Thunderhead 85 Shilling Regimental Scottish Ale

Brewed by Thunderhead Brewing Company
Style: Scottish Ale
Kearney, Nebraska USA

On tap @ the brewpub. Same beer, new name--it?s the Ian MacTawisch Scottish Ale. Dark brown with a short-lived beige head. Aroma has chocolate and roast domianting. There is some light dark fruits behind with a slight tang. The flavor adds some caramel and toasted malts, with slight smoky and notes--could it be the Quasia wood they used? The finish is semi-dry, a little burnt with bitterness at a 2. Light prickly carbonation with a medium body. Not really on-style to me--more stouty than anything. That said, not outstanding.

Draft at the brewery. Dark purple brown with little head, looks still, but has some rough, deep carbonation... comes across like a wee heavy, high gravity and thick and musty, with a peppery plum and wood flavor throughout. Rich and flavorfull, but not exactly put together well. Charred wood contrasts with the sweeter plum and brown sugar notes... interesting for sure, but the meaty plum flavors don’t exactly work for me.

Draught at brewpub. Very dark brown with almost no head. Aroma is coffee and sweet. Flavor is roasted and nutty, but also has some sour notes. Not what I think of when I think of a scottish beer (in my humble opinion, Thunderhead beers are almost always a surprise). Palate is thin, but almost without carbonation. Just okay.

On draft at the Chicken Coop in Grand Island, Nebraska. Came a dark brown color with a moderate light brown head that left minimal lacing. Nose was dark malt with chocolate and some coffee. A very rich mouthfeel. Flavor is nutty as well wtih a touch of smoke. Overall I liked it a lot.

Had a growler of this. Dark brown with a little tan head. Aroma is coffee and chocolate. Flavor is nutty, sour, some chocolate and roast. This tasted like a stout mixed with a flemish sour.

On tap at Crescent Moon Alehouse in Omaha, 2/4/06: Dark black with virtually no head and little aroma. I enjoyed the flavors at least ... sweet malt with a hint of smoke. Smooth and yummy. Is a bit thin and flat, however.

On tap at the Thunderhead Chicken Coop location in Grand Island. Dark brown, nearly black with no head at all. Has a milk aroma. Very very roasted flavor. Does not seem to be true to the style. The milky sourness is nice- malty yet light in body. Rich roasted flavor dominates. A very flat beer- almost no carbonation. Palate is thin.