MacAndrews Stock Ale

Brewed by Samuel Smith
Style: Scotch Ale
Tadcaster, England

So hard to say anything against this as I stare at the pooch on the label and think of Asta, if the Thin Man ever meant anything to you. I lkee this yar beer. Perhaps a tad sweet, but there’s so much more going on that melds with the sweetness. Tartness that I can never quite describe. SO I won’t. I’ll just say I like it.

when i first joined ratebeer, i listed 'scotch ale' as my chosen favorite style-- and this beer alone comprised the reason. with the move to samuel smith, it became very scarce, and thus i haven't had it in years until tonight. i myself have moved on-- on to favoring the stronger styles, yet this one remains indeed a great friend. it's a dense pour of osage orange-- ruddy copper tones as thick as carrot cake. an oat colored froth covers the top of the brew with loyal vigilance. an enormous aroma of peat and hearty burgundy, of musty old bookstore leather, raisins, scotch and vanilla soaked fruit cake. a charming libation to sip, this old dog, the scotch flavors permeate the earthy malts-- malts that seem to nearly creak with antiquity: old cellars, parchment, cracked steamer trunks and cobwebs. the bitterness seems to derive from a sour tincture of sugar maple roots, with a chocolate cherry liquer and praline sweetness. okay-- perhaps it's a trifle too sweet, like the maudlin notes of some silly old love song; but i'll honor it still, to emulate the fedelity of that noble terrier, the memory of near perfection is hereby enshrined.

Toffee!!! In the aroma, in the flavor! Sure, there are other malt flavors and the hops are subdued but I've seldom found a beer that embodies a single character as well as this.

Color is a deep amber/copper with a nice frothy, creamy head that goes absolutely nowhere. Then there's the lace, very nice sheeting effect that clinges forever. In most sips, the lace stacked up on top of lace already there like layers of paint. Smell is faintly sweet malt close to a toffee but more caramelness then anything, very soft and warm. Taste is sweet caramel malt, slightly bitter, and a balanced in hop that hints nicely over the top giving a fruity/citrus note thats very subtle and super interesting lending the feel with a long lasting bitter drying effect that smacks of warming alcohol. Not overpowering though, its a sneaker with its nice welcoming malt and then earns your respect as it goes complex in its subtle ending. One heck of a keeper. I always pick up two or three singles of these when ever I see em, which is sporactic at best. I also just love the label, it's a classy Scottish green with a yellow banner sporting the name and a Black Scottish Terrier with a innocent look on its face saying "please drink me, I'm oh so good."

Nice and malty, with a slight bready flavor. Palate is definitely chewy. I didn't detect and smokiness or peaty flavor, but it was definitely good stuff. I think mine was a little bit old, but it was still worth buying.

A Scotch ale from Samuel Smith, it must be good. This ale pours a deep, reddish brown color with a small, mostly diminishing white head. The aroma is malty and slightly fruity with a light, strange sourness. Medium body with light carbonation, the flavor is malty up front with a some fruity raisons and sour cherry notes. The finish is lingering and sweet with a touch of hops and smokiness. Very nice Scotch ale, not quite as smokey and tasty as some other examples, but still very nice indeed.

Heavy malt presence without an overpowering syrupy sweetness. I good example of this style

Dark bright copper appearance. Organic malt and candyish hops in the nose. Bittersweet hops in the body with a touch of alcohol and roast to finish it off. Blends together nicely.