Grand Lake Plaid Bastard

Brewed by Grand Lake Brewing Co
Style: Scotch Ale
Grand Lake, Colorado USA

I took a trip up to Evergeen to buy some vintage beers and found this. I’d read previous reviews and $10.49 a sixer didn’t seem too bad for a strong scotch ale. I have also been trying to taste more examples of this style since I really like Old Chub and Alesmith Wee Heavy. This beer has an instant malty, subtle smoke smell that is nice. The color is super-black with an off-white ring of bubbles running around the circumference of the glass. Whoah, the taste starts out as smoky malts and turns into band-aids and then meat. That may sound bad but if you like smoky, peaty beers this is definitely one of them and it gets better as it warms. This is a good beer to split into two snifters to increase drinkability, 12oz is too much. Serving type: bottle Reviewed on: 04-12-2008 01:43:25

This beer was a disappointment. With "Bastard" as part of the name, I had my hopes up. However, this beer was flat. No head to speak of; no carbonation. Sort of like drinking a beer that you had taken the cap off of yesterday and put it back in the fridge. Won’t be buying this again.

Dark brown with a small head. Aroma is of cocoa and medicine...like Benydryll spray. Flavor is of burnt toast, chocolate and roasted malts.Low..almost no carbonation.

Very smokey, with a hint of scotch! It was very smooth and creamy. Some flavors of malt sweetness tried to get through but they were light. Tasted a bit like a burnt hot dog cooked over a fire, with ashes on it. I can see this would not be for everyone, but I found it quite enjoyable.

Draft at the brewpub in Grand Lake. Pours a deep dark brown with reddish hues, mahogany I suppose. Decent tan head. Aromas of dark roast, caramel, and smoke. Flavors of roasted malts, smoke, with anice balance of sweetness and bitterness. Palate is smooth and perfectly carbonated.

22 oz. bottle. pours a thinnish head, with minimal lacing over dark brown body....nose of slight smoke, with molasses....tastes of smoky malts with minimal hop bitterness on the finish, dry overall....rather light mouth feel, and overall too thin and uncomplicated for a Scotch Ale, and lacking malty sweetness.

This dark brown ale poured with no head - just a few bubbles - and a strong chocolate aroma. There is a hearty smoked malt flavor with lots of chocolate and some raisin. A bit thinner than one would expect in a scotch ale, but otherwise a pretty good brew.

I really like this beer! It was on the dark side of the style, and had a great roasty/chocolatey flavor. It went down very well and was not a bit harsh.