Kilt Lifter Scotch Ale
Moylan's Brewery

jrc1093 from Connecticut

3.99/5  rDev +6.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

No canning date; consumed on 7/16/21

Pours a clear yet deep varnished mahogany body with rusted maroon accents, and capped with two fingers of taut, pale beige foam; good head retention yields a quarter-finger of silky, creamy cap, large, frothy collar, and firm layers of webby lacing lining the walls of the glass.

Aroma offers a supreme caramel tone upfront, expressively floral textures underscoring ample depth as brown bread toast subtleties become apparent; toffee and a tinge of smoke bring a sense of weight over the middle of the bouquet before an even lighter spritz of minerality balanced with brown sugar notes closes.

Taste features heavier notes of burnt caramel and light bread crust accents upfront, with a Flintstones vitamin sort of chalky character a temporary interlude before figgy esters engage the sweeter aspects of the malt profile once more over the mid-palate; ashy toffee realizes a heavier earthy quality, though a soft stone fruit after effect sees brown sugar sweetness through for a richness on the finish.

Mouthfeel shows a medium-light body with a fluffy, moderate-high carbonation, gliding with a delicate spritz through the mid-palate; consistency is firmly fluttery, deft and almost weightless for the ABV, with a mild warmth and background char easing through the background of the back end toward a dry finish.

With an almost decadent simplicity, a single-minded focus guides this take on the uniquely amplified yet approachable malt profile of the scotch ale; though vacillations in roast expression do breed breed sense of inconsistency with the predominant sweetness, the foundational drinkability and committed execution doesn't waver.

Jul 17, 2021

sjdevel from Utah

3.02/5  rDev -19.5%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Looks quite clear and a nice 2-3 finger head. Decent retention.

Smells like faint malt and some dark caramel

Tastes a bit watery and is more aromatic than flavorful. Some caramel and malt. A strange off putting chemical flavor. After taste is quite odd

Mouth feel is pretty thin for a Scotch style brew. Not sure if this would qualify as a medium bodied beer.

Overall I am disappointed in this beer. I tried a bunch of beer on a trip to CA. After visiting Russian River, Bear Republic, and North Coast Brewing, this was a big let down. I would not buy this again. I am a big fan of powerful Scotch ales....this one is not.

Mar 23, 2019

Stoutmaster9 from California

3.69/5  rDev -1.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.25

Smoke from the bottle!
Pours with a 'Glug-glug-glug' sound.

A gold-tinged reddish-brown, two-finger tan head of bubbles medium and wee. Foamy lacing.
Nutty toffee Malt scent. Highland hints, mossy mild. Watered wisps of stale peat.
Following the nose. Creamy brown sugar, mild, for the style, earthy ale.

For 1 pt. 6fl.oz it seems wise to have a less intense Scotch-Style Ale, as opposed to a four or six pack of, say, Founder's Dirty Bastard, which can shock the system, at first ...

Jul 17, 2018

sjrider from California

3.72/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5

Pours a darkish auburn color with thin khaki head and no lacing. Nose is faint peaty malt and caramel sweetness. Taste follows ,but very mild . Finish is a bit flat and dry. A slightly better than mediocre version of the style.

Mar 18, 2018

pisomojado8 from Minnesota

4.25/5  rDev +13.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

This would be my first choice if I was going for a scotch ale. Looks beautiful in the glass and goes down way easier than the 8% ABV advertised. After a couple, be careful! You may end up lifting your kilt!

Jun 29, 2017

tone77 from Pennsylvania

3.67/5  rDev -2.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.75

Poured from a 16 oz. can. Has a hazy auburn color with a 1/2 inch head. Smell is of malts, brown sugar. Taste is malts, bready, alcohol, brown sugar, some sweetness. Feels medium/light bodied in the mouth and overall is an enjoyable beer worth trying.

May 15, 2017

SamuelMiller from Montana

4.54/5  rDev +21.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

poured into a 12oz glass. the look is dark brown, and there is a a nice foamy head. There is a weak nutty aroma with hints of malt. The taste is very pleasant, a slight hint of coffee and nuttiness mixed with a great amount of malt.the feel is very foamy for a scotch but is extremely drinkable and smooth. overall this was a great beer, and i would definitely have again.

Oct 22, 2016

rodbeermunch from Nevada

3.14/5  rDev -16.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25

Brown pour, ample 3/4" tannish head. Aroma had a mixture of earthiness, wood and sweet.

Taste, didn't expect this degree of sweetness. Counteracts the other aspect of the beer, somewhat. Plenty of those toffee, caramel and coffee feels from the malt. Not a ton of peat notes even though there is earthiness. Body isn't overly heavy. Everything Moylans is bomber only, so that isn't going to help any scores.

