Scotch Ale
Weyerbacher Brewing Co.

Scotch AleScotch Ale
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From:
Weyerbacher Brewing Co.
 
Pennsylvania, United States
Style:
Scotch Ale / Wee Heavy
ABV:
6.8%
Score:
84
Avg:
3.68 | pDev: 14.67%
Reviews:
55
Ratings:
63
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Mar 23, 2015
Added:
Feb 02, 2002
Wants:
  2
Gots:
  0
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by BuckSpin:
Photo of BuckSpin
Reviewed by BuckSpin from Maine

4.35/5  rDev +18.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Poured a gorgeous rich cherry amber, with a thin 1/4" head of cream hued foamed that faded quickly nor clung. Nose was sweet, strong with smoke and malts with hints of oak. A plus was that the nose intensified as the brew warmed - very nice.

Initially its sweet, but not sugary. Very smooth, it sang with deep dried cherries and a rich Highlands dance of single malt scotch (albeit a young one - probably 8-10 years), maybe even a hint of peat. It warmed the pallete from the alcohol (which played nicely and was not out of proportion) and slowly crispened on the throat with a pleasing bite of the same. The warm glow on the pallete remained and was not obtrusive.

I am really getting into these Wee Heavys, and thoroughly enjoyed this one. Anyone who enjoys barreled spirits will like this. Highly recommend, especially on a cool, crisp evening anytime of year.
May 14, 2005
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.5 by buzzy from Pennsylvania

Mar 23, 2015
 
Rated: 1.75 by MorgothBauglir from Pennsylvania

Dec 07, 2014
 
Rated: 3.25 by yourefragile from District of Columbia

Dec 30, 2013
 
Rated: 3.25 by Varkias41 from New Jersey

Jul 19, 2013
 
Rated: 3.5 by redliner8 from Pennsylvania

Jun 24, 2012
 
Rated: 3 by ithinkimasofa from Washington

Feb 13, 2012
 
Rated: 3 by Giantspace from Pennsylvania

Jan 07, 2012
 
Rated: 4 by randomdanger from New Jersey

Nov 15, 2011
Photo of mikesgroove
Reviewed by mikesgroove from South Carolina

4/5  rDev +8.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
from notes

tan foam that lasted well into the night. Great side glass lace as well, really quite the thick looking liquid here for sure.

The aroma was very sweet, with a big malt nose. Lots of earthy smells, grain, some raisin maybe and a touch of spice. Nice bit of caramel as well, with a woody sort of alcohol mixed in. This all translated over to the flavor, which also was very full and really just a very nice example of the style. Loads of sweetness in it, with candied sugar and caramel laced earthy malts making the big splash here. Very big body on this one as well, with really a tremendously smooth feeling to it. Nice carbonation that never really quit, and a long lasting sweet finish
Aug 31, 2011
Photo of treyrab
Reviewed by treyrab from California

3.78/5  rDev +2.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
I have never seen this one before on the shelves, so I grabbed one when I did. Poured into my snifter tonight.

A: Pours a superb, stellar, magnificent dark scotch copper with a half finger bone white head that dissipates fairly quickly. No sticky lacing on this one at all.

S: Smell is of sweet scotch/light bourbon with a deep roasted caramel and brown sugar. The smell is fairly strong, but not overkill.

T: The taste starts with a deep, sweet caramel and munich malt flavor that is blended with a hint of scotch and whiskey notes. The taste is slightly light but has just the right amount of flavor.

Overall, this is a pretty solid beer. I would not put it above Old Chub, etc. but definitely worth grabbing.
Jan 03, 2009
Photo of weeare138
Reviewed by weeare138 from Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +8.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Appears a transparent dark, crimson toned amber with a small white cap that slowly fades into mild head. Spotty lacing is left around the glass.
Smell...up front, there are fusel alcohol aromas followed by brown sugar and a generous amount of caramel, vanilla, and spice. Ripe fruit, highlighted by black grapes jumps out upon another glance.
Taste is of the mentioned aromas. A decent blending of toasted nuts, ripe fruit, and brown sugar.
Mouthfeel is medium-full bodied with a spicy dryness that keeps me coming back for more of the caramel, and fruity sweetness.
Nov 03, 2008
Photo of Wasatch
Reviewed by Wasatch from Colorado

3.95/5  rDev +7.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Thanks goes out to NJpadreFan for this brew.

Pours a nice brown color, nice carbonation, nice little fizzy off-white head, with some sticky lacining around the edges. The nose is malty, with some yeasty notes, bananna, bubblegum, with some spices, and caramel. The taste is sweet, malty, slight yeast, bananna, bubblegum, spicy, with some caramel notes. Medium body. Drinkable, quite the different Scotch Ale here, but very tasty.
Jul 19, 2008
Photo of garcia2a
Reviewed by garcia2a from Pennsylvania

3.73/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Pours a deep amber, clear with a nice fleeting head and almost no carbonation.

The bouquet is rich on malts that convey a nice bready/caramely/sweet nose to the beer. The taste is nice and warm on the hops with choclate and caramel on the tongue.

The mouthfeel is decent, but the beer does cloy about 75% through the first pint. All and all a friendly, drinkable beer.
Jun 25, 2008
Photo of NJpadreFan
Reviewed by NJpadreFan from New Jersey

3.82/5  rDev +3.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Weyerbacher- Scotch Ale

A- Deep amber brown with a small but sticky head.
S- Good peat moss aroma, caramel, and wood notes.
T- Sweet malt hints of caramel and oak. Moss and cola flavors punch through with a hot alc. finish.
M- Creamy sweet with a dry alc. laden end.

