-
Stop lurking! Log in to search, post in our forums, review beers, see fewer ads, and more. — Todd, Founder of BeerAdvocate
Tasgall Ale
Highland Brewing
- 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:
- 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 rajendra82:
Reviewed by rajendra82 from Georgia
4.4/5 rDev +8.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5
4.4/5 rDev +8.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5
Since North Carolina popped its cap this year, some the first official high gravity product from the state to make out to Georgia is the Highland Tasgall Ale. Since Highland has a Scottish theme going on all their labels, the artwork was nearly perfect for the style. The beer came in a 22 oz. bomber, which I emptied into a Tulip glass. The body looked almost like molten Hersheys chocolate syrup, due to its dark brown color, and opacity. The head was rather small at first, and then wend down in a hurry. The wispy spider web lacing left however was quite good.
The nose was very malty, with an elegant peat accent. Toffee, chocolate, and coffee aromas filled the nostrils with each breath. Floral hops were there to brighten things up a little bit. The taste was just what the aromas had been proclaiming in advance. Sweet, smoky, and robustly malty, this was undoubtedly Scottish in the flavor profile, but with a little more bitter and citric hop flavor coming through, thanks to being brewed in the Appalachian highlands instead.
I loved the way this beer felt on my tongue. The body was thick enough to be coating, but not so stout to be chewy. The velvety smooth swallows had enough of a prickly hop and alcohol bite to them to keep things interesting, but not so much that beer felt dry or astringent. If there is such a thing as perfect balance in mouthfeel, this one had achieved it. The aftertaste was more bitter than sweet, which served the purpose of drawing me in to take the next sip. Drinkability was much better that I was thinking it was going to be.
What a great leap forward for North Carolina! Welcome, northern neighbors to the wider world of beer.
Jan 01, 2006The nose was very malty, with an elegant peat accent. Toffee, chocolate, and coffee aromas filled the nostrils with each breath. Floral hops were there to brighten things up a little bit. The taste was just what the aromas had been proclaiming in advance. Sweet, smoky, and robustly malty, this was undoubtedly Scottish in the flavor profile, but with a little more bitter and citric hop flavor coming through, thanks to being brewed in the Appalachian highlands instead.
I loved the way this beer felt on my tongue. The body was thick enough to be coating, but not so stout to be chewy. The velvety smooth swallows had enough of a prickly hop and alcohol bite to them to keep things interesting, but not so much that beer felt dry or astringent. If there is such a thing as perfect balance in mouthfeel, this one had achieved it. The aftertaste was more bitter than sweet, which served the purpose of drawing me in to take the next sip. Drinkability was much better that I was thinking it was going to be.
What a great leap forward for North Carolina! Welcome, northern neighbors to the wider world of beer.
More User Ratings:
Reviewed by johnnnniee from New Hampshire
3.93/5 rDev -3.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
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, 2021Dark 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.
Reviewed by Jadjunk from Georgia
3.81/5 rDev -6.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
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, 2014Poured 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
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
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, 2012I 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.
Reviewed by alpinebryant from Connecticut
3.88/5 rDev -4.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
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, 2012S: 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.
Tasgall Ale from Highland Brewing
Beer rating:
91 out of
100 with
183 ratings
We love reviews (150 characters or more)! Check out: How to Review a Beer. You don't need to get fancy. Drop some thoughts on the beer's attributes (look, smell, taste, feel) plus your overall impression. Something that backs up your rating and helps others. Thanks!