Orkney Red MacGregor (Bottle)

Brewed by Orkney (Sinclair Breweries)
Style: Premium Bitter/ESB
Stromness, Orkney, Highlands & Islands, Scotland

Poured with a large fluffy beige head on a dark brown slightly opaque fluid. Some smoky earthy aroma that seems ever present in all beers from Scotland (well, at least the few I’ve had!!). Some slight bitterness, but it’s still a little reserved on tasting. Nice carbonation provides a bit of a buzz, but it’s a bit thin. Enjoyable and easy drinking though. (Thanks to highlandlad)

Dark reddish -brown with a huge frothy white head that lasted well. Caramel malt aroma was followed by an intensely sweet malty taste with enough bitterness to satisfy. Good.

The Orkney brewery was one of the first and best of the new breed of Scottish breweries. These days it seems every other island and highland town has a spanking new microbrewery, but quality is very variable. Orkney, however, has been consistently good, and its clever branding has turned it into a true local success story to rank alongside the wonderful Highland Park whisky. (A dram of that would pair well with this ale, I’ll wager.) The Red MacGregor has the ruddy complexion implied in the name and poured with a grand souffle head that stood its ground well and laced as you supped. The brewery does a nice line in smoky flavours and aromas - most likely roast barley, as peat-smoked malts are a lot less common than is sometimes assumed. This one has an aroma like raisins soaked in port and brought to a rolling boil over a peat fire. It’s earthy, like fresh-turned loam. The body is slim to medium in the premium bitter style - just enough muscle for these rich flavours. There is some chewy toffee and raisiny fruit in a generally sweet flavour-mix, smoky notes and an ashy, dry finish. Bitterness is low, as is the Scottish style, but this is a full-flavoured ale. It’s a little too sweet for my taste and became cloying near the foot of the glass. But it’s archetypically Scottish. Another solid brew from a fine brewery. Can they repeat the feat with the new lager due on October 25th? (500ml bottle from Purvis Cellars, Melbourne; best before Sep 2007)

Poured a clear light ruby color, with a lasting tan head. Aroma has a lot of caramel in it along with some flowery hops and a light peat character. Flavor is toffee and caramel up front following into a pleasant mix of floral hops and peat. Body is full and has a thick mouthfell. Definately different but very enjoyable.

Bottled. Lot of carmel and malt flavor, crisp for a red.Good bit of hop. This would go great with a barbeque outdoor chilling out with friends and burgers!

Bottle. Strong hops and malt aroma. Medium amber color with moderate head. Slightly sweet malt and nutty flavor with a moderate hops finish. Great beer smell and taste with no adjuncts - a nicely made beer.

Bottle. Clear dark brown color with a large light brown headt that diminished slowly with good lacing. Moderate sweet hoppy aroma. Medium body with a sticky texture. Medium sweet roasted flavor with a smoot toasted bitter finish of average duration. Solid drinkable flavorful brew.

Bottled. Copper-colored with a nice beige head, and no carbonation. Piney hops, Cascade?, and some spicyness in the aroma. It has a weak, but nice citrus flavor and bitterness. Chalky mouthfeel and a bitter finish. (060428)