Ste. Andre Dougs Scotch Ale

Formerly brewed at Stratford Brewing Company
Style: Scotch Ale
Stratford, Canada

Certainly much better than the original viennA lager. A nice sudsy sweet smoky brew with a medium body, a moderate breadiness and some foamy goodness. I approve!

Cloudy, dark brown w/ sudsy light tan foam. Sweet, malty aroma of brown sugar w/ a light smokiness & some woody vanilla. Light-medium feel w/ very low carbonation. Flavour is predominately sweet & malty w/ very little complexity.

I had this at the Volo Cask fest, Oct. 22, 2005. Brewed by Doug Pengelly, founder of Saint André Brewing. He has worked for Upper Canada, C’est What (brewpub), and graduated from the master brewers program at UC Davis. He currently has his Vienna lager brewed at Cool Brewing, Burlington, Ontario. As far as I know this was a one-off, but I wouldn’t be suprised if it becomes available. F: Sweet and syrupy, with a deep, complex maltyness. Unfortunately, it did seem a little green (young)... with a little time, it’d probably be a little more rounded/integrated, and not quite as sweet. Some underlying alcholic-warmth, but very well hidden. P: Moderate to heavy body, syrupy. O: Big & bold, but I found it a little rough around the edges, and not an easy drinker.

I had this on the second day of the cask festival and was assured that this was a different keg. I was also told that it was better the day before. Pours cloudy brown with a nose of charred cocoa and light alcohol. Watery and sweet, earthy mushrooms. Sour milk. I think it was off, but everyone else thought it was great.

cask. brownish-mahogany with a bready white head. aroma is nice - mild light caramel sweetness and yeasty bread notes. the flavour is much of the same bread with sweet caramel and butterscotch, yeast, and light alcohol. very quaffable.

At Volo Cask Days. Sweet malt and sugar in the aroma, cloudy brown, smallest of tan heads. Taste is light malt, soft hops. Light bodied, nice mouthfeel, you’d never know it was 7 %. Fine.

Cask at Bar Volo’s Cask Days 2005. Pours a murky dark brown with a small frothy light-brown head. Nice aroma of roasted malt and vanilla. Flavour of roasted malt, nuts and light hops was very fresh and flavourful. I could not taste or feel the 7%, you would never know the alcohol content was that high. One of the better surprises of the day -- well done.

Volo Cask Days 2005. Deep dark brown pour. Smokey malt taste, excellent. Taste is really nutty with a hint of smoke and touch of lingering bitterness. A fruity element to it as well. 7%? Hmm, really hid it well. A true session classic and one of the best of the fest, nice job Stratford!