Iron Smoke B.A. Scotch Ale
Three Heads Brewing

a gorgeous take on the style here, aged one year by my buddy, and shared over the holidays. we started a session with this, and it basically put him down, not that its so strong or anything, pretty normal for the style really, but because of the gusto and enthusiasm (and consequently pace) with which we drank it. good friends reuniting is always occasion for drink. i have never had the iron smoke spirit, but its barrels make a nice contribution to this great beer. lots to like here, especially this time of year, this is big and hearty, malty and right for the style but not overly complex, very old worldy and traditional, the yeast is right too, which is an important but often overlooked element in the style for american brewers. notes of dried cherry and raisin, toffee and brown sugar, light peat and wet soil, hearty oak and rich vanilla, black pepper and clove, its layered nicely, and its not too much barrel, the base scotch ale is still itself. i like how dry this is, usually these are too sugary to drink much of, especially with the presence of the alcohol, but here we have an earthy dry toasted finish, still some grain sugar lingering and a little of the whiskey, but its not too much, and it lends a swiftness to the consumption rate. similarly, the body isnt huge, and there is some carbonation here, so it never feels as heavy as it probably should for the style. great balance, wintery warmth, and overall quality, lucky to have had this shared with me, although i wish it didnt put my friend to bed...