Good Scotch Ales, what is your favorite?

Discussion in 'Beer Talk' started by keithmurray, Jan 14, 2017.

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  1. Spartanslam

    Spartanslam Initiate (0) Jan 27, 2016 Michigan

    Backwoods is one of my favorite beers period. Bought a case. Oddly I didn't like dirty bastard also. But it's been years since I last tried it.
     
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  2. zid

    zid Grand Pooh-Bah (3,058) Feb 15, 2010 New York
    Pooh-Bah Society Trader

    10,000 Foot Beard bottles are around right now.
     
  3. Pantalones

    Pantalones Initiate (0) Nov 14, 2014 Virginia

    Near everyone's mentioned it already, but I really enjoyed Dirty Bastard the last time I had it. I've had several others in the style but Dirty Bastard has definitely been my favorite so far. Need to get around to having some again sometime... the local beer store usually has it in stock, but I'm not over there much lately thanks to the whole "still near-broke, starting to recover from losing my last job" thing. Really need to try Backwoods Bastard sometime, too.

    I had a single bottle of Skull Splitter one time and while it definitely wasn't bad I still wasn't too impressed. Of course, there have been several beers that came across as just "okay" the first time around but for some reason really grew on me by the time I had my second or third bottle, so maybe that's one I'll have to give a second try sometime.
     
  4. ecpho

    ecpho Savant (1,159) Mar 28, 2011 New York

    I haven't had 10,000ft Beard yet - I wonder if it has the similar slight smokiness of Cairn.
     
  5. zid

    zid Grand Pooh-Bah (3,058) Feb 15, 2010 New York
    Pooh-Bah Society Trader

    It's a bit smoky too, but I haven't had Cairn in years and can't give a level comparison.
     
  6. Jerk_Store

    Jerk_Store Initiate (0) Feb 13, 2015 Canada (QC)

    Backwoods Bastard, but since we're considering BA versions, Quebec's St-Ambroise Collection Barrique Scotch Ale bests Backwoods for me.
     
  7. BWood

    BWood Initiate (0) Jan 4, 2015 California

    Backwoods Bastard is top notch. If you want the non BA version go with the Dirty Bastard.
     
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  8. LuskusDelph

    LuskusDelph Initiate (0) May 1, 2008 New Jersey

    Traquair House is hands down the best one.
     
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  9. LuskusDelph

    LuskusDelph Initiate (0) May 1, 2008 New Jersey

    The peated malt ruins that one for me. It's too cloying.
     
  10. ecpho

    ecpho Savant (1,159) Mar 28, 2011 New York

    We must have very different palates, I wouldn't say that beer is cloying at all - and I hate cloying beers. The peat cuts right through any sweetness.
     
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  11. philbe311

    philbe311 Pooh-Bah (2,492) Jan 21, 2008 Pennsylvania
    Pooh-Bah Society

    Several excellent ones mentioned... I'll second Backwoods Bastard, Claymore, Dirty Bastard, and Old Chubb (technically a Scottish Ale)... I also mention something I finally had the pleasure of trying this weekend - Scotch De Silly...
     
  12. LuskusDelph

    LuskusDelph Initiate (0) May 1, 2008 New Jersey

    We do indeed have very different palates (which is fine...life would be pretty boring if we all agreed on everything).
    My comment was only an opinion that I find overdone smoke (or oak for that matter) character to be more cloying than the sweetness. I've had quite a few brews that I thought would be excellent brews were it not for the presence of the above mentioned qualities
    Different strokes, is all...
    it's all good...
    Cheers...
    AL
     
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  13. zid

    zid Grand Pooh-Bah (3,058) Feb 15, 2010 New York
    Pooh-Bah Society Trader

    Why would you say that?
     
  14. ovaltine

    ovaltine Grand Pooh-Bah (5,911) Apr 6, 2010 Indiana
    Pooh-Bah Society Trader

    Dirty Bastard and Robert The Bruce are my two favorites of the style.
     
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  15. Apellonious

    Apellonious Pooh-Bah (1,690) Oct 25, 2008 North Carolina
    Pooh-Bah Society Trader

    Hard to add to what's been said because of the limited offerings (at least here) available, but one I had this past year that stood out (other than Sierra's Maple Scotch) was Tasgall II from Highland. Unfortunately it was a one-time offering, I believe. If they bring it back, and some how makes it to OP's NY location, I would check it out.
     
  16. Raime

    Raime Pooh-Bah (1,935) Jun 4, 2012 Korea (North)
    Pooh-Bah

    Scotty Karate still to this day remains my favorite though I've admittedly not had a ton of the style even still.

    I feel that Backwoods is vastly over boozy for my preferences. I struggled to finish my four pack.
     
  17. Johnct

    Johnct Initiate (0) Jun 4, 2014 New York

    I may be the only person here who didn't think backwoods bastard or dirty bastard were really all that good. I'll have to try them again.

    That being said, for traditional beer you can't go wrong with Belhaven Wee Heavy. Skull Splitter is a bit too sweet for my taste. The weird Innis & Gunn ones are fun to try but I couldn't have a lot in one sitting.

    The best I've had for an Americanized Scotch would be Thirsty Dog's Wulver, by far.

    Glad to see a lot of intriguing recommendations in this thread. I'll have to keep an eye out for some of these.
     
  18. The_Snow_Bird

    The_Snow_Bird Grand Pooh-Bah (3,096) May 7, 2015 Michigan
    Pooh-Bah Society Trader

    Cigar City's Big Sound
     
  19. FBarber

    FBarber Grand High Pooh-Bah (7,161) Mar 5, 2016 Illinois
    Super Mod Pooh-Bah Society Trader

    Is there a non barrel aged version of big sound?
     
  20. BeastOfTheNortheast

    BeastOfTheNortheast Pooh-Bah (2,153) Dec 26, 2009 Pennsylvania
    Pooh-Bah Society

    Oskar Blues Old Chub! GOAT!
     
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