Mc Chouffe

Tasted 22/08/2008. 750ml bottle from Regionals, with Steve, on the occasion of his 45th. Red-to-ox-blood, slight hazy, with a diminishing light tan head. Spicy nose with Mackintosh’s caramel toffee and resiny toffee (toffee apples). Resiny toffee note continues in the mouth, with a hint of candy-like malt sweetness and a pleasant woody spice in the herbal hop finish. Very nice. More please.

750 ml. Reddish-brown, bourbon, color with a soapy white head. Toasty and sweet nose - malty with a touch of resin. Overripe fruit (pears, apricots), some alcohol. Flavor is smooth, but less complex. Slightly metallic finish. Nutty, highly effervescent. A clearly belgian twist on a Scotch Ale.

RateBeer Rating, Style and Glass: 93, Scotch Ale, Thistle ABV, Volume & Calories: 8.5 % in 11.2 fl oz. estimated at 200 C Purchased at: Canal’s, Lawrenceville, NJ for $4.29 Aroma: typical brown ale scent. 7 out of 10. Visuals: deep, brown, red, cloudy, light head, nice lace. 4 out of 5. Taste: special, fruity, nice, sparkling fruit juice, some bitterness, dry. 10 out of 10. Palate: dry, terrycloth, fruity, bitter finish. 4 out of 5. Overall: Very much like seltzer and fruit juice. Refreshing. I like it, but it’s way too expensive. Not a favorite, but well crafted. 16 out of 20.

Bottle: Pours a nice rusty maroon color with a dense, creamy tan head. The aroma has great malt character with notes of toffee, fig, lots of plummy character and just the slightest earthy touch. Great creamy body. The flavor has some toasted toffee, cocoa, plummy notes, some grape like fruitiness, some warming/pleasant booze like qualities, yet it remains balanced with a toasted residual Belgian malt note into the finish. Nice stuff, and a nice Belgian-style interpretation of a Scotch Ale.

Bottled 75cl. Spicy nose with hints of alcohol and metal. Malty metallic taste with hints of spices and soap. Buttery. Unpleasant finish.