Iona Bog Peat
Brewsters Brewing Company & Restaurant - Eleventh Avenue

8oz glass at Beer Revolution YEG Oliver Square - now this is an appropriate seasonal offering, cheers to the auld poet! Oh, and a 'smoked Scotch Ale'.

This beer appears a mostly clear, medium bronzed amber colour, with a thin rim of wispy 'head', which leaves some transcontinental bridge pattern lace around the glass as things slowly progress.

It smells of burnt vegetation, bready and crackery caramel malt, a muddled domestic pome fruitiness, and some plain earthy, musty, and dead floral hop bitters. The taste is meaty caramel malt, singed car tires, bruised apple and pear, and more understated earthy, herbal, and musky floral noble hoppiness.

The carbonation is adequate in its structurally sound frothiness, the body a decent middleweight, and sort of smooth, as that peaty character doesn't (and never has, to be honestly) endear itself to this sports fan. It finishes trending dry, for the reason just elucidated.

Overall - this comes across as an Isla whisky fan's wet dream, if he or she was in the mood for ale. They really nailed the connection over there, in that exotic location just beyond the nearest McDonald's - given the Scottish nature herein, I believe the reference to be relevant.