Traquair House Ale

Brewed by Traquair
Style: English Strong Ale
Innerleithen, Borders, Scotland

(330 ml bottle) I’ve had this beer cellaring for so long, I wasn’t even keeping records back then for where I bought it. Based on that, plus the thick layer of dust, I’m guessing it’s a few years old, at least. Barely a hiss when opening the bottle, the beer pours a very muddy, somewhat translucent, light brown color, topped by a small, beige filmy head. The aroma is earthy, malty and fruity, but surprisingly it’s also a bit alcoholic. Lots of: earth, wood, raisins, prunes, chocolate (!), coffee, yeast, and even a bit of smoke in this beer; it actually reminds like Raisinettes (that’s the box of chocolate-covered raisins you can buy at most movie theaters, right?). Full bodied but definitely not syrupy or heavy. Carbonation is light-to-medium. Is this really filtered? For a filtered beer, the beer is surprisingly cloudy and there is an awful lot of gunk lining the bottom of the bottle. A superb beer that I think would be awesome to have a rotation scheme going where you buy a new bottle every few months until you have 10 to 12, and then drink the oldest bottle. Not as breathtakingly incredible as their Jakobite Ale to me, but still a wonderful beer.

12 oz bottle. Clear brown color with thin light tan head that left a thin lace on the side of the glass. Smells of apples, plums, caramel, and light sprucy hops. Smooth and medium bodied. Pleasant malty caramel flavor with a touch of alcohol at the end.

A great Scottish Ale. Deep brown in colour with good carbonation, although the head disappears quickly after the pour. A nice malty character with a hint of fruit. If you want a good Scottish beer give this one a try.

[Bottle - Liquid Solutions] A dark brown ale with a light head. Has a roasty aroma with a deep malt flavor and smell. Loved the fruit essencs I can get from the aroma and flavor. a good beer this had some great flavors.

A dark walnut brown pour with a very slight tan head. Roast caramel aroma and some mild malt and dark fruit. Taste is, again, roast caramel and some dark fruit. Palate is exceptionally smooth, outstanding. Overall an unoffensive ale that has broad appeal.

Color is a cloudy, dark amber/brown. Moderate off white head with some very nice lacing. Earthy, dry aroma with roasted grains and a faint hint of dark chocolate. Dry, and hoppy flavor with some smoke. I expected a little bit of a stronger flavor. Finish is clean and creamy with a slight bitterness. A good scotch ale but their are better.

Bott. Flattish semi-opaque brown brew. rank. strong coriander suge aroma. plenty of licorice. dead palate - damn flat - dry.

I strongly associate the Jacobite with our trip to Hawaii last winter, and I loved that beer. I would really love to love this one too, but it’s just not happening. It’s not bad, but I’m not feeling it.<P>Beer is a very dark red-brown color with a small, frothy, white, mostly diminishing head.<P>Aroma is malty with moderate notes of roasted grain, light notes of cookie and chocolate; yeasty with moderate notes of dough, sharp cheese and wet cement; light miscellaneous note of sherry-like oxidation (no real way to gauge the age of the bottle).<P>The flavor is lightly sweet, moderately bitter, lightly acidic with a long, warm, lightly acidic/tangy, lightly bitter finish.<P>The body is medium, the texture is velvety and the carbonation is lively.