Aye Laddie
Southern Yankee Beer Company

Purchased a bottle of this beer at the brewery last weekend.

Poured into a tulip glass. Murky mahogany color with good initial creamy beige head and good initial lacing that fades a bit with time. Rich caramel/vanilla smell and taste. Toffee and hazelnut. Smokey and pleasantly boozy. Warm and comforting. Would like a bit fuller feel but it felt smooth and warming. I have greatly enjoyed the higher ABV beers from Southern Yankee in the past and this beer continues this tradition.

This is a Scotch Ale aged in Islay Scotch Barrels.

A: Pours a near opaque dark brown color. A dense beige head rises and sticks around for a minute. As that recedes light lace is left behind.
S: A big warm malty aroma. Baked bread, toasted malts, maple syrup. Dark fruits of cherries. Then the wood, vanilla and light smoke come into play. Just really inviting.
T: Like the nose, all the malt character you can handle. Baked bread, maple syrup. Dark fruits, chocolate covered cherries. Wood, vanilla, leather and smoke. A sweetness for sure, but that is countered and balanced by everything else going on. Again, really inviting and I love it.
M/O: A full body with moderate, but noticeable carbonation. This is ultra smooth, with a chewiness from the malts. It does become a bit syrupy, but doesn't get in the way of anything. Surprisingly the sweetness does not become over bearing in any way. Which all leads to a great warming sipper.

This is an excellent barrel aged Scotch Ale. The Islay barrels aren't overly peated, and just leaves a nice woody/smokey/leather character. The malts are great as well. Just all around excellent, and another hit from Southern Yankee.