Ballantrae
Mystery Brewing Company

These tall boy cans always surprise me. Pours with an amber color and a cream colored head that doesn't last. Smoke is forward in the nose, joined by dark fruit, caramel, dark chocolate and licorice.

The taste is flavorful and again malt based but touched by smoked meaty and fig flavors. The carbonation is a little much at first but you get used to it and the aftertaste is mellow and lasting.

I enjoyed this, and imagine it to be very sessionable and flexible.

 

Gusher. Sour. Second Mystery Brew in a week this way. Waste

 

Poured from a bottle. It has a dark brown appearance. There was aggressive carbonation on the initial pour.

This is a well made beer. I initially got caramel malt taste but an almost dunkel Weiss quality built with some clove and bread notes. This may be one of the most flavorful sub-4% abv beers I've had.

 

 

 

Lots of carbonation. Lot of flavor for a 3.5 abv beer.

On tap at Flying Saucer Raleigh

A - dark brownish amber with a thin, soft, white head that fades to a thin lacing

S - caramel, a bit sweet, some faint sugar, faint peat

T - caramel, peat, some smoke, earthy

M - smooth, well carbonated, medium bodied

This was a nice scottish ale. It was full-flavored and very sessionable. I was impressed that there was so much flavor in such a low-ABV beer. If you're a scottish ale fan, this is one you should try.

 

 

Best if consumed by March-3-2013.Part of the "Session Line" winter lineup,a 60/- shilling Scottish style ale.Poured a rich deep bronze with a creamy off white 1/2 finger head that held well,great color and a nice head.Caramel and toffee reaaly stand out in the nose,it almost has a butterscotch nose to it.Obviously a malt driven palate according to style,caramel/toffee and some hints of vanilla,there is a faint smokiness to it,finishing with a lingering shortbread cookie dough note.This is a rich beer for how "small" it is,it has a light but very smooth feel.I like this alot and will likely drink the whole growler tonight.