe's. Pours hazy golden with foamy white head. Aroma is of apple juice with hints of hops. Medium, somewhat syrupy body. Flavor of apples, biscuit malt and buckwheat grain with some hints of earthy hops. Finish is light and dry. I will skip this one next time.
Dec 07, 2010
Photo of TheHoppiest
Reviewed by TheHoppiest from Ohio

3.43/5  rDev +2.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Poured from a 500 ml bottle into a pint glass. The wife picked this up for me at Trader Joe's; let's see how she did.

Pours a hazy wheat yellow, with a foamy white head that after a brief carbonation fizz begins to pillow unevenly down.

Smells of sour wet grass, some lemon, and barley malt. Not very pleasant.

Taste thankfully is better than it smells. Mildly hoppy, slightly crisp, sweeter than you'd expect, and some lemony bitter at the end. Better for a warm day than a cool night like tonight. Not sure the "organic" nature of this beer is adding anything for me.

Mouthfeel is slightly creamy, though certainly rather thin.

Once you get past the cheesy label, its not a bad beer. Would likely have this one again.
Sep 06, 2010
Photo of GreatLaura
Reviewed by GreatLaura from Ohio

4.08/5  rDev +22.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5
A little sweet for a pale ale. I did find out it is European but I still don't believe it should be that sweet. It is very drinkable but cold. Most pales should be slightly warm. Nice full flavor with a small after taste
There are carmel and citrus hints in this beer
May 14, 2010
Photo of Bigfatbino
Reviewed by Bigfatbino from California

2.08/5  rDev -37.7%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 1.5
A = Pale golden color, very translucent. Nice frothy head, but faded quickly, left little lacing in the glass

S = some raw alcohol smell. Smell a bit of grains also, not too much else going on here

T = The first thing I get are adjuncts, faint sweetness that becomes more pronounced, then fades to a fleeting aftertaste that lets you know that hops (at some point, briefly) were added. I expected much more from an "organic" crafted brew. It tastes...American, in a bad way.

M = Thin, watery, a bit of bubbles, followed by more thin and watery.

D = No real satisfaction for me. After drinking the pint, I really found myself wanting to go to the store to get a pint of beer to wash this down.
May 11, 2010
Photo of Duhast500
Reviewed by Duhast500 from Rhode Island

3.56/5  rDev +6.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Poured from a 1pt bottle into a pint glass.

The color is a slightly cloudy orange with a finger of foamy white head and some nice lacing.

The smell is a bit fruity with some pair, some green apple and a little apricot.

The taste is starts out malty with a slight tobacco flavor. some floral hop that gets dryer as you drink it. Not a very complex taste.

The feel of beer is a bit light. It does go down well and is pretty refreshing. A beer for the warmer months.
Mar 29, 2010
Photo of droomyster
Reviewed by droomyster from Virginia

4.01/5  rDev +20.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5
16.9 oz bottle pours a hazed gold with a big tan head that generously laces the glass. Aromas are subdued and largely of yeast with faint, nondescript malts. Fortunately it is full of excellent taste. Flavors of buttered English muffins and yeast, with very pleasant bitterness that's big on earthy, mineral elements. Eminently drinkable. Very good stuff.
Feb 22, 2010
Photo of josiahschlender
Reviewed by josiahschlender from Oregon

2.91/5  rDev -12.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5
This might be my first English pale ale that I've tried, despite the multitude of APAs. Pours clear, a pretty golden color with a tinge of amber. I roughed up the pour to get a moderate orange-tinged cap that leaves a bit of lacing. I like the hefty bottle and logo!

Aromas open up some with warmth. Just some faint malts and grassy hops when it's cold. Caramel and corn syrup emerge, while the hops add a bit of earth and spice after sitting a while. Good, but not too abundant.

Mild malt flavors for the most part. Some caramel sweetness, just a hint of bread with some earthy, grassy hops. I might just be imagining it, but there might be a trace of peat or smoke with moderate hop bittering on the finish. Medium body, too much carbonation gives it a spritzy feel.

