Hop Scotch - Saugatuck Brewing Company

TMoney2591

Illinois

3.84/5  rDev +10.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Served in a Lagunitas mason jar.

Just when I thought they'd used up all the hop puns... Anyway, this stuff pours a clear sunset garnet-topaz topped by a finger of glowing off-khaki foam. The nose comprises sweet honey, light cocoa powder, dark greens, light toasted biscuit, and a whiff of vanilla bean in the background. The taste is dominated by some thick-ish caramel, though a vein of dark cocoa-y greens runs directly through it. The body is a lithe medium, with a very light moderate carbonation and a nearly chewy feel. Overall, though I wouldn't necessarily say this stuff lives up to its own billing as a "hoppy Scotch ale", I do think it's an enjoyable brew.

Serving type: bottle

02-06-2013 04:35:07 | More by TMoney2591

JohnnieNepal

Michigan

3.5/5  rDev +0.6%

05-16-2013 12:14:25 | More by JohnnieNepal

superspak

Michigan

3.8/5  rDev +9.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

12 ounce bottle into snifter, best before 6/3/2013. Pours slightly hazy ruby red color with a 1 finger dense cream colored head with good retention, that reduces to a thin cap that lingers. Nice spotty lacing clings on the glass. Aromas of caramel, raisin, pine, grapefruit, orange zest, toast, floral, bread, light peat, and floral earthiness; some slight phenols, but not much. Nice and pleasant aromas with good balance of hop and malt complexity. Taste of caramel, raisin, grapefruit, orange zest, pine, toast, brown sugar, floral, light chocolate, bread, and floral earthiness. Slight pine bitterness on the finish; with lingering notes of caramel, raisin, citrus, pine, floral, toast, brown sugar, light chocolate, and floral earthiness on the finish for a bit. Very nice balance and complexity of malt and hop flavors; with a great balance of moderate hop bitterness and malt sweetness; and zero cloying flavors after the finish. Light-medium carbonation and medium-full bodied; with a creamy and slick mouthfeel that is nice. Alcohol is very well hidden with only a slight warming noticed after the finish. Overall this is a very good hoppy scotch ale. Nice complexity of hop and malt flavors with great balance; and very smooth to sip on. A very enjoyable offering.

Serving type: bottle

05-01-2013 04:47:00 | More by superspak

rkf1976

Michigan

4/5  rDev +14.9%

04-21-2013 00:41:05 | More by rkf1976

wethorseblanket

California

3.56/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Thanks Drewone for the share.

A: Pours clear copper with a thin off-white head which leaves spotty lace.

N: Malty, smokey/peat with caramel notes. Not much hop here.

T: Sweetish malty caramel with a boozy quality which seems more than the 8% label indicates.

M: Medium body and moderate carbonation. Lingering sweet caramel finish.

O: Fairly basic and decent. Nice to try once.

Serving type: bottle

04-18-2013 01:16:33 | More by wethorseblanket

drewone

California

3.75/5  rDev +7.8%

04-17-2013 05:25:16 | More by drewone

SometimesIfart

Michigan

1.99/5  rDev -42.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 1.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 1.5

A - Pours a deep ruby with a two finger head. Left a good amount of lacing.

S - Smells like nuts and soap.

T - Nutty up front, along with some caramel and lightly toasted malts followed by a big hit of rancid meat.

M - Medium creamy, but rancid body with moderate carbonation.

O - Overall, the aftertaste was terribly rancid. I wouldn't have again.

Serving type: bottle

03-23-2013 05:17:31 | More by SometimesIfart

kjkinsey

Texas

3.75/5  rDev +7.8%

03-19-2013 23:43:09 | More by kjkinsey

Texasfan549

Texas

3.75/5  rDev +7.8%

03-19-2013 23:29:44 | More by Texasfan549

lakesider1818

Illinois

3.25/5  rDev -6.6%

03-14-2013 20:35:00 | More by lakesider1818

jereb33

Michigan

2.5/5  rDev -28.2%

02-25-2013 00:54:53 | More by jereb33

Mitchster

Michigan

3.85/5  rDev +10.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

$2.49 for a 12oz bottle @ BevCo. No info on the website. 8.0% and 48IBUs per the bottle.
Pours out to a very clear medium chestnut, forming a nice creamy yellow head with excellent retention and nice lacing. Carbonation is moderate low, ~2.0 carbs or so. The nose is at first nutty, then I get rye bread crust, some walnut, then caramel...some subtle earthy hops make their presence known, more so than most Scotch ales where hop aroma is absent. No DMS, fusels or oxidation. Mouthfeel is soft with a medium thick body and finishing somewhat dry for the style. The taste is a recap of the aroma...lots of nuts, toast, and caramelized sugar but with a firmly earthy hop bitterness atypical for scotch ales, but offering a pleasant bite to counteract the malty sweetness. There are some apple and dark cherry esters as well. The finish is dry, aided by the bitterness level, with a lightly tart souring milk mouthfeel in the aftertaste. The overall impression though is earthy nuts. Unfortunately, I don't get any pink bubblegum which is something I typically get (and enjoy) from Scotch ale yeasts.

While Scotch ales aren't my favorite, this is an interesting variation on the style. It may not be for the purists, but I think it's decent.

Serving type: bottle

02-10-2013 03:16:14 | More by Mitchster

avalonct

Michigan

3.75/5  rDev +7.8%

02-08-2013 01:20:10 | More by avalonct