Grumpy Troll Curly Scotch Ale

Brewed by Grumpy Troll Brewery, Restaurant and Pizzeria
Style: Scotch Ale
Mount Horeb, Wisconsin USA

This was my second selection and i thought it was great. Not as overwhelmingly smoky as some scotch ales i have tried but the flavor was definitely there. The apprerance was nice with a thick head and full mouth feel. A good example of the style, even more enjoyable that some because the brewer does not go overboard on the peat.

Hazy bronze body with an off white head. The aroma was iced tea with some toffee. The taste was caramel with some hints of tobacco and some smoke. Funny that I could not smell the smoke. A pretty good example of the style.

Draft at the brewpub. The propaganda on this batch says 28 IBU’s and an O.G. of 1.065. Poured a hazy medium orange color with a thin off white head that left a bit of lace behind. The aroma was of light butter, caramel, toffee, and subdued coffee. Medium bodied with caramel, coffee, roasted malt, and subdued smoke flavors. Great scotch ale and one of the better beers at this brewpub.

Unfiltered amber-brown color. Smooth malty aroma. Thick, sweet Bock-like flavor. A touch of smoke. Relatively clean for the style, not overly sweet or sticky. Excellent.

Draft. Dark amber with a full head. Strong malt aroma. Full body. Flavor is a matl start wth a sweet middle and a slightly smokey finish.

Sample at the brewery. Dark amber/brown. Slight toasted caramel aroma. Flavor has a slight dark fruit, sweet aroma. This is a good scotch ale.

On tap at brewpub

This was around the halfway point of the sampler tray. From here on out it was all darker or higher gravity beers. It was a nice transition and I could see ordering a pint of this if I was back in Mount Horeb at the Grumpy Troll. I hope the new ("old") brewer continues to do such a good job with his releases.

Aroma / Appearance - The caramel body had a hint of white head. The body was mostly opaque - about 40% of the light was able to trickle through. Black cherry, vanilla, wet peat, rust and the smell of wet road/tires forms an interesting tapestry of smells. Overall it is well balanced and full of life.

Flavor / Palate - The first sip unleashed a dense chewy body. Molasses, slightly burnt toast, apple butter and a trace of hops with charcoal in the background form the experience that lingers on the tongue for a long time. This was very easy to drink with a light bitter finish. The Grumpy Troll should get two thumbs up for this one.

On tap at the brewpub 7/31/09: Pours a transparent bright copper amber with a thin, wispy lacing white head. Aroma of sweet toasty caramel malt with some light piny hop character. Starts with good fullness and sweet caramely maltiness before a slightly drier bittersweet and crisp finish. An enjoyable Scotch ale, but could use a little more peaty character.