Riversteam Ale
Draft Line Brewing Co.

On tap at Growler Grlz in Durham. Lighter and easier to drink than usual Scotch Ale, but really quite good.

 

Poured on-tap and served in a shaker pint, the beer is a dark, vibrant, ruby-highlighted brown coloring, with a low profile, clingy, white head. Aromas of roasted toffee, hints of cream, and floral highlights. Flavors are roasted and earthy forward, with tangy sweet toffee and caramel blending on a rich, robust body. The aftertaste is a richly sweet blend of toffee, caramel, and hints of chocolate. Smooth, slick finish. Tasty.

Appearance: Pours from the growler a slightly hazy copper with a decent head that leaves some squiggly lacing behind

Smell: Caramel tones predominate

Taste: Caramel, up front, but a surprising earthy bitterness develops in the mid-palate and brings a rather harsh finish

Mouthfeel: Medium body with moderate carbonation

Overall: While this is supposed to be a Wee Heavy (according to the website) it falls far short; the bitterness is not appropriate to the style and the mouthfeel is too thin

 

 

So this is fun, the brewery has this listed as a scottish ale, yet their website says it is a wee heavy. Hmmm. I think the best way to think of this one is a wee heavy flavor combination in a scottish ale body. Big caramel in smell and taste, with dark fruit and earth supporting. The body is thin, short lived on the palate, and generally leaves you wanting more.