Traquair Jacobite Ale

Brewed by Traquair
Style: Traditional Ale
Innerleithen, Borders, Scotland

The pour was clear and mostly brown with some lighter hints at red. A short off-white head popped up and produced streaks of lacing. The aroma was very nice and quite diverse. Light spice, tart fruit, thin coffee, hops, floral notes. The flavor was nice too. Light pine and floral hops, light tart fruit like a pear or an granny smith apple, thin caramel and spice. Almost a watery mouthfeel but not in a negative way. It was insanely drinkable. Very enjoyable.

Best by June 2017. A deep but clear dark brown ale with a quick thin dirty white head that leaves a nice ring. Fantastic aroma, floral, spicy, soapy, lemon, and even light peaty blueberry notes. Taste is more earthy peat, berries and a light pine spiciness.

Again, I write the disclaimer...I’m a big sucker for "traditional ales", or recreations of older beer recipes from throughout history. Thus my rating of this beer would reflect that. With that said, this is a GREAT beer, very enjoyable in its own right. The Appearance is a dark chocolate/caramel brown, with a 1-finger tan head, not much lacing. The aroma was amazing; a mix of sweet caramel malts and fruit. There’s a slight bit of spicyness thrown in. The flavor is much like the aroma. This beer reminded me more of an English porter than a scotch ale. The flavor was sweet malts, chocolate, and included a piney flavor, as well as a slightly spicy quality. The mouthfeel is thick, and enjoyable. The finish has a sweetness well balanced by hops and other spices. Great beer overall.

Pours the deepest mahogany, almost opaque into the glass, with ruby hues to the fringes. A minimal tan head appears, but diminishes soon thereafter. The nose is very vinous, reminiscent of dessert wines (spot on for muscat / niagra grapes). The flavor is similarly dry, with hints at a cab sav wine, earthy fruits, with some oak-aged tannins, spices and woody licorice to finish off the pull. Although the texture is smooth and the mouthfeel slick, this is a complex brew, almost as a an appreciation of the wine aficionado. Opinion of the style aside, this is definitely appreciated for the offering. Kudos for the unique take on this ale... sommeliers are sure to be delighted!

Trade with nearbeer. Bottled 33cl. It pours a very dark beer with a small beige head. The nose is of plum, nutmeg, banana, pumpernickel, coconut, smoke, coriander, malt, Cadbury’s chocolate, toffee and roasted malt. Extremely pleasant, complex and distinct. Sweet malty taste of Cadbury’s chocolate, coriander, coconut and pumpernickel. Not much lacework. Lovely hints of molasses and ginger appearing. Some alcohol shwowing up with the swallow leaving hints of fennel. Some marmite and vitamin tablets in the finish. A bit dissapointing towards the end. Thanks a lot nearbeer for this beer!

33 cl bottle. Dark brown color, moderate beige head. Aroma is caramel, wood and malt. Flavor is lovely sweetness, caramel, roasted malt, spices, dried fruit and a hint of liqorice in the finish. Very nice.

Bottle@Home. Very complex aroma, sweet, vanilla, pear, laurel, licorice and cinnamon. Not unbalanced but too much on the sweet side. Very dark brown color, light brown small head, good lace. Sweet, bitter, licorice, vanilla, lightly roasted, hint of chocolate. Strange moving mouthfeel between thin and full, soft overall. I was expecting much more. Out of balance in the flavor, too much on the sweet spice side.

V - thin film of a head, nearly black hue, dark ruby 4 A - Unique aroma, blend of hops and grasses with a black licorice molasses syrup quality; barley 8 T - high in barley with a a heather-y P - dry O - very pleasant