Keelhauler (Brewmaster Reserve 2009)
Full Sail Brewing Company

Keelhauler (Brewmaster Reserve 2009)Keelhauler (Brewmaster Reserve 2009)
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From:
Full Sail Brewing Company
 
Oregon, United States
Style:
Scottish Ale
ABV:
6.8%
Score:
83
Avg:
3.61 | pDev: 13.02%
Reviews:
49
Ratings:
54
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Jun 05, 2017
Added:
Mar 20, 2009
Wants:
  1
Gots:
  1
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by aforbes10:
Photo of aforbes10
Reviewed by aforbes10 from Iowa

3.35/5  rDev -7.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
Bottle from the Davis Co-Op. Pours a ruby red with a inch high whitish head that falls off to just a covering after a time. laces unevenly but thickly. Smells of smoked bacon and peat with a distinct maltiness. Flavor has a bit of smoke in it (not rauchbier levels, but enough), more peat, and some grassy hops on a nice solid malt base. Caramel and alcohol evident in the flavor and the slightest hint of tin. Some bitterness, but this is divorced from the rest of the flavor and leaves an overly dry impression on the finish. Medium to full bodied. Not one i'd run back out to get again. I thought this year's slipknot was infected, and i get hints of the same from this baby (though not nearly as bad).
Apr 02, 2009
More User Ratings:
Photo of poisoneddwarf
Rated by poisoneddwarf from Idaho

3.22/5  rDev -10.8%
look: 5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3
Backlog.
Jun 05, 2017
Photo of rodbeermunch
Reviewed by rodbeermunch from Nevada

3.1/5  rDev -14.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25
Nice red and brown appearance, looks bright for those colors, 1/4" off white head. Aroma was a mixture of red and scotch ale type of earthy malt vibe.

Lumped toffee, tea, alcohol burn, earth, pepper, peat, caramel on this one. It might be complex, but its not something that you go "ahhwwww yeah," after your first (or any other) sip. This was a little bitter too, not the place for hops here.

Good price for a bomber.
Feb 24, 2016
 
Rated: 3.25 by GRG1313 from California

Nov 23, 2014
 
Rated: 3.5 by shelby415 from Oregon

Feb 25, 2012
 
Rated: 4.5 by buckyp from South Carolina

Jan 01, 2012
 
Rated: 4.75 by Telestic from Washington

Dec 25, 2011
Photo of Beerandraiderfan
Reviewed by Beerandraiderfan from Nevada

3.16/5  rDev -12.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
Something like a mix of ruby, brown and copper flows into the glass, small amount of beigeish head to it, aroma was a mix of red ale sweetness and scotch ale peat.

Bitter toffee, toasted, tea, red residual sweetness, pepper, some stinging alcohol (?) bite to it with lots more bitterness than was expected. I don't get it, the hops went away in lots of the hoppy style beers for full sail, but then in a scotch ale, they jam it with bitterness and hops? Its one of the more complex offerings from full sail to be sure, but at least its still cheap (4/22) like most full sail offerings.

Not really my style of beer, but nice to see that full sail is still making stuff full of flavor, which this is.
Aug 05, 2011
Photo of PDXHops
Reviewed by PDXHops from South Carolina

3.76/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Bomber poured into an oversized snifter. Deep brownish amber body with a fluffy 3 finger cream colored head. Excellent retention, plentiful lacing.

Full malty nose, rich with toasted grains, toffee and caramel. Earthy hops and a hint of smoke make an appearance. Plentiful sweetness and dark fruit washes over the tongue, but there seems to be some dark malt lurking as well. Good bite of earthy bitterness and a touch of burnt/smokiness that lingers.

Overall impression: Solid beer. No sense recommending it now, as it was a one-time deal (note- working through a hefty review notes backlog).
Sep 09, 2010
Photo of BlackHaddock
Reviewed by BlackHaddock from England

4.35/5  rDev +20.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
22 Fl oz bottle drank at our B&B in Springdale, Utah after a day walking in Zion National park. The beer was purchased at a Lee's Discount Store in Vegas and transported to Utah for reviewing at leasure.

Poured into two stemmed goblets the beer looked a picture. Deep amber body, off-white, creamy foaming head, which left some good solid lacing as the beer sank down the goblets.

Malty biscuits/molasses/toffee and a hint of smoked peat were the smalls I picked up.

