Scotch Ale
Boundary Bay Brewery & Bistro

Scotch AleScotch Ale
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From:
Boundary Bay Brewery & Bistro
 
Washington, United States
Style:
Scotch Ale / Wee Heavy
Ranked #115
ABV:
6.4%
Score:
85
Ranked #20,498
Avg:
3.78 | pDev: 12.17%
Reviews:
43
Ratings:
104
Status:
Active
Rated:
Nov 12, 2022
Added:
Apr 08, 2004
Wants:
  2
Gots:
  14
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by mactrail:
Photo of mactrail
Reviewed by mactrail from Washington

3.91/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Robust foam on the dark amber brew poured in the tall Timmermans goblet. Lots of carbonation and a sudsy and malty mouthfeel. Fruity nose with some drak grainy aroma.

Rich and malty without being too sweet. There is just a tang of smoke with some apple and melon fruitiness. Dark roasted malt, some cedar woodiness, and blackberries with the seeds. A peachy hint is really pleasant. Modest barky bitterness for the aftertaste. Dark caramel with a slight sweetness lasts throughout.

I would agree this is not such an authentic Scotch ale, but I often like the American interpretations as well or better than the traditional styles. In this case it's a very drinkable malty brew. From the 22 oz bottle purchased at Ken's Market in North Seattle.
Jun 09, 2014
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 4 by BigIronH from Michigan

Nov 12, 2022
 
Rated: 3.79 by WDJersey from Colorado

Jul 24, 2022
Photo of Beersnake
Reviewed by Beersnake from California

4/5  rDev +5.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Poured from a can at fridge temp. Pours a gorgeous dark brown with a reddish hint. Good amount of head on a regular pour. Dissipates without lacing. Transparent.

The nose is toffee, malts, brown sugar, bread, a bit of spice, and bit of fig. Really smooth and inviting.

The taste is really nice. Sweet toffee, bready malts, and a slight bitterness at the back end. Comes across as a mixture of pine and leather. The spicy note comes through on the aftertaste. Peppery. Super nice and drinkable. Lovely Scotch Ale. Glad I got to try it.
Apr 23, 2022
Photo of VashonGuy
Reviewed by VashonGuy from Washington

3.9/5  rDev +3.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
I can't believe I never got around to reviewing this NW classic. Boundary Bay's Scotch Ale is now in 12 ounce cans. No date anywhere. The beer is a red copper color, quite clear, with hardly any head. The smell is a dry caramel with a little spiciness. The taste is roasted malts, caramel, and some hoppy notes. To me, it's not at all sweet, and not heavy, unlike some Scotch Ales. The hops throw a little bitterness into the mix, and that's all to the good. Overall, it's a more interesting beer than some Scotch Ales. It's got a full flavor, but doesn't seem "heavy" at all. Very good stuff. I'm glad to see the 12 ounce can format.
Nov 25, 2021
Photo of LyndenTinkerer
Reviewed by LyndenTinkerer

5/5  rDev +32.3%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
Well, this is my first review...... I joined only because I was enjoying a Boundary Bay Scotch Ale, and it is SO STINKING GOOD that I had to see what other people were saying about it online. I've enjoyed countless different beers over the years..... (55 year old craft beer lover), but when I have a Boundary Bay Scotch Ale, I think I've found the perfect beer. So impossibly good that it drove me to join a forum like this. So good, it makes me want to yell! Honestly (and I'm only 2 sips in), I just enjoy this beer so much. Though my own beer preferences fluctuate regularly and unpredictably, this is one beer that NEVER disappoints.... a wonderful indulgence. If you like heavier, maltier beers, this one is so good. Getcha some!
Jun 14, 2021
Photo of Beergeeknut
Reviewed by Beergeeknut from New York

4.55/5  rDev +20.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
Appearance: This pours a very dark caramel with mahogany hues and a about an inch high that beige in color.

Aroma: Dark fruits, raisins, dark roasted malts. Big caramel aroma twinges of fig towards the tail end.

