Pelican MacPelicans Scottish Style Ale

Brewed by Pelican Pub & Brewery
Style: Scottish Ale
Pacific City, Oregon USA

I have given only one other complete 5 rating, and it was to Kiwanda Cream Ale by this same brewery. I drove the 20 miles north to The Pelican Pub and Brewery to sample this fine brew that I had heard so much about. Scottish Ales are my most favorite brew style and one taste of this brew proves why I like this style. I had them refill my growler from the tap and also picked up a bottle of this brew to review later. Here is my review: Aroma: Malty Sweetness pours over your senses as you smell the kettle carmelization in this crafted brew. Light smokey and earthy tones rise up from this brew. Apperance: The apperance was a dark copper color with moderate carbonation bubbles present. The head poured at very nice off-white and laced down the glass nicely. Flavor: Hop flavor is low to none. This is the best brew that I have tasted in a long time. It goes down dangerously smooth with a carmelized grace matched with the roasted barley. I really cannot explain into words how great this Scottish Ale is!!! Mouthfeel: Low carbonation makes this a joy to set on your pallet. It is very creamy feeling. It is as if Scottish Highland angels gave you a scottish ale marshmellow to chew on...yummy. Overall: Overall impression is that this is brew is crafted for all those that appreciate brew. Its sweetness mixed with roasty/toasty overtones and not a hint of hops makes this brew go down easy...dangerously easy. The only draw back is not knowing when to stop drinking this damn fine craftbeer. Drink More Beer!!!

I really liked this Scottish Ale very much. This brew is dangerously smooth. I can see why it has won awards at The GABF and NABA awards. I am a fan of this malty style of brew. Quite tastey.

This beer is a Scottish Export by style, and is an exceptional example, but with a PNW twist. Scottish ales tend to be very malty, and this beer has plenty of malt character. It is brewed with Golden Promise, and caramel malts, and is then hopped with locally grown Willamette hops. While not too heavy handed with the hops, MacPelican’s has a touch more than a traditional Scottish Ale giving this beer a little hop bite, which I really enjoyed. At only 4.7% abv, it is the type of beer made for well, drinking. This is the type of beer you will want to have, one, two, three, or four of. A beer meant to be enjoyed with good friends, good food, and good conversation. MacPelican’s Scottish Style Ale pours to a beautiful, bright, caramel color with a nice white head and a moderate amount of carbonation. The nose is very nice with good sweet and caramel malt aroma paired with some grassy hop aroma. The palate is firm and crisp, with good sweet malty flavors, slight toffee flavor, and hints of butter scotch. MacPelican’s finishes with more of those malty flavors up front, then ends with a snappy grassy/herbal hop bitterness that slightly lingers. This was a wonderful session brew that I enjoyed pint after pint of at the pub, and enjoyed a few 22 oz bomber bottles that I took away and brought back to my room. If you ever decided to visit this place, I suggest you do what I did, and stay at the Inn at Cape Kiwanda which is literally located across the street from the brewpub. This beautiful, charming little inn only has ocean view rooms with balconies, and fire places. There is no better way to end a day, than to gaze out from your balcony at Hay Stack Rock and hear and watch the crashing waves of the Pacific on a cool and breezy night with the fire roaring, and a MacPelican in hand. You will take complete comfort in the fact that if you run low on beer, the brewpub is but a 30 yard walk away.

Had this on tap at HotD on July 28th, 2006. Wee Heavy. Dark Brown color. Nice hop aroma. Roasted malt flavor. Very smooth. very balanced.

I thought that this would have a higher rating, given that I thought it was fabulous. A nice malty flavor, with a slightly biting finish. Nice.

Medium amber color, medium head. A light bodied Scottish style ale. Slightly roasted malts and slightly spicy hops. Nice mild malty flavor. Smooth taste. Mouthfeel is full and round. Finish is clean and smooth. Aftertaste is malty and slightly sweet. Etched/Painted Beer bottle.

On tap at the brewpub. Pours clear dark copper with a lacy off-white head. Sweet toffee and caramel nose, and more in the taste. Creamy medium body, fine carbonation. Softly smoky finish.

Had this 22 oz bomber at the Elizabeth Street Inn on the beach at Newport ,Oregon, sitting on the balcony watching the daylight sink below the Pacific ocean on a wonderful warm late October Saturday ( yesterday). In appearance this is a deep dark copper beer with not much of a head but nice lace. Wow a real peaty almost smokey in a Islay Single malt whisky sort of way..intrigueing and very good. After the great smell the taste though ok was a let down some nice smooth malts and a slight smokiness and peat..this is as the bottle said an "Export style" Scottish ale much like the macEwans export I used to drink in Scotland ( perversly its called McEwans IPA now). Sort of thin in the mouth but yet it satisfies. After all this was quite a nice drinkable beer..but dont expect a Scotch ale.