Great Dane Black Watch Scotch Ale

16 oz draft on tap at the brewpub (Madison, WI). Pours a pich black pour, opaque, bubbly tan head natural from the cask. Dies to a decent layer, fairly picturesque. Aromas are faint chocolate and caramel. A bit of sweetness, peat, and vanilla. Faint char and sugar with good feel. Initial is malty, peat and vanilla with caramel, a bit of sweetness, light coffee and chocolate. Vanilla and peaty caramel rule the day. Body is firm, a good cask ale, solid but sessionable. Good malts, faint bitterness, this really coats the palate for a cask ale. Pretty good!

On tap at the downtown brewpub 8/8/08: Pours a transparent dark copper mahogany with a stringy-lacing off-white head. Aroma of big, semi-sweet peaty dark caramel malt and a hint of light fruity character. Body starts about average with big earthy grainy grassy bitterness and a ton of smoky peat toward a semi-dry finish. A nice, fairly authentic Scotch ale.

Kind of a pale brownish amber. Mild caramel and toasted malt in the nose, some butterscotch flavour comes through the watery body. Some hops, but they’re muted. Pleasant, way too thin.

Date: 08/08/2008
Mode: Draft
Source: Brewpub

Appearance: clear dark red, scant off white head,
Aroma: sweet dark caramel malt aroma, nice touch of fruit, earthyness,
Flavor: rich malt flavor, lots of earthy peat like taking a bite out of a bog, touch of fruit, balancing earthyness, light bitterness,

Aroma: 7/10; Appearance: 6/10; Flavor: 6/10; Palate: 6/10; Overall: 11/20
Rating: 3/5.0
Drinkability: 5/10
Score: *4

Sampled on the hand pump: Room temp, pours a dark dark reddish brown colour with a small creamy tan top. Decent lacing on the glass, aroma is slightly nutty but mouthfeel is watered down. Slight metallic finish.

Dark beer with red. No head or carbonation visible. Feel is flat. This is a very malty beer with some toffee. Small amount of hops. Not a lot going on here.

cola brown/red pour with a small white head. Caramel and peat aroma. Flavor was smoky, more peat and moss, some caramel. Finishes lightly sweet.

Wasn’t expecting much with this tap from an airport restaurant. However, just the fact that they had a scotch ale was enough for me. The 22 oz. was just the right size as the aroma and appearance gave me cause to repeatedly indulge in a swig. Unfortunately, the flavor was just average, despite a definite presence of whiskey and malty caramel. Overall, worth a try, especially if you’re found captive in the airport.