Pike Kilt Lifter Scotch Style Ale | The Pike Brewing Company
Brewed by:
The Pike Brewing Company
Washington, United States
pikebrewing.com
Style: Scotch Ale / Wee Heavy
Alcohol by volume (ABV): 6.50%
Availability: Year-round
Notes / Commercial Description:
No notes at this time.
Added by BeerAdvocate on 08-28-2001
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Ratings: 477 | Reviews: 217
3.15/5 rDev -12%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
22 oz bottle, no date.
dark copper in color, with just a thin whisp of head. not a very strong aroma, just a bit boozy. tastes of sweet malt, with some caramel, some whiskey flavors without the burn. medium body, carbonation on the higher side.
overall, it's alright, but nothing special.
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look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
22 oz bottle, no date.
dark copper in color, with just a thin whisp of head. not a very strong aroma, just a bit boozy. tastes of sweet malt, with some caramel, some whiskey flavors without the burn. medium body, carbonation on the higher side.
overall, it's alright, but nothing special.
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2.63/5 rDev -26.5%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3
A 12 oz bottle from Liquid Solutions.
A: The ale is an amber orange color, far to vibrant and clear to be a wee heavy. The head is practically nonexistent.
S: The aroma has some stronger malt notes and just a mere hint of smokiness.
T: The ale has an unremarkable malt body supported by some bittering hops and absolutely no smokiness. I think that the ale is older but not quite too old to support the big flavors in a wee heavy.
M: The mouthfeel is malty but lacks any real memorable aspect.
D: I'll try another one just to confirm or dispel my initial conclusions, but what I found here was not enjoyable in any form.
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look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3
A 12 oz bottle from Liquid Solutions.
A: The ale is an amber orange color, far to vibrant and clear to be a wee heavy. The head is practically nonexistent.
S: The aroma has some stronger malt notes and just a mere hint of smokiness.
T: The ale has an unremarkable malt body supported by some bittering hops and absolutely no smokiness. I think that the ale is older but not quite too old to support the big flavors in a wee heavy.
M: The mouthfeel is malty but lacks any real memorable aspect.
D: I'll try another one just to confirm or dispel my initial conclusions, but what I found here was not enjoyable in any form.
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3.44/5 rDev -3.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.6/5 rDev +0.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
22oz bottle purchased as a single at Julio's, Westboro, MA.
Poured into an imperial pint glass, formed a 1/4" beige head over the clear dark amber brew. Head is quickly down to a swirly skim of tiny bubbles, with average to good lacing. Aroma is biscuity sweet malt. Taste starts where the nose left off, light fruitiness in the middle, and a slightly chalky hops close. Mouthfeel is pretty smooth, and drinkability is easy. Could be better, but I wouldn't refuse on these.
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look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
22oz bottle purchased as a single at Julio's, Westboro, MA.
Poured into an imperial pint glass, formed a 1/4" beige head over the clear dark amber brew. Head is quickly down to a swirly skim of tiny bubbles, with average to good lacing. Aroma is biscuity sweet malt. Taste starts where the nose left off, light fruitiness in the middle, and a slightly chalky hops close. Mouthfeel is pretty smooth, and drinkability is easy. Could be better, but I wouldn't refuse on these.
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3.18/5 rDev -11.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2 | overall: 3.5
A: Pours a clear ruby color. A large beige head forms and leaves some rings of sticky lace.
S: Caramel and nutty malt. A musky aroma, and a bit of grainy malt as well.
T: Malty and sweet with a metallic taste. A light graininess. It is thin and uninspired though. The flavors are muted and nondescript.
M/D: A medium body that is low on the carbonation end. Thin and watery. Not hard to drink. A relatively low ABV beer for the style makes for quaffable beer.
Not bad, but does not measure up to my favorites of the style. I probably wont be getting this again though. There are other top notch Wee Heavies around that blow this one out of the water.
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look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2 | overall: 3.5
A: Pours a clear ruby color. A large beige head forms and leaves some rings of sticky lace.
S: Caramel and nutty malt. A musky aroma, and a bit of grainy malt as well.
T: Malty and sweet with a metallic taste. A light graininess. It is thin and uninspired though. The flavors are muted and nondescript.
