Foundation Series: 80 Shilling Scottish Ale
DuClaw Brewing Co.

Pours clear, amber in color with one inch head. Taste is peat, caramel, and smoked malts. Malty, sweet, hits all of the expected notes in a sesssionable Scottish ale. Great that it its the expected Scottish flavors with a sessionable ABV. Would get again if i wanted a beer in the style.

 

 

 

A: Pours a deep copper approaching amber brown in color with moderate amounts of active visible carbonation rising from the bottom of the glass and some faint garnet red highlights. The beer has a three finger tall foamy dark beige head that slowly reduces to a large patch of mottled medium thick film covering the majority of the surface of the beer and a thick ring at the edges of the glass. Moderate amounts of lacing are observed.

S: Light aromas of toasted, roasted, and lightly smoked malts. Hints of caramel sweetness.

T: Upfront there is a moderate flavor of toasted and roasted malts with just a hint of peat smoked malts. The beer has a light amount of caramel sweetness and a light amount of earthy hop bitterness in the finish which does not linger.

M: Just shy of medium bodied with moderate amounts of carbonation. Clean.

O: With the lower ABV, I was a little worried that this beer might be lacking in flavor or a little too thin/watery... I was happy to find that though the mouthfeel was a little lighter than I prefer for the style, there was a really nice and surprising peat smoke element to the flavor which did not overpower any of the other flavors.

 

 

The furshlugginger Bottle Backlog MUST die in 2016! Such is the current battle cry of The CANQuest (tm) as I attempt to eradicate the backlog of bottles hanging around Chez Woody. This one either came from my (usually) local, in-person trader who has since fled south for the winter or from The Friendly Greek Bottle Shop, purveyors of bottles, CANs & draft beer here in LanCA[N]ster, PA.

From the bottle: "This deep amber Scottish-style ale is medium-bodied & creamy, with flavors & aroma of roasted malt, smoky notes of caramelized sugar, and a mild, dry finish. Pop the top and ... get back to basics!"; "Respect the Fluid"; "Craft Be Cherished. Rules Be Damned."

I Pop!ped the cap and began a heavy-handed pour that created two fingers of light-tan head with decent retention that also left great lacing on its exit. Color was Copper-Brown (SRM = > 17, < 22) with NE-quality clarity. Nose was quite sweet, very malty, almost syrupy in its sweetness. Mouthfeel was medium. Taste was pleasantly sweet, not as cloying as the nose had led me to expect. It had a cherry flavor along with a light smokiness on the tongue. Warming, the smokiness became a little more prevalent, but not so much so that I would mistake it for another style. The finish was semi-sweet, lightly smoky, but not dry as the label indicated.

12 oz bottle poured into a Delirium Tremens snifter.

Pours a ruddy brown color with a finger and a half of thick, off-white foam. Great lacing as the beer recedes. Aroma is full of smoky, roasted malt, with hints of plum.

First sip is quite smoky. Surprised at the level of smoked malt in this beer, considering it isn't a rauchbier. Although the smoke is prominent, it is also subtle and not overwhelming on the palate. Other flavor is mostly brown malt with minimal hop presence, as I would expect.

I can't say I've had a Scottish Ale as smoky as this before, but it is quite tasty. I am really enjoying the smoked malt. Dry finish makes it very drinkable.

 

 

 

 

A: Poured a clear brown with a bit of amber. Tan head that faded quickly to a film with decent lacing.

S: Roast/Smoke at first with just a touch of malt

T: Some nice malty sweetness, maybe caramel or toffee but it was faint and hard to determine. Just a touch of roast which was good, not overdone. Would probably describe it as toast as it combines with a bit of bread.

F: Very clean and smooth, medium body which was surprising, was expecting thinner at ABV.

O: Pretty good little beer here by DuClaw. Would classify it as a sessionable scotch ale. Enough flavor but you could drink all night. Enjoyed it more than I expected.

 

A: A medium brown color with a light tan head.

S: Light bread and roasted grain, with a good amount of caramel sweetness.

T: Roasted grain, caramel, and a good touch of smoke in the finish.

M: Medium in body, moderate to high carbonation, and a dry finish with a touch of astringency.

O: Overall not bad, but I'd dig a little more body.