Alexander Keith's Tartan Ale
Alexander Keith's
- From:
- Alexander Keith's
- Nova Scotia, Canada
- Style:
- Scottish Ale
- ABV:
- 6.1%
- Score:
- 78
- Avg:
- 3.23 | pDev: 13.93%
- Ratings:
- | reviews: 14
- Status:
- Retired
- Rated:
- Jun 23, 2014
- Added:
- Mar 15, 2011
- Wants:
- 1
- Gots:
- 1
SCORE
78
Okay
78
Okay
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Reviewed by BigBry from Canada (AB)
3.19/5 rDev -1.2%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
3.19/5 rDev -1.2%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
On tap at Real Sports in Toronto.
Dark amber brown color, thin head and lacing.
Thin aroma of caramel malt, some fruity sweetness.
Malty, slightly sweet flavor. Little to no hops, maybe a touch of smoke at the end, rather than bitterness.
Thicker than expected body and mouth feel.
A nice surprise, try to put the "Keith's" bias away with this one.
Mar 10, 2014Dark amber brown color, thin head and lacing.
Thin aroma of caramel malt, some fruity sweetness.
Malty, slightly sweet flavor. Little to no hops, maybe a touch of smoke at the end, rather than bitterness.
Thicker than expected body and mouth feel.
A nice surprise, try to put the "Keith's" bias away with this one.
Reviewed by biboergosum from Canada (AB)
3.08/5 rDev -4.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
3.08/5 rDev -4.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
341ml bottle.
This beer pours a slightly glassy medium amber colour, with two digits of tight foamy off-white head, which leaves but a few minor specks of lace around the glass as it quickly recedes. It smells of weak, stale orchard fruit, mildly sour caramel malt, and very, um, subtle, yeah, subtle, earthy hops. The taste is more of the same - un-fruity, bland fruity malt, but now with the bonus of a sour, ashy mustiness, which pretty much takes the driver's seat for the remainder of this flavour ride. The carbonation is average, the body an adequate medium weight, and generally, inoffensively smooth. It finishes off-dry, the caramel malt not letting go, and rightly so, as that weird, Scottish seaside character readily abates.
Given this company's heritage, I would like to expect a lot out of their 'Scottish' ale. However, given their track record, for better, and for much worse, this is about what I actually expected, and about what I got - the right idea, mostly, but still ineptly rendered - the trash-bin sourness is the fly in this particular ointment. As with the rest of AK's recent (new and improved!) one-offs, this is a step or two in the right direction, but still, caveat emptor.
Dec 13, 2011This beer pours a slightly glassy medium amber colour, with two digits of tight foamy off-white head, which leaves but a few minor specks of lace around the glass as it quickly recedes. It smells of weak, stale orchard fruit, mildly sour caramel malt, and very, um, subtle, yeah, subtle, earthy hops. The taste is more of the same - un-fruity, bland fruity malt, but now with the bonus of a sour, ashy mustiness, which pretty much takes the driver's seat for the remainder of this flavour ride. The carbonation is average, the body an adequate medium weight, and generally, inoffensively smooth. It finishes off-dry, the caramel malt not letting go, and rightly so, as that weird, Scottish seaside character readily abates.
Given this company's heritage, I would like to expect a lot out of their 'Scottish' ale. However, given their track record, for better, and for much worse, this is about what I actually expected, and about what I got - the right idea, mostly, but still ineptly rendered - the trash-bin sourness is the fly in this particular ointment. As with the rest of AK's recent (new and improved!) one-offs, this is a step or two in the right direction, but still, caveat emptor.
Reviewed by spinrsx from Canada (ON)
3.2/5 rDev -0.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
3.2/5 rDev -0.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
12oz Bottle
Appearance - Clear copper colour with a large size frothy beige coloured head. There is a low amount of carbonation showing and there is some fairly good lacing. The head lasted for around 4 minutes before it was gone.
Smell - Malts, toasted/roasted nuts, butterscotch
Taste & Mouth - There is an average amount of carbonation and I can taste malts mixed with butterscotch and a bit of a rustiness. There is also some faint dark fruit flavour and a bit of a roasted/toasted nutty smokiness. The beer finishes with a malty slightly smokey aftertaste.
Overall - It is definitely the best Keith's beer I've had so far.. not sure that is saying much though. The taste isn't bad and it's pretty drinkable. If your stuck at a local bar with no craft options, give this one a try.
Jun 29, 2011Appearance - Clear copper colour with a large size frothy beige coloured head. There is a low amount of carbonation showing and there is some fairly good lacing. The head lasted for around 4 minutes before it was gone.
Smell - Malts, toasted/roasted nuts, butterscotch
Taste & Mouth - There is an average amount of carbonation and I can taste malts mixed with butterscotch and a bit of a rustiness. There is also some faint dark fruit flavour and a bit of a roasted/toasted nutty smokiness. The beer finishes with a malty slightly smokey aftertaste.
Overall - It is definitely the best Keith's beer I've had so far.. not sure that is saying much though. The taste isn't bad and it's pretty drinkable. If your stuck at a local bar with no craft options, give this one a try.
Reviewed by Converge from Canada (AB)
3.59/5 rDev +11.1%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
3.59/5 rDev +11.1%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
341ml bottle poured into a 16oz pint glass.
