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AleSmith Wee Heavy Scotch Ale

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100
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bottled
common

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RatingsAverageScoreABVStyle PctlServe in
7474.09/5.04.08/5.010%99.6Thistle
Commercial Description:
Bottle conditioned
J.P. Gray's Wee Heavy Scotch Ale Scotland's bone-chilling winters command a strong, richly-flavored brew. J.P. Gray's Wee Heavy is such an ale. Named for Brewmaster Skip Virgilio's maternal grandfather, J.P. Gray's is a blend of the prized Maris Otter barley and dark roasted barley which imparts a slightly smoky flavor and a deep chestnut appearance. In the style of a classic Scottish wee heavy, this fine ale is remarkably smooth and malty with background flavors of chocolate and molasses. Warmth is provided by a substantial 9% alcohol by volume. The high alcohol and fresh ingredients allow this ale to age well over time. Appearance: Deep mahogany color, sparkling clarity, and excellent head formation and retention when properly served. Flavor: Deep caramelly malty flavor with just a hint of smoke in the finish. Aroma: The aroma is sweet and voluptuous, reflecting the flavor with malt, hop and yeast characteristics. Mouthfeel (body/texture): Lush, full, rounded, almost chewy. This is a BIG beer!
 Most Recent Top Raters Highest Ratings Who's Rated This?  
 MrBendo (1041), Swedesboro, New Jersey, USA
3.9 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/104/58/104/516/20
May 28, 2007  
Clear deep mahogany color with a medium head. Spare lacing. Aroma of brown sugar and toffee with just a hint of smoke. Taste is a bit warm, with caramel and all things sweet and malty. A bit of raisins and cherries, also. Rich and full bodied. Big and decadent.


 xenthem0nk (101), Oregon, USA
4.5 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
9/105/59/104/518/20
May 28, 2007  
Bottle. Deep red/brown color with a tall head. Amazing nose, lots of sweet malts, over ripe fruit. Tastes like smooth sweet malty, raisin, hint of vanilla?, datey goodness. I could enjoy a few of these in a row. Probably get quite smashed as well. This is my favorite scotch ale by far.


 hopson (594), Williamsville, New York, USA
4.5 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
9/104/59/104/519/20
May 28, 2007  
Draft- another amazing offering from this brewer. Amber brownin appearance, with some dark reddish tones. Warm going down, to the point of near hot. Fruity/ Smokey flavor not as present as I was expecting. Still incredible.


 undsioux7 (555), Cologne, Minnesota, USA
3.9 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/103/58/104/517/20
May 27, 2007  
IF ITS NOT SCOTTISH, ITS CRAP! Pours deep brown with a tint of ruby and a small nice tan head that dissapates. Aroma of lightly toasted malts, sweet candi sugar, a bit of smoke, and some dried fruit. Taste smacks you upside the head with smokey sweetness, then moves onto some toasty almonds and dry tenderness to finish you off. Nice mouthfeel. But, I must digress to the Grimreeser and call this one cloying in thy sweetness. Otherwise, it roxors my boxors.


 Sombeast (151), Pewaukee, Wisconsin, USA
4.2 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/105/58/105/517/20
May 27, 2007  
Appearance - Reddish brown, clear, sustaining & replenishing head, some lacing Aroma – mild, light toasted malts Flavor – Light sweetness start, changing to mild toasty malt notes, a light sour/hop twang & well-balanced bitterness in the finish Palate – medium bodied


 BeerHawk (1175), Huntsville, Alabama, USA
3.9 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/104/58/104/516/20
May 26, 2007  
Draft from the tasting bar @ AleSmith. Dark brown in color with a tan head that leaves light lacing. Sweet malty aroma. The flavor is also sweet and finds molasses and chocolate. Medium to full body with a very creamy smooth texture. Very nice. I’m glad I now have 2 bottles of this plus one bottle of BA in the closet to enjoy even more. Very Nice!!


 RollinHard (754), Fort Worth, Texas, USA
4.3 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/105/59/104/517/20
May 24, 2007  
Bottle, pours dark brown, almost almost black color with a light tan head. Aroma of raisins, rum, wood, whiskey, dough and caramel. Mildly smokey too, but just a subtle hint. I’m glad I’m not the only person who occasionally caught hints of cookies in this! Taste of light roast, chocolate, caramel, toffee, and some more ever so light smoke flavor. Finishes with some raisins, the reappearnce of cookie dough, wonderful earthy hop flavor, mild toast. Caramel, raisin and earth aftertaste. Thick texture, but still very drinkable, and the carbonation was pretty much right (ie: not really a noticable factor, which is good). Very good stuff, one of the top scotch ales I’ve had, if not the best.


 Ofortuna (322), Grafton, Wisconsin, USA
4.1 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/58/104/517/20
May 21, 2007  
Many thanks to Sombeast for the chance to try this one! Gorgeous deep ruby hue and nice lacing thoughout. Beautiful peated aroma, with hints of freshly baked oatmeal cookies. A little more of a hop character than probably should be present for a Scotch Ale, but to be expected coming from a southern California brewery. Slight warming presence on the way down making the 10% alcohol known. Huge amount of nuttiness no doubt coming from the Maris Otter. Little hint of smoke on the finish. Extremely smooth and well done! Definately deserving of it’s place as one of the best examples of a Scotch Ale.



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