Looks aside, this is a mediocre pale. It it costs too much for what it's worth. Maybe they couldn't get good enough organic ingredients? I probably won't spring for this one again.
Feb 03, 2010
Photo of bret27
Reviewed by bret27 from California

3.1/5  rDev -7.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4.5
courtesy of trader joe's

S: Floral herbal hoppiness and a little residual sweetness. clean, smells a bit like pilsner urquell.

A: normal yellow w/minimal fizzy head

T: Clean water. Semi-sweet malt, honey, barely some herbal hops

M/D: Fairly thin. Fairly good drinkability, much like a refreshing glass of water.

Overall: Tastes more like a pilsener than a pale ale, even an English one. Even as a pils it's pretty weak.
Feb 02, 2010
Photo of tjd112
Reviewed by tjd112 from New Jersey

4.77/5  rDev +42.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Bought this at Trader Joes in Westfield, NJ. 500mL bottle

Presentation - Poured into Sam Smith's nonic

Appearance - Yellow/apricot colour body, decent white head, little bit of lacing

Smell - Apricots and green apples

Taste - Same as smell, very balanced in terms of maltiness/hoppiness

Mouthfeel - Crisp, light to medium bodied

Drinkability - Sessionable

Overall - One of the best organic beers I have tasted.
Jan 29, 2010
Photo of andrewm190
Reviewed by andrewm190 from North Carolina

4.37/5  rDev +30.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5
I was surprised how much I enjoyed this beer. I entered in assuming a decent but not particularly noteworthy beer experience. Immediately the smell hit my nose - sweet, but not overly dramatic. Nice clean finish, crisp, ready for another. A bit sweeter than I expected for a pale ale but I found it enjoyable. I highly recommend this find; I'm a bit puzzled at the mediocre reviews it has gotten thus far. I picked mine up at Trader Joe's, which is good for a hidden gem every now and again.
Jan 17, 2010
Photo of kaseydad
Reviewed by kaseydad from California

2.82/5  rDev -15.6%
look: 2 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Pours a cloudy apricot color with a nice layer of bright white foamy head which dissolves but stays throughout the session.

A slight hoppy aroma with some molasses and syrupy whiffs as well.

The taste improves at it warms a little. A lot of malt over a tiny amount of hop kick. There is a noticeable aftertaste which lingers on the buds for awhile.

Very easy drink and somewhat refreshing on a hot day (if you like this style) with multiples attainable. I just won't be the one doing it. The wife loved it but she also is a big Bud Light fan. Nuff said.
Dec 09, 2009
Photo of alexrichman
Reviewed by alexrichman from Oregon

3.83/5  rDev +14.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
This brew came from TJ's in Portland, OR in a 16.9oz bottle poured into a pint glass.

A> Really nice appearance. Light copper with a little bit of hazing. This beer poured with a nice thick head and left a small amount of lacing.

S> The malt smells very toasty for this style of beer. The hops come across very lightly with green apple and a floral smell coming through.

T> Kind of unusual compared to american pale ales but I had to keep in mind this beer came from scotland. Strong, interesting malt. The hops tasted lemony/citrusy and were pretty mild. They play nicely with the sweet finish of the beer.

M> A little too thin for my liking but the carbonation is spot on.

D> I could easily drink a few pints of this. This is a beer that I find myself liking more and more everytime I come back to it.
Nov 30, 2009
Photo of kmadaus
Reviewed by kmadaus from California

2.11/5  rDev -36.8%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2
This is my first review, so bear with me. Apparently I'm an "acolyte" :) I just like good beer.

A - The color was a lighter caramel color. It was a bit cloudy too. Hopefully wasn't frozen at some point. It didn't seem very carbonated at the pour.

S - The beer smelled a bit nutty for a pale ale. There was a bit of caramel scent that matched the color. It smelled quite sweet. I didn't get any hint of hops going on here even though there are pictures of hops on the label.

