Highland Tasgall Ale

Brewed by Highland Brewing Company
Style: Scotch Ale
Asheville, North Carolina USA

I don’t know why they sell it in such large bottles. Any bar that serves this beer will give it to you in a 8 oz goblet because its so strong. In saying that, this beer is absolutely amazing. Full of favor! If you get a chance to try this on tap, go for it. Last I heard Highland was making this a seasonal brew, so look for it during the colder months.

Perhaps it was the atmosphere, the good friends, the excellent live bluegrass band, but I found this brew to be top-shelf and remarkable (wouldn’t Michael Jackson approve of those conditions??). Appearance: coffee, pure and simple. Almost no head. Nose: pleasant hops, caramel, and something I can only describe as Blue Ridge Parkway moss Taste: nectar of the gods, basically. Coffee, dark chocolate, and sorghum. Palate: perfect in every way. My only complaint is that is sneaks into being slightly hoppy for a Scottish Ale (Scots, after all, have a deep prejudice against hops, since they’re English!), but at the end of the day I’d gladly take this over many other pints.

Since North Carolina popped its cap this year, some the first official high gravity product from the state to make out to Georgia is the Highland Tasgall Ale. Since Highland has a Scottish theme going on all their labels, the artwork was nearly perfect for the style. The beer came in a 22 oz. bomber, which I emptied into a Tulip glass. The body looked almost like molten Hershey’s chocolate syrup, due to its dark brown color, and opacity. The head was rather small at first, and then wend down in a hurry. The wispy spider web lacing left however was quite good.

The nose was very malty, with an elegant peat accent. Toffee, chocolate, and coffee aromas filled the nostrils with each breath. Floral hops were there to brighten things up a little bit. The taste was just what the aromas had been proclaiming in advance. Sweet, smoky, and robustly malty, this was undoubtedly Scottish in the flavor profile, but with a little more bitter and citric hop flavor coming through, thanks to being brewed in the Appalachian highlands instead.

I loved the way this beer felt on my tongue. The body was thick enough to be coating, but not so stout to be chewy. The velvety smooth swallows had enough of a prickly hop and alcohol bite to them to keep things interesting, but not so much that beer felt dry or astringent. If there is such a thing as perfect balance in mouthfeel, this one had achieved it. The aftertaste was more bitter than sweet, which served the purpose of drawing me in to take the next sip. Drinkability was much better that I was thinking it was going to be.

What a great leap forward for North Carolina! Welcome, northern neighbors to the wider world of beer.

Malty aroma with hint of chocolate. Smooth taste with thick brown head. Nice texture. goes down easy for the alcohol content.

One of the best tasting high gravity beers I’ve tried. Warming and smooth. Aftertaste almost wine-like characteristics.

Good brown color with an oddly bleach white head. Tons of lacing. Slightly smokey with caramelly and chocolate malt smell to it. Hint of bready malt. Sweet dark fruity start. Roasted Starbucks coffee taste follows. Sweet caramel malt blesses the mouth as this beer finishes strong and dry with mostly the caramel taste coming back. The alcohol is extremely well hidden. This is a great beer that I plan on having again.

Bottle-What a way to celebrate the lifing of the 6% cap in NC! Pours a wonderful black with slight reddish tones. The head was a froathy, medium light brown to khaki color. The drink left lacing down the entire length of the glass. Warm chocolate flavor with sweet fruit flavors throughout. The extra alchol just tickles the palate. Wonderful stuff. ashville wine 4.69

A very dark brown Scotch Ale, with a light tan head. Rich and creamy - great, full mouthfeel, with a rich, bitter coffee/chocolate finish. Not too sweet at all. It is very nutty and full-bodied. Very good.