Oso Black Scotch Ale

Brewed by Oso Brewing Company
Style: Scotch Ale
Plover, Wisconsin USA

12oz bottle from a trade awhile back... pours a dark reddish cola brown with lighter edges and a thin frothy creamy head... aroma of caramel, tobacco, and light smoke... flavors are somewhat sour upfront with a peat and smoke presence. sweet through the middle and then back to the aforementioned subtle sourness. thin to medium bodied with a light to mediocre carbonation level.

Tastes more like a smoked porter. Pours dark ,l can’t see thru, thick off-white head, some dark residue at the end of the pour. Subtle smoke and roasted aromas, porter-like aroma. Up front smoked malt flavor, subtle malt sweetness, no hops flavors. Medium body. I like it, but I think it is a smoked porter.

Murky mahogany with a medium tan head. Aroma of toffee, grains, malt and mild peat. Taste of toffee, smoked malt with a touch of sweetly smoked meat and some mild earthy hops. Finishes up moderately dry with a touch of smoked meat. Overall, not too bad, one of their better offerings.

Bottle: Pours a transparent dark mahogany with a small ring of light tan head. Aroma of lightly sweet dark caramel malt and some earthy almost vegetal peaty notes with a hint of tartness. Taste is more rewarding than the nose with a good rich smoky peatiness and some mild dark caramel sweetness before a drier, semi-tart finish. Decent attempt at the style, but would be better with more sweetness and less tartness.

11/02/2009: O’so Black Scotch... Aroma: Roasted malts; dirty chocolate; oily, lightly roasted coffee beans. Appearance: Dark tawny color, murky, with a dense, rocky, beige to tan-colored head that is about two inches deep, steady, and long lasting; puffy ring-like lacing. Flavor: Roasty caramelized malt (somewhat grainy), thin molasses, hints of sour chocolate; crisp, earthy and grassy hops in the moderately dry finish accompanied by a decent bitterness; no smoke or peat in the flavor. Palate: Medium to medium-full body; smooth and slightly thick; very milkd carbonation. Overall: A decent and somewhat interesting beer, but not really a Scotch Ale in my book.

12 fl. oz. bottle from Skyview via trade. Thanks Bob! Rating #20 for this beer.

On tap at Club Tavern in Menasha, WI. Pour was deep brown/black with a light chocolate and caramel aroma. Flavor was nice and mellow with a nice balance of caramel, heavy roasted malts, and a bit of smoke. Nice brew. I would drink again.

12oz bottle by way of Skyview – thanks Bob! Pours murky reddish brown with a one finger grayish tan head. The nose is smoky peat and malt. The taste and mouthfeel is just like split pea soup with some baker’s chocolate mixed in. Interesting beer!