Sep 12, 2016

NotAlcoholicJustAHobby from Vermont

3.72/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.75

L-The pour is a reddish brown with a sizeable 2 finger off white head. Lacing is made up of big foamy islands around the glass. The head recedes to a thin film which thickens at the edges of the glass.
S- The nose is very typical of a scotch ale. There are notes of caramel, toffee, and a touch of vanilla.
T- The taste follows the nose with the caramel malts and toffee. There is minimal bitterness. Alcohol is hidden well. Very much a one note brew.
F- Despite the large head, the carbonation is pretty minimal. The beer feels a little light for the style.
O- The mouthfeel kind of let's me down. I wanted a little more substance. There are better options available, although the beer is certainly drinkable.

Mar 21, 2016

stevoj from Idaho

3.15/5  rDev -16%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3

Bottle from Boise Co-op. Dark amber/ brown color with frothy head. Normal earthy, peaty aroma, but flavor comes off as a bit sweet, molasses and brown sugar. Mild bittersweet finish.

Mar 08, 2016

Bunman3 from Canada (AB)

3.68/5  rDev -1.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Purchased and hoisted in honour of Robbie Burns Day. Pours a rich mahogany colour, negligible head. Hints of toffee and dark fruit on the nose. I prefer my scotch ales to have some smoke and peat. Neither are evident in this beer, but it's not a bad thing. I would be interested to taste this alongside some other beers of the same style.

Jan 26, 2016

Mlkluther from Canada (AB)

3.9/5  rDev +4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

This is a very unique Wee Heavy. No peat or smokiness but in the background there is a dark fruit pruned flavour. In a strange way it all works and is a very enjoyable wee heavy.

Dec 16, 2015

infinitebruner from Arkansas

4.01/5  rDev +6.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

November 12, 2015

16 oz can, snifter

A – Rich mahogany with deep amber hues, the color of rich toffee. A very thin off-white to cream-colored head barely registers before fading quickly. Mostly clear, maybe light sediment haze.

S – A lot of toffee and rich caramel lead the nose. Light chocolate and minor notes of vanilla and cherries. All malt, perhaps a tinge of herbal-sweet hop aromas.

T – Like liquid crème brulee, with toffee, caramelized brown sugar, and light vanilla all prominent in the mix. No hop flavor.

M – Medium to medium-full body, very malty with mild sweetness. Carbonation is moderate but seems much lower because of the malt level.

O – A very flavorful scotch ale, very satisfying, if not particularly memorable.

Dec 08, 2015

Mitzvahman72 from California

4.74/5  rDev +26.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

With a bronze color, it has a nicely subtle, malt forward and balanced taste, with a light citrus and dried fruit aroma that’s not too citrusy. It also has some subtle dried fruit aftertaste to compliment its balanced mouthfeel. Overall, this is a solid non-peat scotch ale!

Oct 21, 2015

ThisWangsChung from Maryland

3.68/5  rDev -1.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

This style is all about maltiness: pure, unadulterated malt goodness. This smells promising, with large amounts of caramel, molasses, and brown sugar coexisting with powerful fruit esters. I could use a touch more smoke, but otherwise the aroma succeeds. The flavor brings nice amounts of caramel sweetness throughout. Hints of cherry, peach, brown sugar, molasses, and graham cracker appear as well. Basically, just like the nose suggested (don't you love that?) I swear I'm tasting an illusory glimpse of smoke here and there, along side a touch of earthy hop flavors. It also has a full, round, lush, and sweet texture - this is sipper through and through. This is the kind of beer I *WANT* to sip, though. I like this style, and this is a really good example of said style.

3.68/5: A delicious cold-weather sipper

Sep 16, 2015

pat61 from Minnesota

4.25/5  rDev +13.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

L: Pours garnet chestnut under a finely bubbled 1” cream colored foam collar that produces gothic window lace.
S: Spice malts and light creamed corn.
T: Rich malt flavors, bread, caramel to toffee, trace of anise, slight fruit, plum, finishes with a moderate hop accent.
F: Smooth, creamy, full body, medium to medium low carbonation
O: A malty, smooth, full flavored beer.

Jun 23, 2015

Albianfire from Texas

3.34/5  rDev -10.9%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25

Look - dark copper, murky like a chill haze. No particles floating though I had expected them.

Smell - Malt forward, no hops that I can find, sweet, very slight alcohol. Smells good.

Taste - sweet Carmel malts, light sting in the back of the mouth to offset some of the sweetness. I won't count it against the beer but, unfortunately the earthy taste I pick up is very reminiscent of alfalfa tablets my mom gave me as a kid.

