Laughing Lab Scottish-Style Ale
Bristol Brewing Company

Laughing Lab Scottish-Style AleLaughing Lab Scottish-Style Ale
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From:
Bristol Brewing Company
 
Colorado, United States
Style:
Scottish Ale
Ranked #36
ABV:
5.3%
Score:
84
Ranked #22,013
Avg:
3.74 | pDev: 12.3%
Reviews:
102
Ratings:
275
Status:
Active
Rated:
Aug 30, 2023
Added:
Mar 04, 2002
Wants:
  17
Gots:
  49
Laughing Lab is our most popular brew among beer drinkers and beer judges alike, with nine medals to its name since 1994 at the Great American Beer Festival alone. The Lab has a complex maltiness that comes from a careful blend of specialty malts. Its nutty, roasted flavor is mildly sweet, but not too rich. Smooth and luscious!
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by mcb4538:
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Rated by mcb4538 from New Jersey

4/5  rDev +7%

Nov 20, 2011
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.94 by alexsergio from New York

Aug 30, 2023
Photo of cyclonece09
Reviewed by cyclonece09 from Wisconsin

3.93/5  rDev +5.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Poured from a can into a pint glass. Pours deep red with a small white head. Smells of roasted grain with some chocolate notes. Tastes of caramelized grain with just a hint of chocolate. Beer is light bodied and easy drinking, good carbonation. Overall, a very good beer.
Jun 19, 2023
 
Rated: 3.59 by RPBeerdude from Colorado

May 29, 2023
Photo of philbe311
Reviewed by philbe311 from Pennsylvania

3.58/5  rDev -4.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Audibly fizzy pour... Slightest of heads that is equal parts off white and light khaki... Limited retention gives way to a lopsided splotchy lacing and thin collar... Color is a medium caramel... Nose of buttery caramel, peat and just a hint of cinnamon... Palate is a bit to muted... All the expected characters are there but are a bit too muddled... On the lighter side of medium bodied... A bit too much carbonation... Decent at best and not my favorite example of the style (which is my favorite)...
May 20, 2023
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Reviewed by Beginner2 from Illinois

3.83/5  rDev +2.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.5
Pushing 30 years old and this is my first beer from Bristol ! (I'm pushing 70.)
Even more surprising, this is at least my sixth shipment of my selections from Beer Drop and they are heavily Colorado-centric; making the odds of finding Bristol this late even odder.

Since Laughing Lab is a heavily reviewed flagship (and winner of nine GABF awards), I'm unlikely to say much novel. So, I'll start with my micro-review of Bristol. I give them lots of Overall Hugs for staying with it for three decades, for re-purposing a school into a brewery and community gathering center and, generally, being Colorado Cool. While I am a malt-head and enjoyed Laughing Lab, I next would try one of Bristol's three Belgians.

Laughing Lab Looks friendly, nice beige foam that seems loyal to the glass. Smells are mute, but dark fruit and malt. Despite no hint of hops in my nose, Lab stays balanced or at least doesn't get syrupy... so those hops must be in there. Full-mouthed and comforting on a cool day.

6/11 On a crummy north-wind day that chased away summer, I had the 2nd can of Lab. Comforting.
May 13, 2023
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Rated by cmb

3.88/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Draft. Fits description. Makes me want to try more Scottish Ales.
Jun 19, 2022
Photo of Chocolatefreak
Rated by Chocolatefreak from Tennessee

4/5  rDev +7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
A solid beer. Easy to drink. Suggest stronger flavors & higher ABV for a higher rating for a Scottish ale.
May 06, 2022
 
Rated: 3.5 by TMoney2591 from Illinois

Mar 02, 2022
 
Rated: 3.92 by Gipsy_Danger from Colorado

Jan 22, 2022
 
Rated: 3.28 by Dentist666 from Russian Federation

Nov 20, 2021
 
Rated: 4.11 by RDW from Nebraska

Jan 02, 2021
 
Rated: 4.34 by superwho24 from Arkansas

Jan 20, 2020
Photo of sjdevel
Reviewed by sjdevel from Utah

3.56/5  rDev -4.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Look - nice 3 finger head after a pour from a 12oz can (Bristol is now canning apparently) - nice copper color and very clear
Smell - some bread - some caramel - touch of yeast - not much there
Taste - a bit of a hop bite up front - caramel and scorched brown sugar inch there way in - some sweetness - some tart/tang - some decent Scotch Ale notes (yeast / bread)
Feel - pretty thin - some carbonation hangs on but it is pretty minimal / uninteresting
Overall - An ok beer - I consider it a Session Scottish Ale - light in ABV and light in mouthfeel - not my favorite beer from Bristol but it is a decent social beer.
Oct 01, 2019
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Reviewed by REVZEB from Illinois

3.88/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
Amber brown body with a thin white ring and lacing. Smell has some peat smoke, toffee, bright nuts, and slight leather. Taste starts traditional with toffee, earth, peat smoke, but then brightens up with orange and lemon aspects with plenty of sweet malt to round out. Feel is thin, a little watery, and bright.
Sep 19, 2019
Photo of metter98
Reviewed by metter98 from New York

3.77/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
On-tap at The Mayor of Old Town, Fort Collins, CO

A: The beer is crystal clear orange amber in color and has a light amount of visible carbonation. It poured with a off white head that consistently left a short head covering the surface.
S: Light aromas of caramel, toasted malts, and toffee are present in the nose.
T: The taste follows the smell and has additional notes of smoke with just a touch of malty sweetness.
M: It feels medium-bodied and a touch smooth on the palate with a moderate amount of carbonation.
O: This beer is nice and malty, but feels a bit lighter compared to other beers in the style.

Serving type: on-tap
Aug 30, 2019
 
Rated: 3.78 by Dave1999 from North Carolina

Aug 21, 2019
 
Rated: 3.5 by Maillard from Ohio

Aug 15, 2019
 
Rated: 3.5 by robebo44 from Virginia

Aug 07, 2019
 
Rated: 3.75 by DaveAhl from New Jersey

Jul 14, 2019
Laughing Lab Scottish-Style Ale from Bristol Brewing Company
Beer rating: 84 out of 100 with 275 ratings