Brewer's Reserve Scotch Ale
River Horse Brewing Co.

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From:
River Horse Brewing Co.
 
New Jersey, United States
Style:
Scottish Ale
ABV:
Not listed
Score:
83
Avg:
3.59 | pDev: 14.76%
Reviews:
6
Ratings:
21
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Sep 20, 2017
Added:
Feb 26, 2013
Wants:
  0
Gots:
  2
No description / notes.
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Ratings by Gkruszewski:
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Rated by Gkruszewski from New York

3.64/5  rDev +1.4%

Dec 11, 2014
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.42 by Knapp85 from Pennsylvania

Sep 20, 2017
Photo of seedyone
Reviewed by seedyone from New York

3.4/5  rDev -5.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
02/27/13 A taste on tap. Labeled at venue as River Horse Scotch Ale Batch #12. Very smokey (which is not a fav in brews) & malty. A bit more alcohol and we would have Whiskey in The Jar. ( A tip of the hat to The Dubliners, The Pogues & Thin Lizzy, who later inspired Metallica.)
Jul 05, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by Griffith from Connecticut

Jan 28, 2014
 
Rated: 3.5 by WillieThreebiers from Connecticut

Aug 03, 2013
 
Rated: 3.25 by campfirebrew from New York

Aug 03, 2013
 
Rated: 3.5 by Kjanisch7 from New Jersey

Jul 15, 2013
 
Rated: 3 by Scary_Version from Pennsylvania

Jul 15, 2013
 
Rated: 4 by schaffer9252 from New York

Jun 08, 2013
 
Rated: 4 by civicm87 from New York

May 18, 2013
 
Rated: 3.75 by wayngrove from Pennsylvania

May 07, 2013
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Reviewed by KTCamm from New Jersey

3.74/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Poured from a bottle into a pint glass.

Pours very dark brown with 1/4 inch white foam. Strong peat moss earthy nose. Fire smoked too. Taste has a bourbon/whisky like back, very earthy. Filling ground mouthfeel. Slightly cloying in the finish. Very well made.
May 05, 2013
Photo of Huffs
Reviewed by Huffs from New York

3.71/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Poured into a Sam Adams glass, developed a great, off white to tan head which lasted and laced quite well. Appearance was a cloudy brown with slight reddish hints. Aroma was malty and sweet with slight notes of caramel, toffee and smoke. Taste was a pronounced smoke flavore with malty, sweet hints. Mouthfeel was full and creamy, though smoke still dominated. Aftertaste was...smoke..
May 05, 2013
 
Rated: 4.25 by Mojoman8561 from Pennsylvania

Apr 21, 2013
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Reviewed by facundoCNB from New Jersey

4.5/5  rDev +25.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
A dark pour reddish black with 2 fingers of head, excellent lacing. Smells of chipotle, sweet malt bill, honey, has a whole awesome chipotle pepper kick to it. Medium body with moderate carbonation. A great scoth ale no doubt, lots of flavor, lots of abv to keep ya happy.
Apr 03, 2013
 
Rated: 4.25 by CTChef from Connecticut

Mar 28, 2013
 
Rated: 2.75 by cw13 from New Jersey

Mar 11, 2013
Photo of Act25
Reviewed by Act25 from New Jersey

3.51/5  rDev -2.2%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
What ever you do! Dont drink these beers - Scotch Ales, Barley wines - too cold!
They MUST warm to cellar temp to be properly consumed.

Poured from a 12 oz. bottle into a .5l cyl beer glass.

Appearance: Dark and hazy beer. Pours a dark brown with fine, lazy rising bubbles. Medium tan, not long lasting head. Alas, no lacing.

Original taste that shocks your mouth with Peat, Smoke and whiskey flavors.

**I have since discovered the best use of a sweet Scotch Ale is to make a black and tan, say with an American IPA or Ale. Thats delish because it boldens the brew, provides backbone, and cuts the sweetness. Any one else try Black and Tans with Scotch Ales?

Smell: Smoky Peat and Scotch whiskey/malt dominates. Not too Sweet caramel, toffee. Nice smell. Better as it warms

Taste: Strong, peaty, smoky, complex, but finishing a little too sweet for me, and unless warm, not a great after taste. For me, too dessert like, cloying after. *Dont like dessert, sweet wines either. Like Wines with a bite and tang. A brown sugar plus scotch taste with peat and stale smoke. earthy hops, a complex, but slightly over-sweet taste. This is a wee better than OB's wee heavy because of the earthy, peaty, grassiness, but still too cloying for me, tho it's better when halved with an IPA.

Mouthfeel: Medium weight, low carbonation. Creamy, smooth, bring on the cheese. Alcohol and sweetness prominent. Dont love after taste, makes me want to get a cleaner, bitter American IPA to follow it.

Overall: If you like Scotch ale, Founders Dirty Bastard is a better path. But I rate this above Oskar Blues.

Now on a winter walk, or with some sharp and smelly cheeses, with room for one strong, powerful sipping beer, this could be a winner. Or, if you let it warm and drink it with cheese like a dessert wine, then it's pretty good, esp if you have a roaring fire going.
Mar 09, 2013
 
Rated: 2 by beans923 from Pennsylvania

Mar 02, 2013
 
Rated: 3.75 by mindfuldave from New Jersey

Feb 28, 2013
Brewer's Reserve Scotch Ale from River Horse Brewing Co.
Beer rating: 83 out of 100 with 21 ratings