Mc Chouffe

750 ml that says 8.0% abv. Nearly opaque chestnut, with a lasting one-finger cap of sugary foam. Nice mix of sugary frosting and soapy lacing on the glass. Spicy apple and toffee aroma later gives way to some smoky cabbage. Flavors of caramel, apple, raisin, with finishing touches of earthy smoke, alcohol and cocoa for a delicate balance. Almost-medium body is slightly watery but finishes nicely dry with some alcohol warmth.

11.2 ounce bottle in Westmalle chalice. Dark reddish brown with lasting flat head. Spicy earthy farty cherry cough syrup aroma. Flavors dominated by spice earth brown sugar cough syrup with cloying sweet finish. Medium-full body and medium carbo. A whole lotta flavor, not all of it good.

Pours a very dark murky brown with a a small fine beige head. Sweet fruity aroma, dark fruits, wet hay, some yeast, something sour, raisins and a touch of smoke. Interesting flavor, sweet dark fruits, raisins, a touch of chocolate, doughy, toffee, buttery, vinous/nutty, lots of candi sugar. A bit too much for me... needs more focus, too sweet. Medium/light watery body with ample sizzling fluffy carbonation. Weak finish.

Mmmmmmm Dark and funky. A clean cherryness to the malt with a bit of chocolate undertones. Very Belgium for a Scotch ale...a winning combination! Unbelievably smooth, and that 8.5% abv is completely undetectable. Dark as night but if you get some light behind it, it glows red. Very good.

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.