Taste: A tidal wave of sweetness. Figs, raisins, caramel, caramelized bananas. Malts are roasted so very well. Nice and chewy and very full bodied.

Overall: What a treat this is. It's so nice to see a less popular style out there. I will definitely pick this one up again. Cheers.
May 15, 2021
Photo of kemoarps
Reviewed by kemoarps from New York

3.86/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Clean copper body topped with a swell, then comfortable cap of birch-white foam. Decent lacing.

Nose is caramel and some green woody notes.

Body has those same main notes... caramel sweetness and some bready spicy character, and a green counter that makes me think of birch, but I don't know why. Like a thinner/lighter oak-type influence. Finish has elements of the caramelized grains, and a pleasant earthy/spicy bitterness that lasts until the next sip.

Clean drinking and enjoyable. Nothing crazy or overly exciting, but just pleasantly enjoyable.
Apr 01, 2021
Photo of BNSlums
Reviewed by BNSlums from Germany

3.86/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Grabbed a pint from the local bottle shop. I know the brewery Boundary Bay well and have tasted several of their other crafts.

L: A super fizzy dark cream head disappears quickly on top of a rather leggy and heavily carbonated brew. The color is dark ruby-brown, SRM 18.

S: Deep buttered bread malt and sea salt toffee. Rich and layered.

T: Like a dark grain chocolate croissant, slathered in butter. Salted toffee at the onset, followed by roasted malt with an earthy finish.

F: Rather heavy and mouth-coating. Moderate carbonation and not much bitterness. A pint would b e quite filling.

A definite holiday beverage, Boundary Bay's Scotch Ale is. If you're a fan of peanut brittle or hard fudge and a sweet salty combo, you would enjoy this brew. It is very roasted and bready, with plenty of butter notes.
Dec 03, 2020
Photo of FBarber
Reviewed by FBarber from Illinois

3.63/5  rDev -4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
This one pours a crystal clear dark chestnut color. Thin tan head dissipates weather quickly leaving just a thin layer of foam on top of the beer. Aroma has notes of toffee, biscuit malt, some floral hops and some raisin notes.

Taste follows the nose with notes of biscuit malts, toffee, some light rain notes and again, a slight floral hop character on the back end, although it does have a bit more of a piney note to it in the flavor profile. Just a hint of spicy yeast note comes through especially as it warms. Even though the hops are here and certainly playing a big role in the profile, it still retains the lovely maltiness of the Scotch ales. Feel is medium bodied, super smooth, almost buttery. Bright, fizzy carbonation.

Overall its a really solid scotch ale. I was in the mood for a rich malty beer this evening and this hit the spot.
Sep 28, 2020
Photo of Limazulu
Reviewed by Limazulu from Idaho

3.94/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Picked up bottle in Bellingham while visiting family.
A-very dark amber, modest head no lacing
S-smells sweet caramel, roasted (something, not sure), and berries
T-Not as sweet as the nose would suggest. Caramel malts
M-Medium (-) body, average carbonation, true to style
O-Not as complex or sweet as expected for the style. Worthwhile just the same.
Jun 06, 2020
Photo of snaotheus
Reviewed by snaotheus from Washington

4.02/5  rDev +6.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
2020-05-02
12oz can served in a tulip. Dated 09/14/19. Gift from a math teacher friend, I think. I wonder when the last time I reviewed (or even drank) a Scotch ale was. I wonder when the last time I drank *this* beer was...it's been around forever!

Pours a caramel-brown color with a medium head. Carbonation maybe slightly on the high side of medium. It's a pretty beer. Smell is toffee and yeast and bread, maybe a hint of raisins or dates.

Taste is moderate sweetness (mostly toffee flavor), a surprising coffee bitterness, the hint of raisins or dates is there but a lot of other flavors are overwhelming it.

