True Scotsman
Black Cloister Brewing Company

an enjoyable, traditional, and strong scotch ale here, one that drinks easy for what it is, and really sneaks up on you, boy was i hungover this morning! deep copper color to this, some sediment in it, a good little head on it at first but it fades fast, and a cool nose of old world ale yeast, nutty, baked, sweet malts, and a cool earthiness i like in the style, brown sugar and maple too. the flavor is like wet bran muffin, faint peat and dry smoke, raisin and toffee, tobacco and molasses, deep and rich, fully grain driven, and interestingly strong, i feel it without tasting it, which i like in one of these. a caramelized and long boiled vibe to this, a little oxidation, some candied almond character, lots of residual sugar, more maple, good density too, fuller bodied and not overly carbonated, slightly woody to me, a nice evening sipper that even has a red apple note at the end, very autumnal, nice as these nights start to get a little more chilly here, feels like fall in a glass. overall a solid take on the style, sneaky strong, well made, and a solid brew, but it was a little flat, more bubbles would give this some needed life, but well done on the whole.

 

 

 

A: Solid, a reddish-brown with a tan head that retains well and drops moderate lacing.
S: Sweet, lots of caramel and dark fruits with a hint of something not quite tinny and just a bit of hops.
T:There's lots of sweet burnt caramel and Coppery / steely with something almost molasses-like underneath and some fig as well. There's a touch of smokiness, if not quite as much as I'd like for a Scotch ale.
F: Medium-full body, not cloying, a little dry from alcohol in the middle but settling well. It's got an even keel between sweet up front and dryer later, good carbonation and movement.

Very nice scotch ale. Full of rich caramel malts. Full bodied with excellent carbonation. An extremely tasty beer. The flavor is spot-on, the body/feel is spot-on, the nose is just right. I would definitely grab a pint of this or a growler fill if I see it on draft again. It's the best scotch ale I can remember having.