Moylans Kilt Lifter Scotch Ale

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

Bottle. Dammit why does my first rating in forever have to be right after MartinT? No one’s ratings are better than his. Somewhat sweet, a little metallic in the flavor. Doesn’t seem very strong and the mouthfeel could be firmer. Some caramel in the taste, quiet finish.

My Bottom Line:
Roasted red peppers and anemic fruity caramel are not signs of a well-designed or healthy Scotch Ale. This is definitely not the kind of quality I expect from Moylan’s, so I hope to try again soon.

Further Personal Perceptions:
-Alcohol is not a bother in the flavor profile.
-Sesame protrudes in the aroma, weirdly enough.
-The body is so thin for the style...there is a distinct lack of caramelization.
-After reading the commercial description, I can only imagine I got a bad bottle because what I tasted could not have been further from what they are selling on the label.

Bottle.

Poured like a brown ale, thin head, cloudy & red at refrigerated temperature (probably clear at slightly higher temp). Pleasant aroma of honey and malt (thistle style glass is a good recommendation here). Flavor, however, was rather simple with an almost cloying sweetness. Medium-bodied mouthfeel. Pleasant alcohol aftertaste. Good dessert or wintertime ale, but needs more bittering hops, in my opinion. I’ll rate this again if a higher temperature improves the complexity, but I don’t think ’enhancing rich malt flavors’ will improve the balance here.

Slightly hazy red-brown color with a thick head that disappears quickly and leaves no lace. Aroma is kinda funky smokey/herbal caramel with a hint of compost. There is just enough flavor here to get by. Smokey caramel, and no complexity at all. Palate is watery. Overall, this is not subtle, or complex, but it is still drinkable.

Draught at Cap Ale. Rich ruby amber color, medium off white head. Smoky, caramel aroma, typical scottish ale smells. Dark malt flavor, caramelized, bittter, a bit one dimensional. Somewhat of a slight lagerlike character. A bit dissappointing.

On tap at Capital Ale House - Downtown. Slightly hazy dark copper body with a small off-white head. Sweet caramel and nutty aroma. Very nutty flavor, some caramel and roasted malts. Medium full body with moderately low carbonation and a smooth but slightly sticky nutty finish. Menu listed this as 9.5%.

Shared with Maniac off taps Capital Ale House. Somewhat clear amber/orange with malty and very nutty aroma with some spicey hop notes. Medium mouthfeel with a grainy nutty flavor that includes some roast and caramel malts and some fruity spiced yeast character. Finish is somewhat sweet with some lingering spicey hop notes and alchohol warming.

On tap at D’s in Monroeville. Pours a deep red / amber with a thick eggshell colored head. The aroma is malty raspberries and brown sugar. The flavor is a solid caramel malt with a bit of bitter spice to it. A little bit of an oaky roasted characteristic. Very Scotch. A really smooth silky mouthfeel. Not too heavy and pretty well balanced.