Twisted Kilt Scotch Ale - Thirsty Dog Brewing Company

thegodfather1076

Ohio

4.24/5  rDev +12.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Presentation: Very cool bottle in the traditional Thirsty Dog K-9 style with eye-catching graphics and font. Label gives IBU info and ABV info, a small description of the beer, web info, and a bit of brewery info.

Appearance: Poured out of its 12oz bottle into a 16oz English Pint. Pours out a deep orange amber color that has just a slight haze to it. An aggressive pour lead to a 3 finger off white fluffy foam head of of a medium airy density. Excellent lacing. Head retention was 4min 58sec before fading to a thick airy coating and ring.

Smell/Aroma: Smell is of sweet tasted caramel malts along with a slightly bready yeasty aroma. Hints of spiced fruit also hits the nose.

Flavor/Taste: Taste starts out very bready with a slight fruitiness that turns to a toasted caramel malt flavor before finishing with a bit of a bitterness along with a toasted bread flavor. A nice toasty aftertaste is experienced.

MouthFeel/Drinkability: Medium bodied and smooth with a slightly below average carbonation. Very drinkable, even chug-able.

Overall/Comments: A very good Scottish Ale that is extremely tasty and smooth. Highly recommend trying this! Classified as a Scottish Ale @ 5.2% ABV. Consumed 4-13-13

Serving type: bottle

04-14-2013 12:56:20 | More by thegodfather1076

deadonhisfeet

Kentucky

2.64/5  rDev -30%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 2.25 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2

Poured from a bottle into a Three Floyds pint. The beer has a medium copper color, rather light for the style, with surprising high carbonation and lots of head. I couldn't even get the entire contents of the bottle into the glass, despite giving it a gentle pour. The head does dissipate quickly. The nose is malty with just a whiff of lemony hops. I get notes of toffee, bread, toasted nuts, and a very light smokiness. Nice.

The flavor is surprisingly fruity and citrusy. It has a lemony, acidic character that is completely uncalled for in this style. I don't get the sweet, caramel-like, clean malty flavor that I enjoy in this style. This one is horribly fruity, bitter, and a bit sour. Very poor indeed.

All I can say is ``yuck.'' I could swear I've had this beer before and thought it was a nice Scottish-style Ale. This particular bottle that I brought home was a disaster. Horribly citrusy with absolutely no trace of malty sweetness. Given the excessive carbonation, I wonder if this particular bottle was the victim of some wild fermentation. Since I have no desire to buy this again, I suppose I'll never know.

Serving type: bottle

03-02-2013 20:38:00 | More by deadonhisfeet

Louis_Toschner

South Carolina

3.55/5  rDev -5.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Serving: poured from bottle into nonic pint glass

Appearance: Beautiful dark amber color with about 1.5" foam head that lasted but moments...virtually no lacing

Smell: Fresh baked bread and some nuttiness. Very pleasant and welcoming.

Taste: Great maltiness but not overpowering...a bit of caramel and kind of smoky, again not overpowering.

Mouthfeel: I thought is was pretty silky but just "chewy" enough without destroying the flavor.

Overall: A very good ale, thoroughly enjoyable. Could even be chugged without losing its appeal. Definitely could enjoy this one again many times over.

Serving type: bottle

03-02-2013 17:49:15 | More by Louis_Toschner

hackmann

Michigan

2.94/5  rDev -22%
look: 2.75 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Appearance: amber body with a decent off white head that leaves no lacing behind on the glass

Aroma: toasted caramel, roasted grains and bread

Flavors: sweet toasted caramel, roasted grains and wheat or wheat and rye bread like;

Mouthfeel: the sweet caramelized sugar shows through, while the sweetness shows up the hops must being doing a little work to help out for at least the sweetness does not slap you silly, moderate carbonation, light-moderate body overall,

To the Point: nice flavors, nothing super special here, easy to drink, for me personally on the sweet side so one and done.

Serving type: bottle

02-17-2013 21:51:51 | More by hackmann

Mcculler

Ohio

4.13/5  rDev +9.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured a clear dark amber with a thin head that left no lacing in a pint glass at Fries Cafe in Cincinnati.

Smells of subtle caramel, chocolate, nutmeg, and fennel, wet fall leaves on a forest floor, fresh walnuts, and very subtle earthy hops.

