Traquair House Ale

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

330ml bought at Happy Harrys in Grand Forks Pleasant aroma, smooth taste with light oak impressions, clean finish

33 cl bottle, Fargo, ND, USA. Deep brown colour, translucent. Sweet spiced malt aroma, medium body, definite fruit pudding characteristics. Very little alcohol presence for such a strong beer, sweet mellow finish with a faint burn at the end.

Bottle. Dark brown with a short lasting yellowish head. Spicy malty aroma. Tastes of malt,licorice and a little smoke.

Bottle. Apperance; dark brown, clear with a medium white head. Aroma; not too much, light fruits and malt. Medium bitter at the end

As I continue my great beer journey, I find before myself another one of my early beer experiences, the Traquair House Ale. I don’t remember much about when I first had it a few years ago, but I do remember that I really enjoyed it.

Her body sits royally in my glass with luxurious burnt copper and deep garnet hues topped by a delicate head. She fades lazily into scattered pockets of little to big bubbles. No discernable lace yet, but a couple tender swirls prompt an immediate lacework to adorn the sides of my glass. Intrigued, I raise her inviting depths to my nose for a kiss of bright, sweet rum notes marked by wood, apples, plums, raisins, prunes, vanilla, fig, winter spices, brown sugar and maple. Suffice to say, an amazingly rich and complex bouquet of epic proportions. Any self-control I had flies out the window. Frothy and soft with a very pleasing mouthfeel. The sweetness of her palate is subtle, making way for a perfect balance of spices, plums, prunes, and raisins while apples and lemons linger in a faintly dry finish. Brown sugars along with fresh breads such as rye and pumpernickel bring it all together. A growing warmth pervades my body with each mouth-watering quaff while a hint of bitter nuts sneak into the finish. Beautiful. I couldn’t ask for anything more. Traquair House Ale is refreshing, revitalizing, rich with dark fruits and sugars, warm with pleasing alcohol notes, and everything that my heart desires.

I must say that my memory really didn’t serve me best when it comes to the Traquair House Ale. It isn’t as good as I remember it being, but instead far better than anything I could have ever imagined. She is quite simply one of the best Scottish ales out there with the long-standing history to prove it. Run, don’t walk to your nearest liquor or beer store and discover the magic.

Bottle. Poured dark barley, slightly garnet, with amber edges and thin white head. Aroma was woody, licorice root, strong maltiness, and chocolatey scotch. Flavor was smokey peat, oak, vanilla, port, raisins, licorice root, very strong malt, a little caramel and a little chocolate, and a strong peaty finish . Palate was a little heavy but very enjoyable and ended with a little burn atop the tongue. Very enjoyable.

A 0.33L bottle tasted at Olutkellari Helsinki. Soft syropy nose. Dark reddish brown colour. Pale beige head. Soft syropy and malty taste. Also some hints of licorice and raisins in the taste.

Bottle from Mort Subite, Altrincham. Rich red/brown with generous tan head that fades a little but leaves pleasant lacing. Rich, complex aroma with butterscotch, liquorice, spice, alcohol, malt and fruit all coming through. Roast malt flavours with more butterscotch/liquorice and a beautiful touch of coffee and chocolate. A touch of hops lead to a drawn out, bitter finish. Surprisingly low carbonation gives a wonderful smooth palate. One of the very, very best.