Odell 90 Shilling Ale | Odell Brewing Company
Brewed by:
Odell Brewing Company
Colorado, United States | website
Style: Scottish Ale
Alcohol by volume (ABV): 5.30%
Availability: Year-round
Notes / Commercial Description:
We introduced 90 Shilling, our flagship beer, at our opening party in 1989. For a while, we'd been wondering what would happen if we lightened up the traditional Scottish ale? The result is an irresistibly smooth and delicious medium-bodied amber ale.
Added by Todd on 01-27-2001
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Reviews: 461 | Ratings: 1,682
Reviews by the Alström Bros:
More User Reviews:
4.21/5 rDev +9.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Thoroughly enjoyed from the 12 oz bottle in a snifter via a friend from work----Thanks Randy!
This Scottish ale pours a bright ruby amber with a modest head of off white foam that settles to a thick ring, thin pool, and very nice lacing. Nose of sweet brown sugars, mangoes, peaches, and fresh bread. Flavors exceed the nose with fruit forward notes of mangoes, peaches, and light brown sugar crusted bread on all sides that fade in the back of the taste with a very subtle herbal hop note. Surprising flavors from a Scottish. Medium mouth feel, medium carbonation, and a somewhat dry finish with a light grain note. A treat within the boundaries of the style. Solid and approachable. An excellent brew.
Cheers
★ 719 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Thoroughly enjoyed from the 12 oz bottle in a snifter via a friend from work----Thanks Randy!
This Scottish ale pours a bright ruby amber with a modest head of off white foam that settles to a thick ring, thin pool, and very nice lacing. Nose of sweet brown sugars, mangoes, peaches, and fresh bread. Flavors exceed the nose with fruit forward notes of mangoes, peaches, and light brown sugar crusted bread on all sides that fade in the back of the taste with a very subtle herbal hop note. Surprising flavors from a Scottish. Medium mouth feel, medium carbonation, and a somewhat dry finish with a light grain note. A treat within the boundaries of the style. Solid and approachable. An excellent brew.
Cheers
★ 719 characters
3.96/5 rDev +3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Really vibrant red-orange-brown color, with quick-rising bubbles and some sediment turbidity as well. Not much in the way of a bouquet—a bit of heat, dry sweet, odor of sticky pale-brown—and somewhat shallow, despite the label's claims of a "deeply pleasant aroma". Otherwise, this ale is very pleasant: in terms of texture, more of an amber with bite than a Scotch ale—but considering the stated goal of 90 Shilling was to create a lighter, brighter, more buoyant Scotch ale, I'd say this definitely succeeds. Not too sweet—a common failing of forays into this style—with good dry malt depth, excellent crispness, and a lot of barn-floor hay and turbinado-tinged malt-husk; also get notes of allspice and cumin, providing additional complexity. Not a home-run, but a stand-up double.
★ 798 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Really vibrant red-orange-brown color, with quick-rising bubbles and some sediment turbidity as well. Not much in the way of a bouquet—a bit of heat, dry sweet, odor of sticky pale-brown—and somewhat shallow, despite the label's claims of a "deeply pleasant aroma". Otherwise, this ale is very pleasant: in terms of texture, more of an amber with bite than a Scotch ale—but considering the stated goal of 90 Shilling was to create a lighter, brighter, more buoyant Scotch ale, I'd say this definitely succeeds. Not too sweet—a common failing of forays into this style—with good dry malt depth, excellent crispness, and a lot of barn-floor hay and turbinado-tinged malt-husk; also get notes of allspice and cumin, providing additional complexity. Not a home-run, but a stand-up double.
★ 798 characters
2.15/5 rDev -43.9%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 1.5
Odell 90 Schilling Scottish Ale
A: Pours a light mohagany with ruby highlights. 1/4" of soda-like head...Nice colour, but the head is very odd.
S: Floral, bright scent--hops, and heather?. Some light to medium caramel malt. Sweetness lingers.
T: Odd floral hops and hop bitterness combines with a floral flavour to produce something not all that enjoyable. Crunchy malts lie in the background, but are swallowed by the other aspects. Artificial sweetness makes for an undesireable aftertaste.
M: Medium mouthfeel, with medium carbonation. Leaves the mouth semi-dry.
D: Not enjoyable as a Scotish 90- ale, or as a beer defying categorization. Not a fan.
