Arcadia Loch Down Scotch Ale Bourbon Barrel Aged?

It IS a thing.
I just had this exact beer over the weekend & it wasn't as great as you would think.
Maybe it needed more barrel or maybe it's because I had it in a flight with Backwoods Bastard so it was easily overshadowed by an amazing BBA scotch ale.
It was a good beer but nothing mind blowing, as far as I know it is tap only at this point

 

I had this at the Michigan Winter Beer Fest. While it was quite tasty it was no match to Backwoods Bastard imo.

 

Arcadia's Loch Down is a great Scotch Ale on its own, and I've been hoping to get the chance to try the bourbon barrel-aged version soon. It was introduced a couple of months ago and has only been served in a few places on tap that I know about, but I haven't seen it at the brewery yet. Maybe it will be available when they open the Kalamazoo location.

 

Had this in a barrel aged flight at Centre Street Tap House in Portage, MI last weekend. It was better than the regular but I don't really care for the regular, nowhere near as good as the Backwoods Bastard I was drinking next to it.

 

Anybody had this years? They seem to be getting hammered with comments on their facebook page.

 

The barrel aged version is called loch up. Drank it last night, average at best

 

I purchased two bottles of this at Arcadia approximately two months ago. I was extremely unimpressed. It just tasted bad. I've never had their regular Loch Down before so I didn't know if that is how the beer was suppose to be or what. I'm saving the last bottle to share with other knowledgable craft beer drinkers to see if I just got bad bottles or if that is how the beer should really taste.

 

Nah the barrel aged version isn't good lol

 

I also bought two bottles (at the BC pub) and had it on tap that same night. There is a butterscotch flavor there that probably should not be there because that flavor is typically considered to be a brewing flaw. I drank one bottle and that flavor was not quite as pronounced as what it was on tap. I think age may fix it somewhat, or maybe completely with enough time. I'm saving my other bottle to see what happens.

But try the Loch Down when you can. It's a very good scotch ale.

 

There are strong suggestions on Arcadia's facebook page that Loch Up is infected but the brewery maintains the acidic nature of the beer is a "pleasant surprise".

 

I bought a bottle for $9. Tasted like acid reflux and sour patch kids.

 

How does this compare to the Barrel Aged Loch Up? I was not much of a fan of that one at the winter beer festival that had it in bottles.

Edit: I now see the BA version is Loch Up like I had. Perhaps that bottle was one of the affected ones...