20th Anniversary Scotch Ale
Highland Brewing

20th Anniversary Scotch Ale20th Anniversary Scotch Ale
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From:
Highland Brewing
 
North Carolina, United States
Style:
Scotch Ale / Wee Heavy
ABV:
8%
Score:
84
Avg:
3.73 | pDev: 10.19%
Reviews:
16
Ratings:
82
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Mar 01, 2016
Added:
Apr 19, 2014
Wants:
  1
Gots:
  17
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by GarthDanielson:
Photo of GarthDanielson
Reviewed by GarthDanielson from Virginia

3.64/5  rDev -2.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
Poured from a bomber into a mug, the beer is a dark, rich, vibrant, ruby-caramel coloring with a thin, low profile, clingy, off-white head. Aromas of rich toffee and caramel, hints of smoke, peat, subtle herbal spices, and a subtle hops bitterness at the tail end. Very rich and smooth aromas. Flavors are super-rich forward, with a blast of toffee, dark and sugary, with roasted tones in the backbone, hints of vanilla, cinnamon and pepper spice, hints of booze, and some earthy tones. Smooth, light bodied, which is surprising despite the robust palate. The aftertaste is richly sweet again, with more of the toffee notes. Smooth, slick, slightly lingering finish. Tasty brew.
May 22, 2014
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.71 by zekeman17 from Pennsylvania

Mar 01, 2016
 
Rated: 3.54 by gjoker321 from Florida

Jan 19, 2016
Photo of Jadjunk
Reviewed by Jadjunk from Georgia

3.69/5  rDev -1.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
"Rich flavors blend beautifully in this medium-bodied ale. Sterling hops subtle spice nose gives way to the taste of rich caramel and roasted notes. Brewed with the finest traditional Scottish malts, American malts, and English Fuggle hops, this is a beer worth celebrating!" Brewed in the style of a Scotch Ale. Available in 22 oz. bottles and on limited draft. Release #1 of 4 over the course of a year celebrating the brewery's 20th anniversary.

Poured from a 22 oz. bottle to a snifter glass.

(Appearance) Pours a foamy, frothed tan head over a deep mahogany amber body with high clarity and ample carbonation. Retention is average and lacing is light and spotty. 3.75

(Smell) Caramelized and toffee malts, light toasted grain, mild roasted barley, very accessible malt profile for a scotch ale. Reserved notes of fruity and earthy hops and a subtle undertone of coffee and bakers' chocolate. Potency is moderate. 3.5

(Taste) A malt profile that echoes the aroma, with lightly caramelized malts and light toasty grains, lesser roast and slightly more underlying dark fruit sugar sweetness. Delicate hop aromas and more fruity tanginess plus the earthy bitterness of faint roast coffee bean character providing the subtle balance that this very clean and modestly-bodied ale needs. 3.75

(Mouthfeel) Texture is slick, lightly residual, clean, silky smooth and lightly dry. Carbonation is moderate, generating a light frothiness and a moderately crisp finish. Body is shy of medium for the style, medium overall. Balance is slightly sweet over earthy and nutty bitter. Alcohol presence is mild and there are no off characters in this ale. 3.75

(Overall) Overall a pleasing ale. That said, I recall a much more robust and flavorful Scotch Ale of Tasgall, brewed as a rotating release for many years prior, and hoped for an anniversary celebration ale a little less trimmed down than this beer boiled down to. According to the bottle, I think modesty may have been what they were going for, especially with three other releases on the way. Regardless, I favor Highland as one of the more enjoyable pioneers of bringing this excellent and underrepresented style to the mainstream craft movement, and found this ale overall enjoyable, if not playing it perhaps "too safe" for the sake of the mainstream consumer. That said, expect something very drinkable, but not too memorable. 3.75

Highland Brewing's
20th Anniversary Scotch Ale
3.69/5.00
Sep 11, 2015
Photo of brentk56
Reviewed by brentk56 from North Carolina

3.81/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Appearance: Pours a clear tea brown color with a nice ecru head; plenty of lacing sticks to the glass

Smell: Caramel and plum tones

Taste: As in the aroma, the flavors present caramel and plum; there is a bit of spiciness that arrives in the middle but, overall, relatively little flavor progression

Mouthfeel: Medium to full body with moderate carbonation

Overall: I am surprised that, given the Scottish theme Highland uses, that they didn't come up with a more interesting take on the style for their 20th anniversary; no peat, little earthiness and, overall, somewhat of a disappointment though it is readily drinkable
Jul 10, 2015
 
Rated: 3.5 by nathanmiller from New York

Jun 18, 2015
 
Rated: 4.23 by Eziel from Ohio

Jun 01, 2015
 
Rated: 4 by Tgraymartin from Tennessee

Mar 01, 2015
 
Rated: 3.94 by midlifec from Michigan

Feb 26, 2015
 
Rated: 3.65 by dhesington from North Carolina

Feb 21, 2015
 
Rated: 3.44 by Damian74 from South Carolina

Jan 27, 2015
 
Rated: 4.33 by sendbeer from Georgia

Jan 03, 2015
 
Rated: 4.92 by Crimkj from South Carolina

Nov 30, 2014
 
Rated: 3.5 by ADTaber from South Carolina

Nov 28, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by Tj4k

Nov 24, 2014
 
Rated: 3.44 by BBS323 from North Carolina

Nov 22, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by RavenForBeer from Georgia

Nov 08, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by robertjskelton from Florida

Oct 24, 2014
 
Rated: 3.88 by Fordknox from Tennessee

Oct 18, 2014
 
20th Anniversary Scotch Ale from Highland Brewing
Beer rating: 84 out of 100 with 82 ratings