Brau Brothers Scotch Ale

Brewed by Brau Brothers Brewing Company
Style: Scotch Ale
Lucan, Minnesota USA

Just added this beer that i enjoyed at Winterfest 07 AND this is my 200th rating! Very nice scotch ale, and Brau Bro’s is doing a nice job with there brews. They can do away with the strawberry one though. Anyway, very malty ale as the description says, but also a little hoppiness there, very nice!

12 oz. bottle from a six-pack purchased at Blue Max. Unique, powerful, sharp, malty, sour, smoky aroma. Pickle brine, salt water, and smoked ham/bacon smells. The aroma could be offputting to some, and I have mixed feelings about it, but I do like it overall. Pours a clear, medium brown with just a touch of amber hue and a small amount of beige head. It’s an uncommon shade of brown; most translucent ales either are darker, lighter, or have a greater amber presence. The lacing produced is short-lasting. A peat smoke taste is unmistakable in the first sip. It is interesting to this Scotch whisky fan that the beer has an easily identifiable peat taste despite the fact that the aroma, as complex as it is, lacks a traditional peat reek. The smoke taste does not rise to rauchbier levels, but it is by no means subtle. Very malty with just a hint of hops, but the smoke flavor oddly acts as something of a substitute for the hops, leading to a unique sort of balance in the flavors. As one would expect, while the peat smoke dominates the early sips, a more traditional Scotch ale taste emerges as one continues to drink. Surprisingly light, roasted malt aftertaste. Light to medium body. Smooth, even oily and creamy in the palate, yet still crisp and lively. That’s an impressive feat. Refreshing. I am rating the third of four twelve oz. bottles that I retained from the six pack (I gave away the other two to fellow ratebeerians). I have liked this beer more each time that I have had it, and it is also one of those beers that seems to improve upon each additional sip. I always respect a beer that holds up well to multiple tastings. I have never been a big Scotch ale fan, but I do like this one; it is definitely something different. This is my first Brau Brothers brew, and I find it to be a promising one.

Thanks to skyview for these pours. Excellent caramel nose on this hazy brown color. Smoke peat and caramel on the body. Excuse me, but I’m off to grab an Islay scotch to follow this one up.

Received 12-oz sample bottle to try from distributor. Another cool ACL printed bottle. Pours a slightly hazy brown amber brew with a good lasting off white head. Aroma has a hint of scotch whiskey/peat smoke, some caramel, and medium roasted malt. Taste has peat, come caramel and more malt taste. Palate is creamy, lightly carbonated, and medium body. Finish is smooth and a little sweet.

Tasted at Beer Dabbler event in St. Paul. I tend to like scotch ales and so rate them all higher than others. I like the extra bit of oak and smoked barrel flavor in this one. The malt moves nicely to a slight chocolate finish. Pretty good.

Parting gift from RBSG 2007 - Clear dark brown, thin white fizzy head. Scotchy nose of buttery smoke, raisin, fig, and hints of vanilla. Soft peat smoke flavor encompasses notes of cherry tobacco, raisin, and sweet vanilla caramel. Light bodied, soft carbonation, malty smoked finish. A bit thin, but certainly still nice...

Murky crimson shade, under thin creamy head. Should look darker, though... Sweet, malty nose, rich and fruity...cherries and berries and red licorice whips...strawberry jam... Tast: it’s all malt, in here, with just enough hop to keep the sweetness down a notch or two. Rosey and bright, but a bit thin. I keep wanting more to chew on...fairly medium bodied, sweet finish, lingers a bit. Each time the lip meets the cup, though, the result is satisfaction. I look for a bit more in a scotch ale, but this is good, no doubt about it. Tasty. I’d drink one again.

This pours a clear amber with off white head. It had a sweet flavor with a good amount of smoke and some additional roasted malts. I tend to really like this style and this succeed in my expectations.