The sweetness from the aroma was evident in the first sip, but a hop bite and bitterness soon came along to remind you this wasn't a childs drink.

I thought it gave off a richness and warmth which helped my aching bones to recover for the next days hiking.
May 24, 2010
Photo of flexabull
Reviewed by flexabull from California

3.56/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Pours a bright and clear deep amber color with a nice big white head.

Aromas are of dark fruits, with a very bready and cereal like character. Maybe a little too grainy though.

Taste is like the nose, quite grainy. It's got a little woody note, with really light fruity sweetness. Finish has an herbal hoppy note, and a touch of alcohol.

Mouthfeel is ok, decent up front, but thins at the finish.

Drinkability is decent, but this one just seems to be a bit of a miss. A little lacking in most departments, needs more malty sweetness and a fuller body. Not the best offering from Full Sail... bummer... I was hoping for better because this is a style I really like. I just prefer Scottish Ales to be bigger.
Apr 12, 2010
Photo of Stinkypuss
Reviewed by Stinkypuss from Pennsylvania

3.9/5  rDev +8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Full Sail Keelhauler, in a 22 oz bomber. A present from my brother who brought this from Scottsdale AZ to Pittsburgh.

Appearance: Amber/red in color with a large soapy head. Good retention and lacing.

Smell: Scottish style malt, sweet and bready with some caramel and peat too.

Taste: A delicious blend of nutty malt, toffee, and a distant roastiness. Hops are minimal in this beer and the finish is sweet. Just a hint of earthy peat. Tea like hop to balance.

Mouthfeel: Chewey malt with a chalky finish. Full bodied with lingering malt flavors.

Drinkability: A good ale here. At 6.8% abv, it is a strong beer to session regularly but finishing the entire bottle was no problem.
Feb 15, 2010
Photo of Mdog
Reviewed by Mdog from Minnesota

3.83/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Appearance: Murky brown but nice red highlights, good head.

Smell: Sweet, caramel, floral.

Taste: Mild toffee and caramel sweetness, an earthy aftertaste.

Drinkability: The bomber went down easy.

Picked up a bomber, since it was only $4 (love Full Sail prices). A pretty good beer, I suppose I wish it had a bit more smoky or peaty flavor. Still pretty good.
Jan 23, 2010
Photo of Bighuge
Reviewed by Bighuge from Minnesota

4.33/5  rDev +19.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Murky looking dirty brown body. Nice look for a Scottish ale. Bubbly light brown head has good retention and leaves sporadic webs of lace as I drink. Nice aroma of brown malts, light smoke and dark fruits. Nice blend of chocolate attributes and dark fruits, like concentrated cherry juice, but diluted. This has a really unique and complex flavor. (Anytime I use "concentrated" and "diluted" in the same sentence, that will uaually be the case.) A little peatiness and a nice lingering dryness. Body is medium. Carbonation appropriate. Very solid effort. Gotta love Full Sail. Still putting out quality beer without jacking up prices.
Jan 09, 2010
Photo of benclimbs
Reviewed by benclimbs from California

3.04/5  rDev -15.8%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5
Pours black with a brown head and light lacing

smells sour with a bit of contradictory chocolate and a strong offensive alcohol essence

taste is bitter cocoa, coffee, with a tartish quick finish

mouthfeel is light

Not really drinkable, heavy and slightly offensive
Dec 31, 2009
Photo of BuckeyeNation
Reviewed by BuckeyeNation from Iowa

3.88/5  rDev +7.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Autumn leaves russet with bright apricot highlights along the edges of the glass. The pour sounded creamy and the beige colored crown looks the same. Caramel milkshake-like foam is impressively persistent and is doing a fine job laying down sheer sheets of sudsy lace.

The nose is appropriate, although a puff of smoke or a hint of peat would have been nice. The malt (crystal, amber) is toasted, nutty and earthy. The hops (Challenger, Willamette, Sterling) don't make much of an olfactory splash. Here's hoping for a personality boost on the palate.

Keelhauler is probably too hoppy to be true to the Scottish ale style. That said, it's tasty stuff if you're a hophead... and if you care more about deliciousness than about coloring within the lines each and every time out. Full Sail knows their way around a hop cone and isn't afraid to prove it.

The malt side of the equation tastes like it should taste. Let's go with toasted brown bread, steely caramel, baked nuts, black tea leaves and tangy citrus zest. Cocoa powder... nope, the beer isn't quite that dark. This might be the hoppiest Scottish to have ever entered my glass. And the bomber has to be at least six months old.