A - Pours with just over a two fingers of bubbly yellow-white head; fizzes out quickly. The beer itself is a medium copper-orange hue. No lacing to speak of.
S - Caramel malt and bread aroma upfront, with sweet grassy undertones. I enjoy it quite a bit.
T - Taste opens up with a strong smoky punch, rounded out with really sweet butterscotch and candy-like flavor; was not expecting this at all.
M - Medium bodied mouth-feel, with little carbonation.
D - The finish in the flavor really caught me off guard, I certainly expected something much more rich and amber-like, but I have to admit I enjoy the smoky sweetness a lot. Probably my favorite Keith's brew thus far.
Jun 11, 2011A - Pours with just over a two fingers of bubbly yellow-white head; fizzes out quickly. The beer itself is a medium copper-orange hue. No lacing to speak of.
S - Caramel malt and bread aroma upfront, with sweet grassy undertones. I enjoy it quite a bit.
T - Taste opens up with a strong smoky punch, rounded out with really sweet butterscotch and candy-like flavor; was not expecting this at all.
M - Medium bodied mouth-feel, with little carbonation.
D - The finish in the flavor really caught me off guard, I certainly expected something much more rich and amber-like, but I have to admit I enjoy the smoky sweetness a lot. Probably my favorite Keith's brew thus far.
Reviewed by ChrisCage from Canada (AB)
3.85/5 rDev +19.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
3.85/5 rDev +19.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
A- Pours a crystal clear amber color and has a beige colored head that starts out a couple fingers thick, quickly dissipating to a thin layer over the beer. Lots of apparent carbonation within the liquid but it rises slowly in many columns. The lacing is so-so with small clumps of foam clinging to the glass.
S- Rich malts and a hint of smoked meat are the primary aromas here. After this, there is small amounts of sweet malt, caramel and/or toffee and there is a distinct hint of banana on the finish. The finish is negligent of any real bitterness but that is how I've found any Scotch Ale. Overall this doesn't have a real dominant smell but I'm guessing this is typical of a product that comes from a more/less mass producer.
T- There is more of a robust flavor of toasted sweet malt that have lots of caramel/toffee in it. The aforementioned hint of smoke is noticeable as well but it doesn't overpower the general flavor profile. The finish does have some hops, albeit they are mild....but they are noticed at the back of the palate and linger after the swallow. Nicely flavored beer!
M- Not quite as full bodied as other Scotch Ales that I've tried but a solid medium fullness is noted! The slightly stronger alcohol is a little more noticeable but otherwise this is a relatively creamy carbonation to this, with good sweetness and balance.
O- Overall this is a very decent offering from Keiths...much better than the Red Amber....wish they'd switch that out for this! Good flavor, nice mouthfeel....it's like a Scotch Ale Lite to be honest, which isn't a bad thing really! I'll finish up the 6 pack that I bought and get a couple more while it's around! Hope to see this again in the future!
May 21, 2011S- Rich malts and a hint of smoked meat are the primary aromas here. After this, there is small amounts of sweet malt, caramel and/or toffee and there is a distinct hint of banana on the finish. The finish is negligent of any real bitterness but that is how I've found any Scotch Ale. Overall this doesn't have a real dominant smell but I'm guessing this is typical of a product that comes from a more/less mass producer.
T- There is more of a robust flavor of toasted sweet malt that have lots of caramel/toffee in it. The aforementioned hint of smoke is noticeable as well but it doesn't overpower the general flavor profile. The finish does have some hops, albeit they are mild....but they are noticed at the back of the palate and linger after the swallow. Nicely flavored beer!
M- Not quite as full bodied as other Scotch Ales that I've tried but a solid medium fullness is noted! The slightly stronger alcohol is a little more noticeable but otherwise this is a relatively creamy carbonation to this, with good sweetness and balance.
O- Overall this is a very decent offering from Keiths...much better than the Red Amber....wish they'd switch that out for this! Good flavor, nice mouthfeel....it's like a Scotch Ale Lite to be honest, which isn't a bad thing really! I'll finish up the 6 pack that I bought and get a couple more while it's around! Hope to see this again in the future!
Reviewed by SebD from Canada (ON)
3.45/5 rDev +6.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
3.45/5 rDev +6.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
Appearance: It has a nice amber/copper colour to it. It has a nice slightly off-white head that dies down moderatly but has minimal lacing.
Smell: The aromas definitly give out hints of caramely/toasty malts with a slight fruitness and a bit of alcohol.
Taste: Like the aromas, it has a sweet caramely maltiness but the hops are very light.
Mouthfeel: It has a low/medium carbonation with a light/medium body.
Drinkability: It's a smooth drinkable beer accompanied with decent flavours and aromas considering it comes from Keith's.
May 19, 2011Smell: The aromas definitly give out hints of caramely/toasty malts with a slight fruitness and a bit of alcohol.
Taste: Like the aromas, it has a sweet caramely maltiness but the hops are very light.
Mouthfeel: It has a low/medium carbonation with a light/medium body.
Drinkability: It's a smooth drinkable beer accompanied with decent flavours and aromas considering it comes from Keith's.
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