Great Divide Claymore Scotch Ale

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

Bottled on Date March 2009; Sampled April 2009
A full pour produces a thick, creamy, three-finger, amber tinged, almost brownish, dark tan colored head. The beer is a deep amber color with some dark brown hues. It shows a brilliantly clear, deep ruby hue when held up to the light. The aroma has a rich toasty malt character to it, a touch of roast even, with lots of concentrated dark fruitiness (raisin, prune and bright berry aromatics), a caramelized malt sugar note as well as a touch of brown sugar. I don’t get any sense of any hop aromatics in the nose. The aroma is definitely big and malty (exactly what you want from this style of beer); it is sweet up front but finishes with a drying, solid toasted malt character.

The beer has a full malty mouthfeel to it with a definite chewy, caramelized sweetness, but it is not nearly as sweet as the rich body might have suggested. This is fairly well carbonated for the style, but it could be a touch less, though it is still light by American standards. Sweet, complex malt notes accentuate a rich fruit character that has me tasting notes of raisins, light cherry, berries and, in combination with a touch of warming alcohol, even some brandy like flavors. There is a light herbal hop character here as well as a touch of light bitterness in the finish. The bitterness is also boosted just a bit by a slight toasted / roasted grain note.

This beer has a really nice richness to it; malty and thick without being overly sweet. The rich concentrated fruit really adds to this beer and the touch of hops adds just enough balance to the over all profile.

12 oz. bottle poured in a snifter. Black coffee in color, with a big rootbeer head that leaves quite a bit of lacing as it dissipates. Stout-like, without the chocolate, with an aroma dominated by sweet malt and a hint of pit fruit. Medium body and an soft but oily texture and finish. Tastes of bitter, charred coffee and prunes, with a slight hop bite.

Bottle, thanks to WeeHeavySD for sharing! Pours a deep reddish-brown with an off-white ring. Rich aroma, of wood, malt, and sugar. Taste of wood, malt, grass, and chocolate-caramel. Lingering sharpness. Very nice.

Bottle. Pours dark brown with an average, fizzy, light brown head, somewhat diminishing with fair lacing. Aroma is heavy malt (caramel, cookie, nutty), light hop (dry grass), average yeast (earth, broth) with notes of figs, brown sugar, and wood. Full bodied, sticky texture, average carbonation, and an astringent finish. Average duration, moderate sweetness, light acidity and bitterness.

Bottle Ours a deep brown with a tan head. The head is creamy and lasting. The head is producing nice lacing. Aroma is of caramel, malts, and nuts. Has a light carbonation. The flavor is on the lines of a light stout. Has good blending. Hints of a slight metalic taste. Has a medium body. A solid finish with a good aftertaste. This is a pretty good beer.

Thanks to Markwise for this one! Transparent brown pour with a thin tan head and minimal lace. Aroma is all peat. Caramel malts, roast, nuts and a slightly metallic finish

12 oz. bottle from Plaza Liquors - Pours a clear brown color with a one and a 1/4 finger thick light tan head. Nice lacing. Aroma is dark malt and dark esters and stewed veggies. Flavor is chocolate, caramel, and biscuit malt and esters. Medium body. I was expecting some smoked peat, but could detect any. Overall, a nice beer.

(12oz bottle, courtesy of blutt59) Pours a brown body with a small beige head. Aroma of peat, caramel, earth, and raisins. Flavor of caramel malt, peat, roasted malt, and nuts.