Taste follows nose.

Mouthfeel is excellent for a British style. Very low carbonation, unctuous, yet watery and refreshing.

The appearance is a bit week, but that's to be expected for the style so its excusable. I was expecting something more American in interpretation (malt and hop bomb) yet found this subtle, delicate Scottish style Amber. Fantastic beer.

Serving type: on-tap

08-13-2012 03:38:23 | More by Mcculler

horshack7

Massachusetts

4.35/5  rDev +15.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Appearance: It pours a dark amber to mahogany with a thick light beige head two fingers thick.

Aroma: Lots of caramel malts nicely bready with notes of molasses. Some dark fruits, plum, traces of grape.

Taste: Chocolate malts, notes of coaco, the malts are very bready which is a very good thing. There are some dark fruits bits of plum and some note of black licorice. The mouthfeel is smooth with light carbonation.

Notes: This is dam tasty the breadiness is nothing short of remarkable. Cheers.

Serving type: bottle

08-12-2012 23:34:49 | More by horshack7

brentk56

North Carolina

3.03/5  rDev -19.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.5

Appearance: A whole lotta foam; as the foam lifts, it reveals a clear amber liquid; of course, the retention is great

Smell: Malty, with caramel and a faint hint of coffee

Taste: Caramel flavors, up front, with a developing apple tartness in the middle; butterscotch in the finish, though the tart flavors linger

Mouthfeel: Way overcarbonated; medium to full body

Overall: Rather disappointing, particularly in the carbonation; not sure that the tartness was intended, either

Serving type: bottle

07-31-2012 00:58:51 | More by brentk56

Mitchster

Michigan

3.2/5  rDev -15.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

5% ABV, 13 IBU's, OG = 13.5 P.

Pours out to a clear dark copper forming a tall rocky light yellow head with excellent retention and solid lacing. Moderate carbonation, ~2.5 carbs. The nose is great with a wonderfully unique definite caramlezation that I haven't had in other scottish ales. Like toasted marshmallows and amber candi syrup. Really nice. No hops in the nose. Mouthfeel is smooth, minerally, and light bodied. Cola-like. The taste opens with the caramel, then a peculiar coppery metallic acidity creeps in the middle..not tart or sour per say, but definitely there and out of place. The beer finished abruptly. Hardly any malt in the middle. Finishes dry and slightly tart, definitely not to style.

I'm thinking that this might be an off batch or an old bottle. I would love to try this on tap or really fresh and see what it's like because other experienced tasters are giving it good reviews and all the other beers I've had from these guys have been spot on.

Serving type: bottle

07-16-2012 01:28:11 | More by Mitchster

barczar

Kentucky

3.73/5  rDev -1.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours a slightly hazy medium brown with copper highlights and a health inch cream head that dissipates into a thin layer of foam.

Caramel, brown sugar, and melanoidins lead the aroma, with toffee, a hint of alcohol, significant nuttiness, and a bit of peat comprising the finish. Fairly sweet.

Flavor is predominantly nutty, deeply toasted malt throughout. There's a bit of burnt sugar adding depth. Slightly sweet, there are cola flavors present. Hop flavor is minimal, slightly floral. A smoky, peaty tone emerges as it warms.

Body is slightly on the light side, with fairly high carbonation. There's an alcohol warmth at the finish. The aftertaste is astringent and a bit tangy.

Overall, a drinkable beer, very malt-centric, as expected, but a bit sweet and lacking in exceptional flavor than better examples of the style.

Serving type: bottle

07-13-2012 05:52:28 | More by barczar

searsclone

Arizona

4.18/5  rDev +10.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours copper brown with an off white, almost gray head lots of bubbles

smells like toffee, caramel and bread

tastes of smoke and caramel, bready and sweet with a chewy aftertaste. has a little coffee in the aftertaste, which is off putting to me personally

thought it would be highly carbonated, but it's clean and smooth

really tasty and easy to drink

Serving type: bottle

06-10-2012 01:13:14 | More by searsclone

OWSLEY069

Pennsylvania

3.18/5  rDev -15.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Pours a clean orange-ish to amber color with an off white head. In the aroma, sweet to small alcohol presence with a peat like malt. In the taste, a small caramel and peat like malt, and a bit watery. A smooth and medium to lighter bodied mouthfeel, with a note of dryness to clean like aftertaste. Big nose, decent flavor, but keeps going down from there.

