Skye High Scotch Strong Ale
Watch City Brewing Co.

Dark brown and opaque with chestnut edges and a dense, long-lasting tan/brown cap. Spotty lace and good head retention. The aroma was malty with caramel and chocolate notes, dark grain phenols. Low bitterness with plenty of chocolate and cocoa, licorice and alcohol, caramel, roast and charcoal, a bit phenolic. Very low carbonation with a medium to full body. Quite smooth and it created a pleasant warmth on the way down. Easy to drink for a beer of its size, but it seemed to be more of a stout or porter than a scotch ale. Still tasty though.

Enjoyed on tap at the brewery, clocking in at 8.3% and IBU 32. Two months of barrelageing. A bite of burnon. Very dark Colour had red highlights, lace lines left as she went. Some sour stout roast. A winish taste, in a word. Above average mouthfeel. Asked for the scotch and she says "you want the strong ale", but the alcohol hidden.

Pours with a deep, dark chocolate color, and a thin head. Smell is of hops, chocolate, and barley. The texture is very smooth with just the right balance of carbonation. The taste is a lovely mixture of hops, chocolate, and floral overtones. Very enjoyable - a great sipping beer.

Served in a brandy snifter. Pours a beautiful dark brown (nearly black) with a rocky beige head (one finger).

Considering the glassware, I was surprised at the lack of smell. On the positive side, no detracting aromas either.

The flavor is complex with more hop presence than I expect from the style. Many chocolate and cafe au lait flavors. The mouthfeel is oily, mostly from the higher alcohol content--very rich and filling.

Not that I could have many given the higher alcohol content, I would certainly order more than one.

Received in trade with fdrich29. (Thanks, Frank!)

(Beer consumed on 3/20/06. Verbatim notes follow.)

A: Brown/black body, thin wispy head.

S: Sweet malty aroma, some hops.

T: Strong malt flavor, some sweetness. Notes of apples, hops, astringency in aftertaste. Dry aftertaste over time.

M: Mouthfeel a bit thin, could be a bit thicker and foamier.

D: Pretty drinkable, prefer their porter.

A deep dark brown beer. Has a small creamy beige head with good lace. There is a sweet malty aroma with some molasses and a hint of smoke in the background. A sharp sweetness on the tip of the tongue starts the taste. Followed by a nice roasted malt bitterness on both side of the tongue, with molasses and coffee notes. Has a good dry finish with a mavelous smokey character.
Note there is a retired beer by the same name but this had a higher ALC% and I did enjoy it Dec 4 2005 at the Watch City bar.