Sierra Nevada Barrel Aged Scotch Ale

Brewed by Sierra Nevada Brewing Company
Style: Scotch Ale
Chico, California USA

Cask at the Blind Tiger. This one wins my Beer of the Month — August 2009 award. First off, the pour on this was marvelous, especially from a cask, with a wonderful, billowing head and perfect carbonation and lacing all around. The aroma combines a late autumn nuttiness with fresh, sweet spring flowers, while remaining refreshingly dry and never too sweet. Pillowy, chalky body, with a nutty, mild malt flavor sprinkled with a perfect amount of oak barrel and vanilla. The flavors have meshed wonderfully in the aging process and the barrel lent wonderful complexity without ever becoming overbearing. Excellent.

Draft at Bisto BA Fest, this was aged in a Glengoyne Scotch barrel. Very pleasant sweet / peaty scotch aroma which reminded me of some of the BA Brewdog beers. Flavor is sweet, with vanilla and soft cherry. Very delicious beer and my favorite of the day.

Cask at Blind Tiger. Deep brown pour with a nice creamy thin tan head. The nose is impressive with loads of soft oaky vanillla character. A little bit of light fruit and a fairly vineous sweetness. Lovely balance with the sweet, light fruity malts integrating nicely with the herbal/spicy oak components. A little hint of bittersweet cocoa and a touch of lingering spice on the back that gives it a nice lingering finish. The oak makes a huge contribution in terms of flavour, but yet the beer doesn’t clobber the other components. Really subtle, and very well-crafted beer.

Sampled at the Denver rare beer tasting at Wynkoop. Nice dark brown. Very malty and sweet and whisky nose. Taste comes off very full malts and a nice whisky background. Smooth and would make a nice winter warmer. Very good beer.

Draft sample at The Denver Rare Beer Tasting event during GABF week on 9/25/09. pours a deep amber with a tan head... lots of sweet malt and a touch of vanilla on the nose... medium body... some whiskey notes come through on the finish... overall I was expecting more from this one... left me a bit empty.

Name: Scotch Ale, Barrel Aged
Date: 11/30/2007
Mode: Draft
Source: Tasting, Strong Ale Fest

clear dark ruby red, wispy beige head, drippy streaks of lace, sweet malty aroma with a touch of smokey, rich sweet dark caramel malt flavor, nice candy sweetness, the bourbon and vanilla brings out even more sweetness, light earthy character,

Aroma: 7/10; Appearance: 7/10; Flavor: 8/10; Palate: 7/10; Overall: 17/20
Rating: 4/5.0
Drinkability: 8/10
Score: ***+/4

Tap at the Bistro BA fest. Poured dark reddish brown with tan bubbles. Medium plus body with creamy carbonation. Rather cola flavor. Extremely smooth. Sweet finish. Scotch? Sure.

2007 PP Strong Ale Fest: Poured a clear dark amber color with an off-white head. The aroma was malty with sweet sugar and vanilla notes. Malty flavor with notes of toffee, bourbon and vanilla. Mildly bitter semi-dry finish. Medium-full body.