Red Hill Scottish Ale
Elliot Glacier Public House

A: Poured a dark brown color with no head/lacing down the glass
S: Smell is very sweet and malty
T: Taste is sweet and malty like a scottish but it also has kind of a peat like taste to it much like a porter
M: Mouthfeel was medium, slightly low on the carbonation could use a little bit more in that area
D: Very drinkable beer, interesting because it reminded me a bit of a porter in some ways.

Five of the six beers I drank at Elliot Glacier had no lace whatsoever. Most had negligible measures of head and were placid with minimal carbonation. Not that these beers were stale or tired. They were all absolutely fresh and full flavored. But the above characteristics revealed themselves to be a persistent stylistic pattern. Call this an observation, not a complaint.

I’ve sampled Red Hill Scottish Ale on three separate occasions and each time found it consistent with this trend. It features no head or lace and almost no carbonation at all. But it more than makes up for these modesties with a bold sweetness of raw wort and a profuse emphasis on fruity malts. It is dark mahogany and clear and yields a fragrance that varies from luscious cherry wine to watery indifference.

I thought this would make an outstanding dessert beer, as it is heavy and sweet and makes no overtures to peat. It’s not a “wee heavy” in accordance with some stylistic guidelines, though it sits on the strong end of session brews. I found the overall taste and drinkability of Red Hill to far outweigh any lack of innervation from the body and enjoyed this beer fully.