T - The taste was slightly sweet and nutty at first, but it doesn't linger. Slightly toasty, and very toasty for a pale ale. It certainly tasted on the maltier side. The finish is bland and short.

M - This beer is lighter on the carbonation, medium on the first sip, and thin on the finish. According to the label it is a 5.0 ABV, but it tasted like less, lighter.

D - Overall, the beer is drinkable, but it doesn't seem to fit the mold of a pale ale. But that could be my amateur-ness coming out. It was far too malty and sweet for my tastes, and even tasted like toasted malts were used in the brew. But that seems typical for the Scottish or British pales from my experience. I might have another if it were sitting in my fridge, but I wouldn't but it again if I were looking for a pale. I might buy it if I were looking for a lighter brown ale... which I would never do.
Nov 15, 2009
Photo of Billolick
Reviewed by Billolick from New York

3.88/5  rDev +16.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Looks like Trader Joes as been doing a lot of imoorting of this brew, as so many of the reviews note TJs as their poing of puchase. Same here, in Brooklyn NY. 16.9 ounce bottle. This one pours hazed lighter amber under a long lasting fluffy off white head, that stays and stays. Leaving a thick collar and respectable loose sheeting and plentiful bits of lacing. Light lemony nose with some toasty notes tossed into the mix. Easy drinking, moderatly hopped EPA. More light citrus hops, light toasty malts. I found this to be thoroughly enjoyable, nicely balanced, quite drinkable and well worth a try...or two...suprised by the quite low scoes for this offering. Perhaps I was lucky enough to sample a fresh bottle.
Nov 12, 2009
Photo of brewdoc75
Reviewed by brewdoc75 from South Dakota

2.93/5  rDev -12.3%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
Picked this up at Trader Joes

A: Golden-yellow. Little to no lasting head. Moderate carbonation.

S: Grainy sweetness. Some corn. Floral, earthy, and herbal hops. Not terribly inviting.

T: Grainy sweetness at first followed by some herbal, earthy hops. Not too bad, but at the end, I get a hint of corn. No caramel or toffee flavors that I like in English Pales.

M: Light bodied, clean. Easy on the tongue.

D: A pretty average beer. The smell was a bit too heavy on the corn. Not sure if adjuncts were used, but I'm assuming they were based on the taste. There are much better English Pale Ales out there. Probably wouldn't get this again.
Nov 10, 2009
Photo of 1759Girl
Reviewed by 1759Girl from California

3.05/5  rDev -8.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 1 | overall: 3
Vegan? Interesting addition to the label.

Appearance> Amber-honey haze. Not lively. Small vanilla head with big bubbles. Head dissipates quickly. All in all, this looks great for its style.

Smell> hops, green apples. Excellent.

Taste> Not as hoppy as the nose let you to believe. The finish left a little to be desired. Lagery grain finish. Beer lacked in complexity.

Mouf> too fizzy, especially for being bottled.

Drinkability> Okay. Would be better with fixing the mouthfeel.
Aug 13, 2009
Photo of Natural510
Reviewed by Natural510 from Ohio

2.77/5  rDev -17.1%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.5
Pours a light copper color with a loose, porous head which quickly dissipates into a flat nothing. Bubbles rise up to the top of the drink much a soda-pop.
White sugar with a slight orange-citrus scent.
Flavor is mainly a light, sweet malt which is reminiscent of bleached sugar or corn syrup. There is a breadedness with a grassy/vegetal overtone. None of which goes particularly well together...
Flat and watery in the mouth, along with a gassiness which leaves a sick feeling in the stomach.
As far as British pale ales go, this is on the lower rung. Attempts to be something which would taste good on cask, yet fails in the all-important departments of balance and body.
Aug 13, 2009
Organic Great Scot Pale Ale from The Caledonian Brewing Company
Beer rating: 78 out of 100 with 46 ratings