Hammer & Nail Scotch Classic Style Ale
Hammer & Nail Brewers

The pour a quite deep ruby red, garnet if you like, masterful beige head, sheets of lace, both fade quite quickly. Large malt nose, hints of caramel, and that slight touch of smoke. Front is sweet, the top skinny, pertinent hop presence, carbonation moderate, droughty long lasting aftertaste. Quite a good drinking beer, not overpowering in any category, just one darn fine quaffable brew.

Presentation: Standard label on 1pt 6oz bottle, with an orange tartan background. No freshness, or information about the beer.

Appearance: Dark brown red in colour with an off-white creamy head including sticky qualities and a healthy head retention.

Smell: Husky toasted grain, under a sweet caramel aroma. Hints of black malt and an ever so faint presence of smoke.

Taste: Must pause for moment as this is intense up-front. Okay ... A rich toasted flavour that is immediately overtake by a smoke flavour, followed by caramel and pale malt sweetness, a bitterness and spiciness from the hops and a warming alcohol meet an even more pronounced smoke flavour, all of which carry through and contribute to an amazing aftertaste. A thin coating of diacetyl rounds the beer, making it complete.

Notes: Am I in Scotland? It sure tastes like it. It's nice to know that someone in Connecticut did their Brew 101 homework. This is by far the best bottled Scotch style Ales, from the US, that I have had the pleasure to review.