Tasgall Ale
Highland Brewing

Tasgall AleTasgall Ale
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From:
Highland Brewing
 
North Carolina, United States
Style:
Scotch Ale / Wee Heavy
ABV:
8%
Score:
91
Avg:
4.06 | pDev: 7.39%
Reviews:
152
Ratings:
183
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Apr 08, 2021
Added:
Aug 26, 2005
Wants:
  34
Gots:
  5
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by merlin48:
Photo of merlin48
Reviewed by merlin48 from Kentucky

4.15/5  rDev +2.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
My first bottle of a North Carolina beer since the 6% abv cap was lifted. Pours a dark mahogany body that is opaque until backlighting reveals a radiant garnet clarity. Light brown head is small, but lasting and leaves some sketchy lace behind.

Aroma has toffee, caramel apples, a hint of chocolate, cherries, and a kiss of earthy, grassy hops.

Mouthfeel is smooth and creamy, with a medium body and a restrained carbonation that is just enough to contribute a silkiness. Slight warming alcohol is approriate for style.

Taste has buttery toffee, caramel apple, and a prominent chocolate presence that adds a Porter character. Hops are earthy, with a note of pine, and add a pleasant balancing bitterness. I didn't notice the smokiness that was evident in the draft version I sampled several weeks ago. The 8% abv is cleverly concealed but for some mild warming presence that is welcome on a cold winter evening.

Very tasty and user friendly. Its smoothness contibutes to an excellent drinkability. One of Highland's better brews and an excellent "popped cap" effort. Not as much to style as the tap version, but this 22 oz bottle is a very nice sipper.
Dec 12, 2005
More User Ratings:
Photo of johnnnniee
Reviewed by johnnnniee from New Hampshire

3.93/5  rDev -3.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Bottle from the cellar unknown vintage but probably 10yrs old.
Dark copper with a light red hue and a decent sized frothy tan head that persists. Light sherry but plenty of rich caramel and toast. Decent body moderate carbonation. Wow that's aged quite well.
Apr 08, 2021
 
Rated: 3.75 by atlbravsrno1 from Maine

Jul 17, 2016
 
Rated: 4 by CalebM from Florida

May 01, 2016
 
Rated: 4 by baklo from North Carolina

Oct 04, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by zestar from California

Aug 19, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by k_art18 from Pennsylvania

Jun 03, 2014
 
Rated: 4.5 by wrightst from Maryland

May 22, 2014
Photo of Jadjunk
Reviewed by Jadjunk from Georgia

3.81/5  rDev -6.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
"A scotch-style Ale named from Norse mythology, combines the heritage and tartan of our brew team. The roasted barley and chocolate malt lend a bold flavor to this delicious dark beer. The increased hop level is a modest departure from a true Scotch-style Ale and we hope that you agree - this is a beer worthy of the name Tasgall, "Cauldron of the Gods". Brewed in the style of a Wee-Heavy Scotch Ale. This beer was previously brewed in the fall by Highland and available in 22 oz. bomber and draft formats, but seems to have been put on indefinite hiatus.

Poured from a 22 oz. bottle to a Highland pint glass. Served above 52º Fahrenheit.

(Appearance) Pours a frothy, crisp tan-white head over a deep hazy medium brown body, very dense. Carbonation is sporadic and light. Retention is average at best, and lacing is spotty and thin. 3

(Smell) Medium roasted malts, light molasses, unsweetened cocoa, licorice and toasted nuts make up the build of the aroma, fairly well-preserved if this beer just happens to be 2+ years old. Hops have faded if they were ever present to begin with. A bit of thin alcohol is detectable but hardly a distraction from the remaining aroma. Overall the aroma is smooth and favorable. Potency is moderate. 3.75

(Taste) Tasty molasses with a hint of biscuit and light roasty malt, peat smoke and licorice up front. Sweetness is modest and doesn't overwhelm the palate, any imperfections due to the age of this beer are virtually imperceivable. A dash of char and smoke linger in the finish. Sessionable and flavorful. 4

(Mouthfeel) Texture is mildly viscous, smooth and smoky. Carbonation adds some smooth silky frothiness, keeping the texture simple and enjoyable. Body is medium for a Scotch Ale and medium+ overall. Alcohol presence is moderate. 3.75

(Overall) It's truly a shame that I haven't seen or heard from this beer since I stumbled upon a single 22 oz. bottle of it about a year ago, and all mentions of it have been removed from Highland's website upon the latest changes. A fairly sessionable Scotch Ale that undoubtedly would harness more flavor benefits at a fresher age, but plays fair with the peat smoke and roast flavors. A highly quaffable and reputable Scotch Ale if there ever was one. I await its humble return. 3.75

Highland Brewing Company's
Tasgall Ale
3.83/5.00
Mar 17, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by Kegatron from Pennsylvania

Feb 17, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by rabiddawg from North Carolina

Nov 03, 2013
 
Rated: 4 by RedneckBeerz from Massachusetts

Oct 20, 2013
 
Rated: 3.75 by harpus from Alabama

Sep 12, 2013
 
Rated: 4.25 by WOLFGANG from South Carolina

Jul 22, 2013
 
Rated: 4 by spycow from Illinois

Mar 11, 2013
 
Rated: 4 by williamjbauer from Colorado

Dec 08, 2012
 
Rated: 4 by UncleJimbo from Massachusetts

Nov 23, 2012
Photo of Chaney
Reviewed by Chaney from District of Columbia

4.25/5  rDev +4.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
I have to admit, I'm not a huge fan of this style. However, this one gets good reviews and is currently #17 here on BA.

I picked this up at an awesome liquor store while on vacation a few months ago right outside of Nashville, TN.

Served in an Olde Hickory shaped-glass.

A: Poured a moderately brown, yet cloudy color, with only a slight, whispy head that was basically just a mere ring around the brew.

S: Not the sweet, sugar bomb I was thinking this might be. Pleasant surprise for sure. Understated, yet I could still tell this was a Wee Heavy. Caramely and malty.... yes!

T: I totally dug that this was a hoppier example of the style. I got that right away. Actually, I could almost detect a pale ale or amber imbedded in the caramel malt bomb.

M: Not too sugary at all. Bright and refreshing... which is not something I usually use to describe a Wee Heavy. No lacing left of the glass whatsoever.

O: I was actually dreading reviewing this one and was putting off doing so. Can't imagine why.... This is a very nice beer.
Nov 05, 2012
Photo of alpinebryant
Reviewed by alpinebryant from Connecticut

3.88/5  rDev -4.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
A: Pours a dull hazy brown with a sticky tan head and a decent lacing. No dating on the bottle.

S: Aroma of butterscotch, roasted brown malt, some sweetness, and raisin.

T: Wow, a very robust scotch ale, more than I was expecting. There are a lot of BOLD flavors coming out of here, coffee, bitter earthy hop profiles, rich malty kicks and a biscuity whole wheat honey bread loaf mixed with rye and some gingerbread.
There is a weird medicinal taste to this as well that I have had before in a friends homebrew. I don't know if it is from a delayed fermentation or too hot? This is pretty smooth except for a sharp cloying finish that is what I think to be an off flavor.

M: Medium body, high carbonation.

O: Definitely worth a shot, one of my favorite style beers, and I have had this sitting in a fridge for about 6 months now waiting.
Jul 02, 2012
 
Rated: 3.5 by Brewsed from North Carolina

Apr 18, 2012
Tasgall Ale from Highland Brewing
Beer rating: 91 out of 100 with 183 ratings