★ 657 characters
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 1.5
Odell 90 Schilling Scottish Ale
A: Pours a light mohagany with ruby highlights. 1/4" of soda-like head...Nice colour, but the head is very odd.
S: Floral, bright scent--hops, and heather?. Some light to medium caramel malt. Sweetness lingers.
T: Odd floral hops and hop bitterness combines with a floral flavour to produce something not all that enjoyable. Crunchy malts lie in the background, but are swallowed by the other aspects. Artificial sweetness makes for an undesireable aftertaste.
M: Medium mouthfeel, with medium carbonation. Leaves the mouth semi-dry.
D: Not enjoyable as a Scotish 90- ale, or as a beer defying categorization. Not a fan.
★ 657 characters
2.11/5 rDev -44.9%
look: 2.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 1.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 1.5
12 oz bottle, poured into a shaker pint at approximately 40 degress F.
Appearance: Pours into the glass a hazy amber, towards the reddish-orange side of the amber hue spectrum. Forms a very thin head of almost light orange bubbles, which rapidly become a cap and ring. Held to light, one can very faintly make out a few streams of tiny bubbles heading skyward from the bottom of the glass. I admit some degree of trepidation, as I have found that I tend not to see orange in a beer unless it has a noticeable hop presence.
Smell: No, I showered today. Ba dum bump. The aroma opens with light, sweet caramel malt, wreathed through with some subtle suggestions of fruit - pear, raisin, and something citrusy. A soft grassy tone is off in the distance, like a fuzzy horizon.
Taste: Caramel malt with some vague toffee hints spills onto the tongue first, and then the 90-ton citric-herbal-earthy hoproller cruises in to crush it into nonexistence - leaving just perfume on my palate. Definitely not what I look for in a Scotch ale.
Mouthfeel: Difficult to tell around the full frontal assault on my tastebuds, if I'm being honest. I suppose it feels like a Scotch ale.
Overall: Once again, my sensitivity to hop flavors has me arching an eyebrow at anyone who has reviewed this beer as "malty" and mentioned nothing of any hop presence at all. They are literally all I get out of this beer, aside from a brief flash of caramel malt at the outset. Will not repeat.
★ 1,464 characters
look: 2.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 1.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 1.5
12 oz bottle, poured into a shaker pint at approximately 40 degress F.
Appearance: Pours into the glass a hazy amber, towards the reddish-orange side of the amber hue spectrum. Forms a very thin head of almost light orange bubbles, which rapidly become a cap and ring. Held to light, one can very faintly make out a few streams of tiny bubbles heading skyward from the bottom of the glass. I admit some degree of trepidation, as I have found that I tend not to see orange in a beer unless it has a noticeable hop presence.
Smell: No, I showered today. Ba dum bump. The aroma opens with light, sweet caramel malt, wreathed through with some subtle suggestions of fruit - pear, raisin, and something citrusy. A soft grassy tone is off in the distance, like a fuzzy horizon.
Taste: Caramel malt with some vague toffee hints spills onto the tongue first, and then the 90-ton citric-herbal-earthy hoproller cruises in to crush it into nonexistence - leaving just perfume on my palate. Definitely not what I look for in a Scotch ale.
Mouthfeel: Difficult to tell around the full frontal assault on my tastebuds, if I'm being honest. I suppose it feels like a Scotch ale.
Overall: Once again, my sensitivity to hop flavors has me arching an eyebrow at anyone who has reviewed this beer as "malty" and mentioned nothing of any hop presence at all. They are literally all I get out of this beer, aside from a brief flash of caramel malt at the outset. Will not repeat.
★ 1,464 characters
3.38/5 rDev -11.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3.5
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3.5
3.6/5 rDev -6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.59/5 rDev -6.3%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
The 90 Shilling pours from the bottle a dark red amber with a small bubbly head that quickly fades to a ring around my glass. Aromas of rich caramel and toffee meet a nice underlying bready molasses. Dark fruit and brown sugar...big maltiness. Herbal hops peek in and out as well.
First sip brings a wave of burnt caramelly maltiness with hints of bread dough and toffee. Sweet upfront with a herbal hoppiness that brings some bitterness on the way down. Dark fruitiness in the middle with a vague hint of chocolate. A nice, flavorful brew overall.
Mouthfeel is medium bodied and creamy with fast moving carbonation. I wouldn't mind the carb being tuned down a little as it seems to step over the body of the brew. Overall, this is a tasty scottish ale, not one of my favorite styles but I'd say check it out if you dig the scottish ales. Thanks to babydoc for this one.