Serving type: bottle

03-03-2012 19:25:24 | More by OWSLEY069

WoodBrew

Illinois

3.65/5  rDev -3.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

in Ohio for a hockey tourny and had a chance to try some Thirsty Dog beers. The Twisted Kilt pours a hazey orange color with good white head that laced. The smell was powered by peaty malt and earth. Taste is a bit sweet, with a hefty pulse of peaty malts. A bitter finish helps to clear the pallet. The mouthfeel is medium to light in body with good carbonation. Overall it is a good scotch ale to session.

Serving type: bottle

01-22-2012 15:35:09 | More by WoodBrew

warnerry

Michigan

3.9/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Pours clear copper/amber with one finger of tan head. Head doesn't last long but there is some good lacing.

S - Mostly caramel malt, some grain and a nice bread aroma.

T - Starts with some coffee, which I did not get in the aroma. After that the caramel malt takes over, with other flavors of earthy bread, raisin and some subtle hop bitterness on the finish.

M - Medium/light mouthfeel with some biting carbonation. Subtle bitterness on the finish.

O - An enjoyable, easy drinking ale with some nice earthy flavors that don't overpower the palate.

Serving type: bottle

01-18-2012 22:47:22 | More by warnerry

Jayli

Massachusetts

3/5  rDev -20.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Acquired from TheManiacalOne so a big THANK YOU goes out to him!
Poured in to a pint glass

A: This beer pours deep copper, amber color with a 1/2 finger of khaki colored head. Head retains immediately leaving minimal spots of lacing.

S: Nose is major toffee, caramel malts, and big grainy notes.

T: Taste starts with a big dose of caramel malts, big toffee notes, and grain. These are pretty much the only detectable flavors that hold through playing off each other. Grain notes are far more prevailing than most other flavoring.

M: Lighter side of medium body, lower carbonation, light but slick, with a slight sticky feel.

O: Goes down ok, eh tasting, not too filling, low kick, average taste for style. This is an ok beer that would be a good alternative at a BMC bar, but I wouldn't seek this out.

Serving type: bottle

11-16-2011 06:19:11 | More by Jayli

Innocentexile

Ohio

4.28/5  rDev +13.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A-dark amber color and a little cloudy. dissipating head but sticks to the glass pretty well.

S-malty goodness, with a slight scent of coffee.

T-Roasted taste and a bready taste afterwards. I was able to taste the alcohol faintly

O-Yet another good brew from Thirsty Dog. I can see myself picking up this again.

Serving type: bottle

11-02-2011 02:59:34 | More by Innocentexile

matty

Pennsylvania

3.5/5  rDev -7.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Dark amber colored beer with a rapidly fading head.Aroma is caramle malts.Taste is caramel,citrus and toasted malts.A pretty decent beer that goes down relatively smooth.I would recommend to try this at least once and I probably would buy this again.

Serving type: bottle

10-13-2011 12:25:07 | More by matty

mikesgroove

South Carolina

4/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

caramel colored brown coming out of the bottle. Some nice, light ruby colored tones mixed in throughout as well really did a nice job of lightning it up a bit. Some haze, but pretty good clarity. A nice one inch foam head of white then came over the top and settled down slowly, leaving behind a broken crown and some decent side glass lace.

The aroma was totally malt driven as you would expect, with lots of nice caramel and earthy tones. Nice hints of grain and a touch of almost a raisin or fig like flavor as well. Very nice, but a touch on the light side would be my only complaint with it. The flavor largely followed suit, not being as sweet as I thought it would be, there were several touches of fruit, and a ton of grain in the flavor. The caramel malt driven back coming through very nicely as well. Your classic scotch ale flavor here, with not a whisper of alcohol anywhere to be found.

Serving type: bottle

08-29-2011 02:20:58 | More by mikesgroove

popery

California

3.25/5  rDev -13.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Bottle. The appearance is deep amber and mildly cloudy. It has a nice sudsy, off-white head. The aroma is caramel malt, a nutty tone, some earth and a little wood. It's kinda weak but decent. The taste is mildly sweet and toasty. There's a lemon twang in the finish. Mouthfeel is normal - smooth, sudsy. It's a fine, calm beer. Easy to drink and inoffensive.