Mouthfeel - medium with light carbonation. Not syrupy as with many malty higher gravity beers.

Overall - if I can get over my childhood vitamin/supplements trauma I would be quicker to return to this beer. Many others would probably love it.

Jun 21, 2015

hotmailmsn from Canada (BC)

3.78/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

8.0% ABV,
A - cloudy light brown, copper color, one finger head.
S - not much on the nose, bit of nutty n caramel sweetness.
T - medium to high body, toffee candy sweet, malty following, not bitter.
O - good beer that ppl wanna try out diff kind of beer, full of favors, don't except this is a refreshing beer.

May 02, 2015

hoptheology from South Dakota

3.99/5  rDev +6.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Appearance : Beautiful burnt red color with 80% transparency. The head is luscious and thick, 2 fingers tall. It leaves splats of lacing as it recedes gracefully.

Aroma : Beautiful oak and woody aromas, kilned and roasted malts, faint cherry and peach. Graham cracker. Maybe a touch of clove and marshmallow. Delightful.

Taste : Very nice baked flavor with wood accents. Baked cracker, lightly toasted sourdough bread. Aged cherry in oak barrels. Chocolate covered cherry. Light yeasty character. Ends slightly zingy with more cherry and kilned wood and light chocolate. Decadent.

Mouthfeel : Bordering on light bodied; mildly carbonated but adequate for this beer, ends parched on the top half, wet on the bottom half. Yin-yang thing going there.

Overall : Hell yes, I'd buy this again. A great scottish ale.

Mar 27, 2015

mac31 from California

3.77/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Sweet malty, copper entry. Fruitiness is upfront and pronounced- prune, raisin, dark fruits. Cooked caramel adds some warmth to the glass. Soft, earthy hop bitterness comes in about 3/4 palate and on. Hops are slightly floral and pungent and the bitterness finishes soft and clean. Dull smoky notes are present from time to time, more apparent as the beer warms. Alcohol present from beginning to end, would like it to be covered a little better. Drinkability is average, hard to finish as the beer reaches room temp. Metallic taste in the aftertaste as the beer warms. Medium thin body. Carbonation is low, just enough to add to the beer versus take away from it.

Mar 19, 2015

larryarms847 from Illinois

3.34/5  rDev -10.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25

Pours a dark ruby brown with a light khaki/off-white single finger of foam.

Slightly fruity, caramel, biscuity, and definite ethanol aroma.

Caramel, raisin, figs, some vanilla, and bready malt maltbackbone.

Medium-bodied, medium carbonation, fruity, sweet, dry finish.

Overall, this doesn't hold up against most of the scotch ales that I enjoy, namely Claymore and Dirty Bastard.

Feb 07, 2015

RonaldTheriot from Louisiana

3.75/5  rDev 0%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Moylan’s Kilt Lifter Scotch Style Ale has a thick, cream-colored head, a mostly clear, ruby, appearance, with ascending stray bubbles and some nice sheet lacing left behind. The aroma is of sweet, mildly fruit, bread crust, and a touch of alcohol. Taste is of those elements, plus some caramel, alongside subdued alcohol and low level bitterness. Mouthfeel is medium, and Moylan’s Kilt Lifter Scotch Style Ale finishes semi-dry and relatively drinkable.

RJT

Jan 31, 2015

samtrillo from California

4.04/5  rDev +7.7%

Smells like butter caramel malt. Yum.

Lots of flavors here. Definite sweet butterscotch and caramel malt presence. A get a bit of vanilla, a scotchy peaty characteristic that is subdued by the sweetness of the malt. Dried prunes raisins and fruitcake.

Mouthfeel is a very nice medium body. Just enough carbonation to keep things interesting.

This is a great example of the style.

Nov 24, 2014

SurferEric from Hawaii

4/5  rDev +6.7%

Lots of breadiness and some butterscotch/caramel flavor that creeps through. Wasn't my favorite at first sip but as I continue to sip on it the butterscotch seems to come through a little more for me. Then again, most Wee Heavy ales aren't my favorite at first sip.

Oct 20, 2014

Gamaliel from California

3.96/5  rDev +5.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

First experience with Moylan's Kilt Lifter was in Lake Tahoe. I read up on it decided to try it. I had a few friends with me that drank the yellow fizzy stuff, so I decided to treat them each to a glass. They really enjoyed it I think it might have been a tad too strong for them, oh well. I rather enjoyed it to the point that is all I drank while in Lake Tahoe for a week. Looking for local Southern California pubs or stores to supply it.

Very tasty and unique enough to want more. Look forward to Stone Fest and see if they have it there.

Aug 13, 2014