★ 876 characters
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
The 90 Shilling pours from the bottle a dark red amber with a small bubbly head that quickly fades to a ring around my glass. Aromas of rich caramel and toffee meet a nice underlying bready molasses. Dark fruit and brown sugar...big maltiness. Herbal hops peek in and out as well.
First sip brings a wave of burnt caramelly maltiness with hints of bread dough and toffee. Sweet upfront with a herbal hoppiness that brings some bitterness on the way down. Dark fruitiness in the middle with a vague hint of chocolate. A nice, flavorful brew overall.
Mouthfeel is medium bodied and creamy with fast moving carbonation. I wouldn't mind the carb being tuned down a little as it seems to step over the body of the brew. Overall, this is a tasty scottish ale, not one of my favorite styles but I'd say check it out if you dig the scottish ales. Thanks to babydoc for this one.
★ 876 characters
3.63/5 rDev -5.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Pours with a large off-white head which reduced to a skim layer. Lace grips the glass well. Color is dark caramel, fairly clear.
Aroma is malty, light biscuits mainly with a touch of dark caramel. Pretty clean smelling with some earthy hops. Kinda light overall though.
Taste is defined by the malts again, earthy and peat like but with some biscuits again. Hops compliment this and give it a touch of bitterness. good flavor but light again and pretty simple.
Mouthfeel seems okay, a bit thin though. Low carbonation levels. Good session drinkability. Light flavor and light body make this go down easily. I'd like to see it kicked up a notch or two overall.
★ 668 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Pours with a large off-white head which reduced to a skim layer. Lace grips the glass well. Color is dark caramel, fairly clear.
Aroma is malty, light biscuits mainly with a touch of dark caramel. Pretty clean smelling with some earthy hops. Kinda light overall though.
Taste is defined by the malts again, earthy and peat like but with some biscuits again. Hops compliment this and give it a touch of bitterness. good flavor but light again and pretty simple.
Mouthfeel seems okay, a bit thin though. Low carbonation levels. Good session drinkability. Light flavor and light body make this go down easily. I'd like to see it kicked up a notch or two overall.
★ 668 characters
4.54/5 rDev +18.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.09/5 rDev +6.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
90 Shilling is a dark reddish amber color with a nice medium head. Its aroma has subtle hints of citrus and caramel. Very nice tasting with hints of fig and a good hoppy finish. It doesn't taste like a normal Scottish Ale. Overall, a very drinkable beer - one of my old reliables.
★ 280 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
90 Shilling is a dark reddish amber color with a nice medium head. Its aroma has subtle hints of citrus and caramel. Very nice tasting with hints of fig and a good hoppy finish. It doesn't taste like a normal Scottish Ale. Overall, a very drinkable beer - one of my old reliables.
★ 280 characters
3.42/5 rDev -10.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Pours a copper color with a very thin collar and wisps of head at the surface. Aroma is muted malt and a bit bready. Taste is light caramel, very lightly bitter, and some toasty malt. Light to medium body and medium carbonation lend to a decent mouthfeel.
★ 255 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Pours a copper color with a very thin collar and wisps of head at the surface. Aroma is muted malt and a bit bready. Taste is light caramel, very lightly bitter, and some toasty malt. Light to medium body and medium carbonation lend to a decent mouthfeel.
★ 255 characters
Odell 90 Shilling Ale from Odell Brewing Company
3.83
out of 5
based on 1,682 ratings.
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
Presentation: 12 oz brown long neck bottle with a bottling date in the bottom left hand corner of the label. Label has a blurb about the beer.
Appearance: Tawny and tarnish copper hue with a well formed and healthy looking head that does not falter even when down to the bottom of the glass.
Smell: Subdued fruitiness, noticeable citric hop with hints of mint or evergreen in the aroma … sweet toasted biscuit nose also.
Taste: Moderate body with a very smooth mouth feel from a milder carbonation. Right away the hops and malt push each other back and forth for domination though neither gains any more ground that it already has which shows for a balanced beer. Hop bitterness is at a spot on level with a citric and vague minty flavour to boot. The malt profile is just enough to carry the beer all the way through, going from sweet caramel twang to the drying toasted grain character in the end. Hints of citrus rind and toasted husks make up the finish.
Notes: A proud beer that was crafted for maximum drinkability and a superb balance. This is what American Amber ales are all about.
★ 1,108 characters