Great Divide Claymore Scotch Ale

Brewed by Great Divide Brewing Company
Style: Scotch Ale
Denver, Colorado USA

Bottle. Pours hazy dark cola brown with a lacy beige head. A bit of smoke in the aroma, along with brown sugar and caramel. Medium body, moderate carbonation. Thankfully restrained smokiness in the taste, which lets a good measure of brown sugar, molasses, nuts and a touch of chocolate come through. Just a little pine on the exit to clean things up. I could drink a lot of this. Too bad it’s already out of season.

Brownish black, with maybe a little bit of light showing around thedges, but otherwise completely opaque. Thin ring of foam. Smells smoky, peaty and a little bit coffee-esque. Nice touch of red wine, as well. Boozy at first, with raisin and prune, plus some earthy, peppery flavors. Kind of heavy, but tasty.

12 oz. bottle. Pours a clear dark brown color with a small off white head. The aroma is toasted malt with a slight nutty character. Sweet caramel malts and hints of fruit are also present. The flavor is sweet caramel malt, but not too big. Midpalate it becomes more toasted bread with hints of caramel, nutty, and very slight smoke. Mouthfeel is on the mild side, but I did get some alcohol from time to time. I seem to expect the best and come away a wee bit disappointed with many of the Scotch ales I have tried recently.

Bottle and served in Duvel snifter: Cola brown hue with a small but lasting frothy head and good lace. The aroma has notes of heavy sweet caramelized malts, a brief hint of smoke, walnuts, pepper and leathery earthy esters, and a touch of anise. The taste starts malty sweet but never cloying due to a nice hit of spicy and fruity undertones. Smoked nuts and liquorice notes as well. Not getting an actual peat nor sea salt characteristics however. The mouth feel is soft yet somewhat aggressive around the edges, just a hint of booze. It is to be noted that as this warms I do start detecting some butterscotch showing up and a tad off putting. But overall a solid brew I would try again.

Thanks to Blankboy, shared with HogTownHarry and I. Appearance: Dark copper/brown with a small off white head. Aroma: Malt and caramel, some nuts, pepper, bread, quite toasty. Flavour: Malt, coffee, nutty, some marzipan with a slightly alcoholic and toasty finish. Not bad.

Bottle (12oz). Shared by blankboy with me and garthicus. Deep clear ruby, average off-white head. Earthy, sweet aroma, plenty of dry herbal bitterness. Oily, roast caramel, hint of leather and peat - pungent. Slick, average body, mild carbonation, a little alcohol emerges in the finish - almost a bit harsh. Interesting take.

Bottled at Oliver Twist, Stockholm. Pours out in a dark brown colour with a low dense off-white foam. Malty aroma of cocoa, cream, vanilla, nuts and fudge. Nearly-full-bodied with malty clean notes of fudge, cream, dates, vanilla and sweet red berries. Malty finish of of nuts, cocoa, fudge and peat. Quite powerful and flavorful one but lacking depth and soul.

Deep almost opaque brown color. Mossy, heavy malty sweet, nutty flavor. Somewhat complex. Smooth, medium bodied Scotch Ale.,