Moylans Kilt Lifter Scotch Ale

Brewed by Moylans Brewery & Restaurant
Style: Scotch Ale
Novato, California USA

Thanks to Ezra for sharing this bottle at his Scotch tasting. Poured a deep brown mildly chestnut hue with a thin taupe head. Satisfyingly smoky and rich. Malt driven and wonderfully flavorsome.

This scotch-style ale pours a slightly hazy, orange-amber color with a whipped cream-like head of pale tan that is persistent. Sheets of lacing stick to the inner rim of the glassware as the head of foam slowly subsides. The nose betrays what makes this beer interesting - there is a subtle earthiness that leaves a slight twang in the nose, not unlike a single-malt scotch whiskey. Dancing around the base of roasted caramel malt and delicate fruitiness from the yeast, the distinct aroma of peat is revealed. The palate is likewise interesting, yet somewhat lighter and thinner than I’d hoped for. A decent backbone of roasted malts intermingle with the earthy peat notes you’d expect from a scotch ale/wee heavy. There is a faint astringency present here as well, lending to the dry character of this beer. Dryer than what I’ve come to expect for the style as well. Only light bitterness and virtually no detectable alcohol despite the 8% ABV. In flavor, this beer has more in common with a Scottish ale than it does with a Scotch ale, to my taste. My biggest knock on this beer is it’s relatively thin mouth feel and slight over-carbonation. These don’t combine to make a bad beer, by any means, but they do make this particular beer deviate from the style parameters somewhat. I’d suggest letting this one warm to cellar/ambient temperature before drinking, as this seems to help round the beer out just a bit. Over all, an enjoyable ’’scotch light’’ ale. If you’re not accustomed to tasting peat in a beer, this is a good place to start since the peat character is kept subdued. Worth a try, for sure.

I was hoping for a big, sweet vinous scotch ale. This is not a bad beer, but it is nothing like that. Quite dry with earth and abundant peat. Dry malt, light smoke, surprisingly hot pepper,

Deep cloudy copper/amber color with a thin off white head. Very sweet aroma, toffee and caramel taste with a hint of spice. Has a nice rich toasted flavor with a smooth and sweet finish.

Thin head that rapidly becomes non-existent. Amber (dark) in color. Caramel, toffee, smokey, medium sweetness but finishes with a nice bitterness.

Served from 22-oz bomber during ABR ’08 in Minneapolis, MN. Pours a semi-hazy copper amber brew with a thin off-white head that quickly dissipates to a thin ring. Aroma of caramel malt, a touch of smoked peat, and some toffee. Taste is medium bodied, with flavors of toasted dark malt, toffee, some iced tea and a hint of butter. Finish is semi-sweet with a short lived bitterness that quickly disappears. Nice alcohol warmth too.

ABR 2008. Aroma is caramel, toffee, and smokey malt. Flavor is a little bland with a bit of lingering biterness.

Thin head of fine bubbles. Does not last long. Sweet malty aroma with some caramel, a bit of smoke and some earthy notes. Color is a dark mahagony brown with a hint of red. Slicky malty flavor with some vegetal notes, a bit of spice (nutmeg) and some peaty notes. Not a great scotch ale. Finishes kind of slick and grainy. Weird. Lingering malts and vegetal notes. Not too bad but there are many better.