M/D: A medium body that is low on the carbonation end. Thin and watery. Not hard to drink. A relatively low ABV beer for the style makes for quaffable beer.
Not bad, but does not measure up to my favorites of the style. I probably wont be getting this again though. There are other top notch Wee Heavies around that blow this one out of the water.
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3.63/5 rDev +1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Pours dark red with a sub-one-finger head, slightly off white. Smells of heavy, buttery scotch and molasses. Flavor follows with a mix of fruits and butterscotch, with a super smooth finish. Not much peaty or smokey flavor here, but I was Ok with that. A little slick, juicy, with medium carbonation. Was hungover when I had this, but was a pretty easy drinking scotch ale. Pike really impressed me on my Seattle visit.
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look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Pours dark red with a sub-one-finger head, slightly off white. Smells of heavy, buttery scotch and molasses. Flavor follows with a mix of fruits and butterscotch, with a super smooth finish. Not much peaty or smokey flavor here, but I was Ok with that. A little slick, juicy, with medium carbonation. Was hungover when I had this, but was a pretty easy drinking scotch ale. Pike really impressed me on my Seattle visit.
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3.3/5 rDev -7.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Brown and auburn colors in the pour, not much head at all, even though the beer ended up being plenty carbonated, left me wondering though, why is there lace left on a beer with almost no head? I digress. Woody aroma, sweet, smoky, nice.
More wood tannin grittiness and sweetness on the palate. Didn't catch the smokiness at this point. Warming effect of alcohol. More drinkable than average for style. A little nuttiness and caramel thrown in for good measure. More like a hybrid or leaning toward an amber ale/winter warmer type situation.
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look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Brown and auburn colors in the pour, not much head at all, even though the beer ended up being plenty carbonated, left me wondering though, why is there lace left on a beer with almost no head? I digress. Woody aroma, sweet, smoky, nice.
More wood tannin grittiness and sweetness on the palate. Didn't catch the smokiness at this point. Warming effect of alcohol. More drinkable than average for style. A little nuttiness and caramel thrown in for good measure. More like a hybrid or leaning toward an amber ale/winter warmer type situation.
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3.7/5 rDev +3.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5
22 oz. Good to see Pike in North Carolina.
A basic amber pour with a small layer of white bubbles.
Aroma is mild, malt, caramel, burnt brown sugar.
Taste is standard but somewhat thin. Malt, caramel and charcoal. The sweetness lingers just a bit.
Pretty lively mouthfeel, but not overly so. Descently light and really very easy to drink. Kind of a summer wee heavy.
Had their stout and really liked it. This, not quite as much. Still good enough though.
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look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5
22 oz. Good to see Pike in North Carolina.
A basic amber pour with a small layer of white bubbles.
Aroma is mild, malt, caramel, burnt brown sugar.
Taste is standard but somewhat thin. Malt, caramel and charcoal. The sweetness lingers just a bit.
Pretty lively mouthfeel, but not overly so. Descently light and really very easy to drink. Kind of a summer wee heavy.
Had their stout and really liked it. This, not quite as much. Still good enough though.
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2.18/5 rDev -39.1%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2
Highly dissapointed in this one...thin...fizzy...lacks peat...lacks maltiness...has almost a fruity sourness...very unremarkable drinking experience. I would never buy this one again...perhaps it's old but we got it from Liquid Solutions and I assume they only ship fresh beer..even if it is old a 6.6% Scotch should hold up better...tangy tasting...just not at all what I expected....light orange color....nose almost smells like a barnyard...tart on the finish...not very good at all
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look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2
Highly dissapointed in this one...thin...fizzy...lacks peat...lacks maltiness...has almost a fruity sourness...very unremarkable drinking experience. I would never buy this one again...perhaps it's old but we got it from Liquid Solutions and I assume they only ship fresh beer..even if it is old a 6.6% Scotch should hold up better...tangy tasting...just not at all what I expected....light orange color....nose almost smells like a barnyard...tart on the finish...not very good at all
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3.71/5 rDev +3.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
4.07/5 rDev +13.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
God, Kilt Lifter is an overused name.
But, hey, this is a pretty good American Scotch.
Peaty, round toffee, with a very amber malt--big nodes of brown sugar and caramel and the finish is more sour than sweet or bitter. It's much earthier than your typical American Scotch, but this makes it much more drinkable.