Mouthfeel is on the heavy side of medium. A little chewy, a little sticky. Overall, this is a pretty good beer -- maybe I'm liking it more because it's more bitter than I remember for most scotch ales.
May 02, 2020
Photo of superspak
Reviewed by superspak from North Carolina

3.88/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Got in a BIF from beertunes. 12 ounce can into tulip glass, canned on 9/14/2019. Pours slightly hazy/cloudy deep orange/copper/light reddish color with a 1-2 finger fairly dense and rocky light khaki head with great retention, that reduces to a small cap that lingers. Nice spotty soapy lacing clings on the glass, with a light amount of streaming carbonation. Aromas of big raisin, plum, fig, pear, apricot, red apple, caramel, nuttiness, brown sugar, and brown bread dough; with lighter notes of cocoa, coffee, roast, wood, herbal, grass, peppercorn, and yeast/toasted earthiness. A bit too fruity/yeasty aromas, but not overwhelming. Nice aromas with good balance and complexity of dark/bready/light roasted malts fruity yeast, and light-moderate earthy hop notes; with big strength. Taste of big caramel, brown sugar, brown bread dough/crust, toasted biscuit, roasted nuts, raisin, plum, fig, pear, apricot, and red apple; with lighter notes of cocoa, coffee, roast, wood, herbal, grass, peppercorn, and yeast/roast/toasted earthiness. Light-moderate pine, herbal, woody, grassy, peppery, roasted bitterness on the finish. Lingering notes of caramel, brown sugar, brown bread dough/crust, toasted biscuit, roasted nuts, fruit, cocoa, coffee, roast, wood, herbal, grass, peppercorn, and yeast/roast/toasted earthiness on the finish for a good bit. Very nice complexity, robustness, and balance of dark/bready/light roasted malts, and light-moderate fruity yeast/earthy hop flavors; with a nice malt/bitterness balance, and no cloying/acrid/astringent flavors after the finish. Light-moderate increasing dryness from lingering hop/roasted bitterness. Medium carbonation and body; with a very smooth, moderately creamy/bready/grainy, and fairly sticky/chalky/resinous balanced mouthfeel that is nice. Minimal warming alcohol for 6.4%. Overall this is a very nice Scotch ale. All around nice complexity, robustness, and balance of dark/bready/light roasted malts, and light-moderate fruity yeast/earthy hop flavors; very smooth and easy to drink with the modestly bitter/resinous/drying finish; not overly aggressive. Great balance of nicely rich malts and fruity yeast complexity; with a nice sized hop presence for the style. Mild residual sweetness with lingering dryness. A very enjoyable offering, and well made style example. A bit too bitter/roasty than expected, but not overwhelming.
Dec 24, 2019
 
Rated: 3.54 by evergreen_machine from Washington

Dec 22, 2019
 
Rated: 3.85 by BlueSpader from Washington

Aug 23, 2019
 
Rated: 3.13 by Oh_Dark_Star from Washington

May 02, 2019
 
Rated: 3.61 by 4ster from Canada (ON)

Dec 19, 2018
 
Rated: 3.69 by Taphouse_Traveler from Florida

Nov 03, 2018
Photo of thebeers
Reviewed by thebeers from Pennsylvania

3.86/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Pours a rich, ruby-tinted caramel color with three fingers of tan foam head. Nice lacing.

Caramel, molasses and carbon dioxide in the nose, with hints of ginger and allspice.

Flashes of molasses, coffee, prune, gentian root and piney hops in the taste. There’s a touch of peppery burn to it that, along with the hops, prevents it from being overly sweet; it may be alcohol, but really comes across as ginger to me.

Full, creamy, almost-sticky feel with low carbonation.

This is a really enjoyable beer. Lots of depth, while still very approachable. Slight bitterness combined with the malty sweetness to make a great, lingering aftertaste.
Oct 10, 2018
 
Rated: 3.73 by rarigney from Washington

Jul 29, 2018
Scotch Ale from Boundary Bay Brewery & Bistro
Beer rating: 85 out of 100 with 104 ratings