Orkney Red MacGregor (Bottle)

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

As I try to avoid all cliché movie references, I still have visions of Mel Gibson in a kilt with a painted face and bloody axe wielded high as he lets out an enraged and blood-curdling cry. Movie references and spoofs aside, the brewery which has brought me today the Red MacGregor is none other than the Orknay Brewery which produces a divinely intense brew by the name of Skull Splitter. I sense a theme, but it could also just be me. Splitting skulls and kilts included, I am more than ready to dive into my Red MacGregor, a Scottish red ale of what I hope to be delectable proportions.
My Red MacGregor pours a deep burnt red with hints of brown glaring at me from her deepest depths. A huge head rushes to greet me, fading ever so slowly to a rather thick blanket on top. Already impressed just by her pour, I raise my glass to see if her nose is equally so. Sweet toasty malts and toffee, baked bread crust, hints of apples and spice, citric esters, and a dazzling array of lace with each swirl is the greeting I receive. Wow. Without hesitation or fear I delve greedily into her liquid depths and am equally amazed. A very clean mouthfeel with sweet toasted malts right up front. A touch of lemon and citric bite in the finish brings me back for multiple sessions. Toffee and toasted bread along with fresh apples dance merrily along my tastebuds. A very quaffable session Scottish red ale with a low ABV means I could very easily enjoy a couple three of these brews without any trouble. Instead, I verily say it would be two to three times the pleasure and enjoyment. As I finish out my glass, I reminisce fondly of our intimate experience, replete with rich toasty malts, sweet toffee notes, fresh crisp apples and spice and a cleansing bitter lemon finish.
Red MacGregor is living proof that kilted skirts and war-paint wouldn’t stand a chance against the multiple winning combinations of this Scottish red ale. I am in such a sensory nirvana that I really have so little that I can say about this beer other than magnificent. I could have one every day and never grow tired of my Red MacGregor.

Thanks 17thfloor! Pours a dark brown/red color with a small off-white froth. Aroma is sweet and malty with some definite caramel malts playing a big role. A lot of a sugary hard candy. Flavor starts sugary with a nice bit of nuttiness and earthy wood. The bitterness quickly enters the scene and takes over along with some mild fruit notes and bitterness. Medium body and avaerage carbonation. Good ESB but a bit weak in the aroma and quick in the finish.

Deep garnet and brown body that shows copper when held to light. There is a light khaki head on top. The smell is rich caramel with some light milk chocolate. There is also a little bit of tobacco and plums. Rich. The taste is slightly bitter with some leathery goodness and a little bit of oranges. There is also some iced tea. A nicely made brew, but needs a little smoothing.

Thanks to rcasta. Bottle: Powerful aroma hints of a powerful beer. But starts faints almost ’air’ like, the warms and releases stout characteristics, finish just as it starts subtle.

smoky como fumar, muy buena. extrana despues del olor porque no sabe a lo mismo. buena, irlandesa en al casa del aleman

Bottle 500 ML - Clear reddish(ruby) brown ale with medium head that mellowed out to a small tacked lacing throughout. Dark fruits on the nose with a malt hop texture. Floral hops that are mellowed with grain malts keeping a nice carbonation to the finish. Some hop bitterness towards the end keeps the pallet dancing. As it warms it gets even better. Well crafted (small batch) ale, surprised no higher ratings.

Pours a clear red a small frothy off-white head. Sweet fruity aroma, glassy, some fridge. Light floral hop flavor, lightly sweet, very smooth, faint but rich woody toasted malts, quite buttery. Very drinkable. Medium body, very smooth and glassy with soft large-bubble carbonation. I really like this beer.

Amber colour, small white head. Aroma has fruity hops and caramel malts. Flavour has a fresh hoppiness and fruits. Nice bitter finish.