Heavy Scotch Ale
Brooklyn Brewery

Cask at Stout in NYC (last year) served in the all-purpose cask mug.

Murky brown with little white head, that was virtually gone by the time the beer arrived at the table.

Smell was awesome though, great scotch smell and wonderful malty aroma.

Very easy to drink, smooth going down (almost like a brown ale with scotch in it) and the 10oz mug made you wanting more.

I am not sure if this is still around - but, if you find it on cask somewhere I would highly suggest trying this one.

Great find - Cheers.

The beer arrived in the small glass a translucent amber brown with a low off-white head which lasted well to lace the glass.

The aroma was low and very light with chocolate and caramel. Also present was some fruitiness which increased as the beer warmed. Maltiness increased with warming as well.

The flavor was caramel and slight chocolate and was very fruity and also was malty, but not overly so.

The finish was just dry after the sweet maltiness subsides with strong lasting fruitiness long into the aftertaste. The body was medium and nicely accomplished. No real alcohol presence. The beer was nice, but not overly exciting.

Bitsy 10 ounce glass at Summits in Cumming, GA.

This beautiful, rich and satisfying wee heavy is an excellent example of the style and holds it's own against the best from Scotland.
It pours a dark mahogany that looks almost black in the full pint on the bar; and its creamy tan head rests lazily atop as it slowly dissipates to an average collar.
Its dextrinous, medium-full body passes smoothly across the palate with just a delicate bristle of carbonation on the tongue.
The malt is sweetish, toasty and rich without being overdone, showing notes of sticky caramel, some sublime hops, and a cusp of roastiness. It's well-balanced by a firm bitterness, and it finishes almost without notice as it leaves behind only a mild, lingering note of almost burnt-caramel.

It came to me a deep glistening brown, tossing about flashes of ruby as the light grudgingly passed through. A finger of light tan head sizzled away quickly. Droopy loops of lacing clung to the glass as it drained.

The aroma was sparse at first, but as the head waned solid notes of roasted malt sprung up, carrying along a dark fruit note and an airy but present bouquet of hops.

The first sip laid a velvety slick of earthy malt sweetness rounded by notes of dark cherry and a most pleasant glance of rich leather. Vanilla yeast baubles slid about the mid-range, and combined with some nuttiness in the malt to lay across the back of the mouth. The hops didn't leap out so much as sneak in, and they did so furtively enough to simply lend a gentle swirl of themselves in the mix. Alcohol made a brief appearance, but was never overpowering.The flavor was dense, with a real but understated sweetness that tangoed stylishly with the hops to leave a satisfying dry finish.

Medium bodied, the elements linger nicely, but drop to a slight thinness as it dies off. A dry finish leaves a light glow.

I could drink as many of these as were put in front of me. Dark, earthy, and malty, with a fetching sprig of hops, the components blend into a smooth melange of fine flavors. It's reminiscent of a porter, but it is what it purports itself to be. The ABV never really hides, so it was on my mind, but it was never once a deterrent to another sip. This is a strong beer, across the board, in every way, and I will gladly take part in draining as many kegs of this as I might come across.

I just had this brew last night at The Brazen Head's Cask Ale Festival, in Brooklyn.

The brew appeared a very dark brown, I wasn't able to see through it. Almost black in color.

This brew tasted fresh and surprising light, which was weird because the beer is so dark.

Very easy to drink, I had no problem finishing my half-pint. I recommend this brew to anyone who likes Scottish ale.

Originally sampled at the Brooklyn Brewery during its release party. Had taken notes, which I misplaced, but have since found - thus the late review.
The beer poured a clear, dark-copperish color with a tan head. Minimal lacing, but I was drinking from a plastic cup and not sure if that would affect the lacing or not. Sweet, caramel malt backbone with a slight hop presence to balance things out. Hints of slight chocolate towards the end of each sip. Medium-bodied. Alcohol well-hidden. Very drinkable. Another fine BrewMaster's Reserve offering from Garrett Oliver.

On tap at the gingerman. This is a beautiful deep red color beer. It poured with no head whatsoever, detracting from the appearance score. No head, no lacing. But it wasn't lacking in carbonation, so I will blame the head absence on the pouring or the glass They are usually better about that at the gingerman.

I wasn't sure about the smell at first, but it definately grew on me. I am not always a fan of the style, but was keeping an open mind (and mouth). So on to tasting.

This was fizzier than I expected from a Scotch ale, and lighter in the mouth than it looks like it will be. These were good traits, as the alcohol content is high enough that the lightness made it more drinkable. It had a pleasant, light, fluffy feel on the tongue.

Decent malt and hops come through, neither dominating. It did not linger more than necessary in the mouth. Had I had more time, I may have had another.

On tap in Massachusett's Doyle's in Jamaica Plain on date reviewed. Was tapped the previous evening.

Started with a pillowy initial head, then subsided to a thin mercury layer. Mahogany, ruby-red color, verging on claret. Tight malt bouquet, spot-on style. An up front heavy maltiness that lingered in the back of the mouth/tongue, with a cloying oak finish. Smooth and light mouthfeel, with light carbonation. My drinking partner Kumar and I felt that with the moderate alcohol this ale employed, it would make for a good session ale were we to get our hands on a firkin or two of it.

I was fortunate to be able to attend the premiere of the Scotch Ale at the brewery, where they offered it both on tap and cask-conditioned. Though I liked both, I would have to say the cask was the superior of the two. A deep reddish-brown color with a bubbly (but wee) head, and sweet malty caramel flavor, the cask really brought the flavor out farther than the more carbonated tap. Highly drinkable, this scotch ale went down milky-smooth, with even a bit of a grassy\peat flavor at the end. I think this is the first time the brewery has casked anything, but I would not be surprised to see more of this on cask in the future.

on tap at the Ginger man in NYC. Poured dark almond, with a dark tan head. Puffy and creamy, settled into a fine bubble sheen and left moderate lacing. Sweet malt, earth and caramel in the nose. Nice rounded malty center, notes of apples, fruit, caramel, peat?, and I also get a minty note in the finish. Moderatly hopped. Sweet, roasted malt carries the weight here, not cloying. Medium bodied.Nicely done. A must try for Brooklyn supporters