The body/mouthfeel is a fraction lighter than it should be. It overcomes that slight hurdle by being impressively creamy smooth and mouthfillingly expansive. All those alpha acids give it a barnacle-like raspiness that adds sensory interest.

Keelhaul (nautical): to discipline by dragging under the keel of a ship; to rebuke harshly. Full Sail Brewing should not be punished for giving us Keelhauler, they should be praised. The style Nazis will probably have a fit about the hoppiness, but good beer is good beer, no matter what it takes to get there. Under the cap... 'Less Trashtalk Dude'.
Dec 28, 2009
Photo of cvstrickland
Reviewed by cvstrickland from North Carolina

3.85/5  rDev +6.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
22-ounce bomber bottle, courtesy of Wasatch. Thanks John!

Keelhauler pours sparkling-clear and glows ruby-tinted amber in color when held before the evening sunshine. A two-finger deep cap of creamy pale beige foam tops the brew before fading into a short bubbly collar that leaves wispy lacing on the insides of my Delirium tulip.

The aroma is malty-sweet, with whiffs of caramel-covered granola, spicy unsulphured molasses, and sugary toffee. A note of burnt white bread toast grows stronger as the drink warms.

The taste is a rich mouthful of caramel candy with lots of linger in the afterdrink. Dark toast-laden caramel dominates and a lighter, more dilute variant of the confection rolls about the palate in a tumbling brown-sugary swirl. A valiant smattering of dusty, earthy hops works desperately to keep the copious sweetness under control, but there's just so darned much caramelized malt sugar that it's an uphill battle all the way. Despite their best efforts, and an assist from a dry, toasted biscuity maltiness, the forces of hop-dom are easily swept away by the dark caramel juggernaut.

The drink is medium-fullish in body with a bit of slippery stickiness. The fine carbonation lightens the drink, breaks up the syrupiness, and fits in very nicely. A very easy drinker.
Dec 14, 2009
Photo of Rayek
Reviewed by Rayek from Colorado

3.43/5  rDev -5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
Poured into a thistle.

A: Tarnished copper with ruby highlights. A soapy off-white head has very nice retention and leaves heavy lace.

S: Quite spicy. Pepper and black tea dominate. There's also a little grass at work. A toffee sweetness rests in the background.

T: Awfully bitter for a this style. A peppery bitterness dominates. It even has a touch of citrus. Toffee sweetness is there, but subdued. A light herbal tea flavor rounds things out. Finishes with a lingering pepper bitterness.

M: The dry body is medium-light and has about the right level of carbonation.

D: This really doesn't strike me as a Scottish Ale. It's more of an American Amber in presentation. On its own, a nice beer, but not a very faithful example of the style.
Dec 02, 2009
Photo of slaintemhor
Reviewed by slaintemhor from Oregon

3.7/5  rDev +2.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
On tap at the Hood River Brewery in Hood River, OR. The colour was of course amber and there was little head. The aroma was a nice blend of malt and hops. On the palate, plenty of sweet malty character up front and some hop bite around the edges of the soft palate. The finish was a decent balance of hops and malt and quite lengthy.
Nov 18, 2009
Photo of Vaylaus
Reviewed by Vaylaus from Utah

3.11/5  rDev -13.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
This one is a tale of two batches for me. Review over multiple bottles.

The first set of bottles I bought were both overly-hopped, while the last 3 (from a different store) were not, coming in true to style.

A: Ruby red. Par for the course. Sizable head. Nice.

S: First set: Earthy hop smell. A little toffee in the end, but mostly spicy hops. Seconds set: Malt, toffee, just a hint of peat.

T: First set: Spicy hops to the forefront, with a faint malt finish. Hops dominate slightly less as it warms. Second set: Smooth malty flavor, with a mild earthy finish. Very nice.

M: Medium, right about where it should be. The overly hopped bottles weren't nearly as smooth.

D: First set: Decent, but I certainly don't want another. Second set: Nice, with only the near 7% preventing it from being sessionable.

Scores are an average of both sets of bottles. 4 bottles consumed total. I'm curious to know if there was a single batch, or multiple, as it seems this beer has a split personality depending on whether you bought an early or late bottle.
Nov 16, 2009
Keelhauler (Brewmaster Reserve 2009) from Full Sail Brewing Company
Beer rating: 83 out of 100 with 54 ratings