Serving type: bottle

08-18-2011 03:57:55 | More by popery

Tone

Missouri

3.28/5  rDev -13%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Pours a clear, copper color. 1/4 inch head of an off-white color. Slight retention and slight lacing. Smells of sweet malt, slight pale malt, slight roasted malt, and a hint of earthy malt. Fits the style of a Scottish Ale. Mouth feel is sharp and clean, with an average carbonation level. Tastes of sweet malt, pale malt, slight earthy malt, and a hint of roasted malt. Overall, easy-drinking, well blended, but sub-par appearance and body.

Serving type: bottle

08-15-2011 21:22:23 | More by Tone

DrDemento456

Pennsylvania

4.22/5  rDev +11.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - looks good so far a dark brown that's a bit clearer than I expected with a half inch of head that turns to a light lace ring.

S - Smells of good roasted malts, caramel, and a touch of rum soaked bread.

T - Starts off a bit dry but to me it is really overall sweet. To me it's like a raisin bread soaked in rum but without the alchohol taste. A very smooth caramel taste with a touch of chocolate cream to balance. Very tasty.

M - The best part of this beer all this flavor with a low ABV. A damn good scotch ale.

Overall next to their pumpkin ale this is my best beer I ever had and maybe even the best scotch ale since it's not a ABV bomb. Well done guys!

Serving type: bottle

08-15-2011 03:22:20 | More by DrDemento456

spitInTheOcean

Michigan

4/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

brown color, just a tinge amber i would say. creamy looking off white head.

low malt sweetness. low roasted malt aroma. and low caramelization aroma.

initially sweet maltiness that goes dry, but the flavor of malts builds. a little roasted malt flavor and a little caramel flavor. low hop bitterness. the flavor of malt lingers. a fairly complex malt character. no ester flavor.

medium body. medium carbonation. dry finish.

this is a nice malty sessionable beer.

Serving type: bottle

08-13-2011 03:57:19 | More by spitInTheOcean

tlazaroff

Virginia

3.9/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Looks pretty good. It is a dark carmel color in the center, and lighter around the edges. It's topped by a nice thin white head.

S: The smell is feint but it's there, and it's not what I would expect from this. I get a slight roasted character which backs up the more malty backbone of the beer.

T: The roast comes through on the taste as well, but even more-so than on the nose. I get a slight chocolate flavor mixed in as well. It is also a bit hopper than expected, but not so much that is out of the box.

M: Good carbonation (medium) and a moderatly-high body. Not cloying or sticky at all.

D: Drinks quite nicely, I like it a lot.

Serving type: bottle

07-30-2011 01:08:59 | More by tlazaroff

Vierenner

Ohio

3.48/5  rDev -7.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Decent beer. Has an interesting flavor, different from other beers of similar appearance. Certainly richer and creamier than I expected. Very little hop bite which seems to allow malty flavors to come through. Sort of tastes like I'm eating a biscuit. I like it!

Serving type: bottle

07-22-2011 21:41:06 | More by Vierenner

stercomm

Ohio

3.73/5  rDev -1.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A - Pours an amber/orange slight haze, nice foamy off white head that holds retention.

S - On the nose getting some rye bread scents and some slate like funkiness along with a little brown sugar.

T - Initially get a sour tart biscuity taste, this gives way to a slight maltiness on the finish.

M - Medium bodied and medium carbonation a tartness is definitely present.

D - A different Scottish brew,leaves a little pucker factor, refreshing quaff.

Serving type: bottle

07-04-2011 18:26:58 | More by stercomm

Hoptometrist

Oregon

4.38/5  rDev +16.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured from the bottle into a nonic glass

A- Pours a dark brown with one finger soapy off-white head, with pretty high carbonation streaming

S- Butterscotch, caramel, and brown sugar

T- Butterscotch, caramel, nuttiness, brown sugar, and coffee

M- Goes down very smooth, creamy on the finish, with some good carbonation that is not overwhelming. Does have a sticky mouthfeel.

O- Very drinkable and flavorful. There is a little nice roastiness to this beer that plays well with the sweetness. This is a great sessionable beer at 5.2%.

Serving type: bottle

06-23-2011 00:44:51 | More by Hoptometrist