AleSmith Wee Heavy Scotch Ale

[Bottle, thanks Guerde!] Pours dark reddish, cola-brown with a small beige head. Aroma is light cherry, caramel, chocolate, a little nuttiness, very light smoke and alcohol. Taste is semi-sweet with a lot of chocolate, some alcohol, and a lot of lightly toasted malt. Good thick mouthfeel with a somewhat dry, long finish where there is a little smoke and what tastes like honey--although I assume that it is the molasses. A beer that is complex, subtle, and seamlessly crafted. Really excellent stuff, and I preferred this to the bourbon aged version.

(bottle, thanks Bartzilla!) Pours dark brown with an off-white head that retains nicely. Aroma is initially really fruity, with some dried fruits and cherry (like red vines licorice). Upon warming there’s more malty aromas of chocolate, caramel, and further warming yields the smell of fresh baked brownies. Agitation also reveals some toasted nut aroma as well along with vanilla. None of these smells really dominate over the other, but they all blend together nicely. The flavor is very sweet and malty, with prominent flavors of chocolate and caramel, but there’s also a light fruitiness and hop bitterness that lurks around in the finish. A hint of smoke is also evident as well. Mouthfeel is medium. This is a really solid beer, that doesn’t have a stand out flavor or aroma, but everything just blends together perfectly. This is definitely one of the best scotch ales I’ve had.

75cl bottle. Dark brown with a beige head. Malty-sweet aroma with caramel, dried fruits, smoke, and nuts. The flavor is intense, with caramel, dries fruit, smoky earth, and just tons of malt. there are hops there, but good luck trying to pick them out. Full body with medium carbonation with small bubbles. Really good stuff. A quite refined sipping beverage. The balance makes it very drinkable for it’s strength. Only marginal alcohol is detected, though you feel it if you drink to fast.

Bottle shared by Eric, many thanks. Pours a rich ruby hue with a small head. The aroma is really sweet; malts, alcohol, peat, and fruity candy. The taste was really smooth, but also full; plum, butter scotch, rich smoked malts, a ton of flavor here, some earthy peat, and a bunch of candy and chocolates. Damn good. Well done again AleSmith.

Bottle thanks to BOLTZ7555, thanks big time man!! Aroma is just wonderful. Notes of caramel, molasses, dried dark fruit, brandy, cognac, and a little alcohol. Deep brown mahogany hue with an off-white frothy head that mostly diminished and left ok lace. Flavor is smoky with a woody malt and brandy medley. Finishes rather mellow with barely any bitterness and also quite clean. Palate is medium/full bodied, watery, and lively. Alcohol is well hidden. Wonderful presentation but not really my style I guess.

750ml bottle from the Alesmith brewery tour. smell is fairly simple (relatively) malt, caramel, whiskey. dark ruby pour with a bit of lacing. rich smokey malt taste. mouthfeel is perfect. chocolate smooth (at some point). a fantastic mix of complex and balance. has to be the best scotch ale I’ve ever had. K - 8.5

Bottle at home ... ... Deep brown red ... sweet tofee malt little vanilla nose ... again loads on vanilla and whiskey tones (just like numbskull) some toffee and caramel malts... Real glad to have tried this, and glad that the BA versions on way... and though its nice ...its a beer to slip and savour into ...its not hitting that spot for me... It did grow on in, and my mate loved it, so i know the rest of you arent lying :-)

What’s there to say except AleSmith. Wee Heavy is a brew that punches you in spades...first with flavor and texture (beautiful tones of smoked-peat malt and sweet, dark chocolate), and second with the five finger slap "upside your head" when you fully realize the potency of the brew (10%). WOW - what a great offering from a "Wee Heavy" brewery!!!