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20th Anniversary Scotch Ale
Highland Brewing
- 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:
- 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:
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
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, 2014More User Ratings:
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
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, 2015Poured 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
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
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, 2015Smell: 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
20th Anniversary Scotch Ale from Highland Brewing
Beer rating:
84 out of
100 with
82 ratings
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