It packs a punch but it isn't zippy or burny. Some people might be put off by this, but I'm not convinced that a strong alcohol presence is a necessary component of a Scotch.
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look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
God, Kilt Lifter is an overused name.
But, hey, this is a pretty good American Scotch.
Peaty, round toffee, with a very amber malt--big nodes of brown sugar and caramel and the finish is more sour than sweet or bitter. It's much earthier than your typical American Scotch, but this makes it much more drinkable.
It packs a punch but it isn't zippy or burny. Some people might be put off by this, but I'm not convinced that a strong alcohol presence is a necessary component of a Scotch.
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3.55/5 rDev -0.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
One of the few beers remaining from the beers I brought back to Ontario from Alberta.
A - Pours a hazy copper colour with an amber hue, finger of head with little retention and no lacing.
S - Bready oatmeal, cereal notes, caramel, toffee and bran flakes.
T - Pretty mild for a scotch ale, bready caramel and bran, touch of peat that lingers with a hint of espresso and some alcohol sweetness.
M - No complaints here, nice carbonation level that goes down smooth and leaves with a touch of dryness.
O - A tasty scotch ale, but a little too mild for my liking. I like my scotch ales to possess more on the peat flavours, so don't look to this one if you're looking for a bold scotch ale. This might be a good choice to ease someone into the style.
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look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
One of the few beers remaining from the beers I brought back to Ontario from Alberta.
A - Pours a hazy copper colour with an amber hue, finger of head with little retention and no lacing.
S - Bready oatmeal, cereal notes, caramel, toffee and bran flakes.
T - Pretty mild for a scotch ale, bready caramel and bran, touch of peat that lingers with a hint of espresso and some alcohol sweetness.
M - No complaints here, nice carbonation level that goes down smooth and leaves with a touch of dryness.
O - A tasty scotch ale, but a little too mild for my liking. I like my scotch ales to possess more on the peat flavours, so don't look to this one if you're looking for a bold scotch ale. This might be a good choice to ease someone into the style.
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3.97/5 rDev +10.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
I think I have sampled at least 4 or 5 beers that call themselves Kilt Lifters, well in my humble opinion, Pikes is the best. Also why is it so hard to find a Good Scotch Style Ale?
A beauteous orange to amber color, the head prodigious in size, creamy in texture, a nice light tan in color and the residual lace a thick and sticky sheet to meld with the glass. Sweet malt is the nose, fresh and inviting, the start ambrosial, malt laden, and the top rich in its feel to the palate. Finish has a delectable acidity, the hops spicy and pleasant, dry aftertaste and a real treat.
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look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
I think I have sampled at least 4 or 5 beers that call themselves Kilt Lifters, well in my humble opinion, Pikes is the best. Also why is it so hard to find a Good Scotch Style Ale?
A beauteous orange to amber color, the head prodigious in size, creamy in texture, a nice light tan in color and the residual lace a thick and sticky sheet to meld with the glass. Sweet malt is the nose, fresh and inviting, the start ambrosial, malt laden, and the top rich in its feel to the palate. Finish has a delectable acidity, the hops spicy and pleasant, dry aftertaste and a real treat.
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3/5 rDev -16.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Poured from a 12 oz. bottle into an East End Brewing Co. shaker pint, Kilt Lifter is a clear amber with a slight eggshell head that quickly fades.
The smell is all malt, sweet bread, rich and almost a bit much as it warms.
The taste is also all malt, bready but with a lot more spice, Christmas cookie like, some bitterness, and the slightest touch of alcohol. There was a touch of funk to it that I could have done without.
The moutfeel is on the lighter side for the style, but the lack of carbonation makes it seem a little syrupy.
The was on the lighter side for a wee heavy, although at times it seemed like more beer then it was. Went down easy enough, but not really noteworthy. While not an average example of the style, it was average across the board score wise.
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look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Poured from a 12 oz. bottle into an East End Brewing Co. shaker pint, Kilt Lifter is a clear amber with a slight eggshell head that quickly fades.
The smell is all malt, sweet bread, rich and almost a bit much as it warms.
The taste is also all malt, bready but with a lot more spice, Christmas cookie like, some bitterness, and the slightest touch of alcohol. There was a touch of funk to it that I could have done without.
