Trinidad Wee Heavy Lassie Scottish Strong Ale

Batch 52. Brewed 06-08. Pours a mostly clear, dark garnet color with a mostly full, fizzy, beige head which is mostly diminishing and leaves no lace. Nose is spicy aclcohol, toasted caramel, raisin, bread crust, light chocolate, and hints at wood. Flavor is similar with caramel, brown sugar, light raisin, light nutty notes, light chocolate, and some toasty woods. Palate is more than medium, very lively, chewy, but almost watery near the finish. Finishes light;y dry and sweet with some mild, earthy bitterness; notes of caramel, brown sugar, faint wood notes, and faint alcohol. My first from Trinidad, and certainly mixed feelings. Lots of nice malt tones in the nose and flavor, but the other notes really lack and that depreciates from the quality of the beer.

Originally sampled at ’08 BSAF. Resampled from bomber. Batch #44 May 1, ’08. bottle has oak aged written on the label.<P> Beer is clear, dark-hued brown. Head is small, off-white, frothy; mostly and quickly diminishing but ultimately lasting..<P>Aroma is malty with moderate/heavy notes of toasted grain, caramel, cookie, lighter note of chocolate; Hoppy with moderate note of resin, lighter notes of lemon zest, tea and tree sap; Light yeasty note of cellar; Moderate alcohol note; Light woody vanilla note.<P>The flavor is moderately sweet, light/moderately bitter with a long, light sweet, lightly acidic, moderately bitter finish.<P>The body is medium, the texture is watery and the carbonation is average.

22 oz bottle, batch 44 May 08, with "Oak Aged" in black marker on the label. Pours reddish brown with a creamy light tan head that retains fairly well and laces the glass.

The aroma is sweet caramel malts, dark fruits and some sharp alcohol. Oak comes out as it warms.

The flavor is more subdued than I expected (not necessarily bad) - sweet sugary caramel malts, some cola, vanilla and fruits with enough hops for a nice dry finish, with a little slightly charred bourbon. The alcohol is well hidden. The mouthfeel is medium bodied with low carbonation and is slightly watery.

Overall, a nice surprise. This is an easy drinking big beer and is pretty well done. It’s easily the best I’ve had from Trinidad.

On tap @ Boulder Strong Ale Fest poured a clear dark copper with a minimal lingering ring of amber foam. Aromas of bourbon, burnt carmel, vanilla and a hint of cocoa. Palate was medium bodied and smooth. Flavors of carmel, light bourbon and light oak with a smooth lingering bitter finish.