80 Shilling Ale
Druthers Brewing Co.

 

This one reminds me most of Otter Creek’s Copper Ale, now sadly retired. The latter is classified an alt bier while this one is classed as a Scottish Ale. I find the two very similar — beautiful amber color, frothy cream colored head, a satisfying slightly biting taste that goes down very smoothly and satisfying. Great with a meal or with cheese or just by itself.

My review starts with watery and tasteless and then goes down hill from there. Does it have some wee heavy characteristics - yes. But everything from depth of color to aroma intensity to mouthful are just at the minimum.

 

 

 

On tap at Druthers Brewing Company in Saratoga, NY.

This one pours a golden brown color, with a small head, and a little bit of lacing.

This smells like caramel, toasted bread, butterscotch, and some roasted grain.

This is easily one of the best beers that I've had so far from Druthers. It feels spot on for the style, although it's not exactly a style that I'm wildly familiar with. It's toasty, sweet, with some roast, light dusty chocolate, caramel, and breadiness.

This is rich, and drinks bigger than the ABV would suggest, while still remaining crisp and finishing clean.

This was highly enjoyable, and shows that every so often Druthers can pump out of a good beer.

 

 

A nice scotch ale. Not as earthy as i like nut very drinkable.

Cream x birch beer soda in color. Honey glazed pecans, brown sugar walnuts. Candied yams, apple brittle, treacle. Dry to grainy finish. Minds me of their oktofest somewhat.

 

 

 

Part of a sampler of beers, served in a five ounce glass. We thought this was one of the best of the six beers served in the sampler. Definitely not the strong scottish ale you might expect (5.2% abv), but very tasty with a malt sweetness that is mitigated by the hop finish. Easy to understand why this beer garnished a Silver Award at the 2016 World Beer Cup!

Enjoyed on draft at the Saratoga brewpub
A - Dark oak colored backdrop, conceals gentle carbonation. A thin cap of off white covers the pour.
S - Some light smoke, a hint of toasted malts, some toffee and brown sugar
T - Malt base is medium light roasted, earthy hops add some depth
M - Medium to light in body, a bit slick on the palate, with a semi sweet finish
O - A very good ale, perfect for our winter night at the brewery

Ordered this for my wife who doesn't like hoppy beers. I definitely do but liked this much more than expected on tasting. Looked great in the glass and had an appealing malty sweetness. My wife even finished her glass-highly unusual.

 

Druthers Brewing Co. "80 Shilling Ale"
on tap @ Druthers Brewing Co., Albany, NY on 4 June 2016

Notes: Not to be confused with a "wee heavy", an 80 Shilling ale is neither as strong nor as malty, and generally lighter in color. It's a clear deep amber-copper body beneath a yellowed off-white head that displays average retention and lacing. The aroma expresses caramelish malt and a light raisin-like fruitiness. The flavor is malty as well, with a medium caramel and some apple and plum. There's just enough bitterness to balance it, and it finishes dry with some very lightly residual caramel and an edge of earthiness. Medium bodied with a slightly restrained carbonation that leaves it smooth. Nicely done, and a very good interpretation of the style. A lot of American brewers make the mistake of using too much roasted barley, and/or peat-smoked malt but that's not the case here.