The moutfeel is on the lighter side for the style, but the lack of carbonation makes it seem a little syrupy.
The was on the lighter side for a wee heavy, although at times it seemed like more beer then it was. Went down easy enough, but not really noteworthy. While not an average example of the style, it was average across the board score wise.
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3.69/5 rDev +3.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
nice caramel color, some carbonation and bubbles rising to the top. nothing really there in the smell (maybe a cereal/corn kind of aroma) and the taste is rather generic, but easy-going and sessionable. slight hop bitterness one-ups the malts but my kilt isn't lifting.
overall, a very general kind of brew. easy to drink with a decent abv, but like the others from this brewery, not terribly memorable. probably very nice fresh out of the tap at the brewery...
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look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
nice caramel color, some carbonation and bubbles rising to the top. nothing really there in the smell (maybe a cereal/corn kind of aroma) and the taste is rather generic, but easy-going and sessionable. slight hop bitterness one-ups the malts but my kilt isn't lifting.
overall, a very general kind of brew. easy to drink with a decent abv, but like the others from this brewery, not terribly memorable. probably very nice fresh out of the tap at the brewery...
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3.63/5 rDev +1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
A: This poured a clear, dark copper with some tan head.
S: It smelled like roasted barley and nutty malt, with brown sugar and bready yeast and a bit of copper hops.
T: It tasted like sweet caramel and brown sugar and roasted barley, with some nutty malt and bready yeast and copper hops. It had a moderate bitter aftertaste.
M: It was watery with decent carbonation.
D: This was a decent beer (more like a scottish than scotch ale). It wasn't super clean or bold, and it certainly wasn't unique at all. But it was still enjoyable and easy to drink.
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look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
A: This poured a clear, dark copper with some tan head.
S: It smelled like roasted barley and nutty malt, with brown sugar and bready yeast and a bit of copper hops.
T: It tasted like sweet caramel and brown sugar and roasted barley, with some nutty malt and bready yeast and copper hops. It had a moderate bitter aftertaste.
M: It was watery with decent carbonation.
D: This was a decent beer (more like a scottish than scotch ale). It wasn't super clean or bold, and it certainly wasn't unique at all. But it was still enjoyable and easy to drink.
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3.3/5 rDev -7.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
Pours a murky light brown color with a thin, large-bubbled foam that fades real quick to a few bubbles floating on the surface. The opacity of this beer is pretty surprising.
Smell is very sweet and carmely with just a touch of earthy peat and lots of dark fruits - strawberries, blackberries and figs covered with brown sugar. I typically like my Scotch Ale's more earthy and smoky.
The taste is sweet and light with some of the fruitiness coming through as well. The malts are there, but not in enough quantity to be rich and creamy. That makes it probably a good thing the ABV is only 6.6, just not enough body and flavor to support any more alcohol. As a beer, it is far from bad and I do not think I will have much trouble finishing the bomber, but for a Scotch Ale, this is a pretty weak attempt.
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look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
Pours a murky light brown color with a thin, large-bubbled foam that fades real quick to a few bubbles floating on the surface. The opacity of this beer is pretty surprising.
Smell is very sweet and carmely with just a touch of earthy peat and lots of dark fruits - strawberries, blackberries and figs covered with brown sugar. I typically like my Scotch Ale's more earthy and smoky.
The taste is sweet and light with some of the fruitiness coming through as well. The malts are there, but not in enough quantity to be rich and creamy. That makes it probably a good thing the ABV is only 6.6, just not enough body and flavor to support any more alcohol. As a beer, it is far from bad and I do not think I will have much trouble finishing the bomber, but for a Scotch Ale, this is a pretty weak attempt.
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Pike Kilt Lifter Scotch Style Ale from The Pike Brewing Company
Beer rating:
3.58 out of
5 with
477 ratings
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Nice dark amber color with red and gold hues peeking through in the light. No head, no real cap and not much lacing to speak of, maybe just a hint of tan and white floating in there. The smell is a sweet caramel-like scent. Not too complex. Some smokey tones linger there too. The taste was very much on the sweet side, but had a nice little spicey, smokey bite to it. Again though, not too complex. Light to medium bodied with a mildly carbonated mouthfeel. Goes good with the food at the pub, but I wouldn't necessarily be looking for this one otherwise.
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