Overall- Let this 1 warm up a bit. Nice flavors, very good aroma. Tasty, and tough to find!
Jun 14, 2008
Photo of AltBock
Reviewed by AltBock from Ohio

3.11/5  rDev -15.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
12 oz. undated bottle that has a simple plaid label with the name of the beer in the middle. Around the side is where they keep all the manadory U.S Government information. I believe this one is only available in one of their variety cases.

When poured into a Snifter, this Scotch Ale is a dark cranberry red color with a white head of foam that was about 1/2 inch in height. This head of foam had decent retention that left behind spots of white lace and a few foamy white rings along the sides. I couldn't get much out of the aroma. The only aromas I got out this beer was a little smoke, peat, sweet caramel, and a handful of fruits. The taste was also lightly smoky, but the taste contained roasted malts, dried black cherries, a dab of peat, yeast, bitter roasted hops, and then all of this ends with a touch of alcohol. Not too much alcohol, where it didn't take over the entire taste. The mouthfeel was medium bodied with a slightly roasted and boozy aftertaste of roasted malts, black cherries, and alcohol. For some strange reason, the alcohol kicked into gear in the mouthfeel and not the initial taste. In the end, it's not the best Scotch Ale out there, but it isn't all that bad. I thought it could have used a bit more smoke in it and not so much alcohol in the aftertaste, but to each his own I guess.
May 20, 2008
Photo of Lupe
Reviewed by Lupe from New York

4.33/5  rDev +17.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4
Pours a lovely deep brownish red - wonderful hues when held to the light. Huge head reminiscent of cappuccino foam and settles to a half finger. Leaves little lace.

Aroma subtle with smoked peat, brown sugar, and fruit. A touch of yeast is also present - not expected in the style or from this brewery.

Starts surprisingly fruity - almost like a Belgian abbey ale with it's fruitiness and dose of brown sugar. Fruit fades to some more malty sweetness in the way of toffee and caramel. Nice toasted character is present and the sweetness is never overwhelming. Alcohol is just barely noticeable, and helps balance. Smoke is soft and comes in the finish, which is dry and lingering with peaty smoke. Interesting take on a Scotch Ale, but I like.

Medium-full in body, very smooth, silky and just thick enough. Carbonation is perfect and really adds to the beer. Great drinkablity - nice complexity, great flavors, and it goes down easy. Kind of a cross between a Scotch ale and a Dubbel - but whatever it is, I'm a fan.
Apr 06, 2008
Photo of Lothore
Reviewed by Lothore from California

3.5/5  rDev -4.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
A- Pours a deep reddish brown with a small fizzy head that dissipates rather quickly.

S- Smells sweet, yeasty, with hints of lighter fruitiness.

T- Taste is much darker than expected, almost dubbelesque with strong tones of dark fruit throughout the middle, a hop bitterness at the end but with a bit of a weak beginning.

M- Thick and a bit too carbonated for my taste.

D- In my opinion this is a good brew that misses the mark a little. I like it but I couldn't session it and it just seems like it doesn't come together cohesively enough.
Feb 16, 2008
Photo of DIM
Reviewed by DIM from Pennsylvania

4.08/5  rDev +10.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5
I found this bottle hidden in a forgotten corner of my fridge. I don't remember buying it but here goes.

a: Clear deep ruby red. Huge white head that fades away very quickly.

s: Very subdued. A bit of smoke, not much sweetness. A decent amount of hops that seem out of place in a scotch ale.

t: Smokey rather than sweet malt up front, some sweetness appears with the hops at the end. This is a strange tasting scotch ale, but a great tasting beer. Almost tastes more like a barleywine. The 4 is a bit of a compromise. 3.5 for a scotch ale, 4.5 as a blindly tasted beer.

m: Silky and very thick. Texture reminds of their Twelve though not to that extreme. Carbonation lingers until the very end.

d: I'll certainly go looking for more of these.
Nov 06, 2007
Photo of LeftyBWS
Reviewed by LeftyBWS from Pennsylvania

3.84/5  rDev +4.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
My second taste of Weyerbacher beers. Poured into a pint glass from a 12 oz. brown bottle. The label features a maroon and gold tartan print with a simple “Scotch Ale brewed in the USA” written over it.
A: Pours a very dark amber-brown color with 1.5 inches of creamy, ivory-colored head. A bit of carbonation creeps quickly up the sides of the glass, but other than that it’s hard to see, given the color. Nice amount of thin lacing that retains throughout.
S: Roasted malts are prevalent, certainly. There are some floral hops present, too, but they are subdued. There’s a whiff of something creamy and buttery, too. All in all, rather unassuming but pleasant nonetheless.
T: Chocolatey and vaguely fruity. Lots of earthy maltiness present throughout, and a hint of bitterness kicks in towards the finish but is washed away. This seems more like a porter or a weakish stout to me than a Scotch ale. Interesting sweetish aftertaste that I didn’t expect; I was anticipating more bitterness and an alcohol taste.
M: Very smooth throughout, never harsh, especially in the finish. A pleasant surprise to me for this style.
D: Pretty good. I had two of these in a row. Seems like an interesting ale/porter mix, so it has nice drinkability for this category.
Overall, a pretty tasty beer that seems to transcend the Scotch Ale style but not in an altogether interesting way. I’m looking forward to drinking the rest of this 6-pack, but I don’t see myself specifically seeking these out in the future, unless I really want something like a Scotch Ale.
Aug 08, 2007
Scotch Ale from Weyerbacher Brewing Co.
Beer rating: 84 out of 100 with 63 ratings