Belhaven Scottish Ale - Belhaven Brewery Company Ltd.

northyorksammy

Ontario (Canada)

1.98/5  rDev -47.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 1.5

Not much taste, didn't like it, couldn't finish it. Rich scotch colour. Tried to warm it up to room temperature, but didn't help. No aroma. Mettalic and other off-tastes, and aggressive carbonation. Taste could have faded with age, though we don't think so. Thanks Radek, originally from OKbeer.

Serving type: bottle

01-09-2005 22:15:35 | More by northyorksammy

BuckeyeNation

Iowa

3.85/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Lucent reddish bronze capped by an ecru head that is impressively creamy and will, no doubt, persist for as long as there's beer in the glass; as is usually the case with a nitro pour. A short collar of lace can be seen with pseudopods extending farther up the glass. The nose is interesting and consists of orchard fruit and somewhat spicy English hops. It's difficult to appreciate nuances through the dense cap of foam.

The flavor profile contains lightly sweet toasted malt and spicy fruity hops. In other words, the aroma in liquid form. It's also tea-like, as are many English ales in my experience. Further mouthfuls reveal a pecan nuttiness and hint of smoky peat. The body is light without being thin and is nitro creamery .

Belhaven Scottish Ale is a straightforward (in a good way), balanced, drinkable, enjoyable version of the style. I've never had it in any other form, but I have to say that it's one of the best nitro can British ales that I've run across.

Serving type: nitro-can

07-28-2004 16:01:47 | More by BuckeyeNation

mikesgroove

South Carolina

3.7/5  rDev -2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Had this one on tap at the Fox and the Hound in Mason,OH this past week. Poured into a tall 20oz Pint glass.

A - Poured a very dark amber with a nicy cloudy consistency that you could definitly tell this one was going to be a pretty full one. A large three inch high head of foamy off white lace crowned the top and offered great retention hanging on for what seemed like forever before finally slipping down and resting into a one finger high layer of foam across the top that hung on for the entire rest of the session. Very nice side glass presentation that also hung on for the rest of the session and obscuring most of the contents towards the end. If there was lots of carbonation it was not visible.

S - The aroma was full of malty goodness. Lots of thick bready and earthy like smells coming off of this one giving it a very full overall profile for sure. There was some hints of sweetness that rippled through it as well, but this was predominantly a malty scottish ale. Lots of earthy breads in the finish as well.

T - The flavor was very full, much more so then I thought it would be to be honest. The first thing to hit me was a full on sweet malty assualt that was just rich and full flavored. A nice touch of nuttiness was mixed in as well as a touch of caramel that really lightened up, or well tried to as this was a nice dark beer. There were some light hints of grassy like flavors towards the finish that really dried it out and let the flavors hang around for a good long time.

M - Very rich creamy and smooth, there was no mistaking this one was a full bodied scottish ale. What suprised me to be honest was the utter lack of carbonation though. There was just none. When you sipped there was a full creamy head, however as you brought it down it was just flat. Very odd sensation and reminscent of like a guiness or dry stout like feel. Not terrible, but not the best either, maybe just not my cup of tea.

D - Not bad here at all. This went down very well and the flavor profile was very nice and strong with low alcohol and a rich filling conisitency. Very nice compliment with dinner and I could have put down another one after this was done.

Overall not bad. It was a very solid offering from Belhaven and really was a fine drink to throw done with dinner. Not sure how it is in can or bottle, but on tap very fresh and very indicative of the style. A quality ale for sure and something I would recommend.

Serving type: on-tap

01-13-2008 03:55:42 | More by mikesgroove

Thorpe429

Illinois

2.33/5  rDev -38.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2

On tap at Pizza Paradiso - Georgetown.

Pours a moderately light toffee color with an off white head. Tiny bits of lacing. Nose brings forward toffee and caramel with a bit of butterscotch. Taste is overwhelmed by butterscotch and toffee without any particular amount of sweetness. I am not actually sure whether this was any amount of diacetyl, as it was not off putting in that particular manner and did not have the off buttered popcorn-type flavor. It might just be that this particular version of the style really does not suit me. Feel is light with fairly low carbonation. I just couldn't get past the taste on this.

Serving type: on-tap

10-13-2010 10:35:31 | More by Thorpe429

ChainGangGuy

Georgia

2.98/5  rDev -21.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Appearance: Pours a brownish-amber body with an off-white head that is thin and short-lived.

Smell: Flimsy, weak aroma of watered down caramel and, to my surprise, green apples.

Taste: Light, biscuity malt flavor along with some vague wooden notes and hints of sour green apples. Some faint hops spring up late into the already short finish.

Mouthfeel: Medium-thin body with a carbonated mouthfeel that reminds me of a soda.

Drinkability: Disappointing and fairly unremarkable.

Serving type: bottle

01-15-2007 04:50:44 | More by ChainGangGuy

brentk56

North Carolina

3.6/5  rDev -5.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Appearance: Pours a hazy amber color with beige highlights; a bounteous head that leaves plenty of foamy lacing behind

Smell: Caramel malt and earthy peat aromas

Taste: Starts out with an earthy, peaty flavor that builds in butterscotch and smokiness; primarily malty as you would expect, but there is defintely some balance to this brew; a little acrid on the finish

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied, a touch slick with good carbonation

Drinkability: A decent enough brew for a malty change

Serving type: bottle

01-12-2006 00:25:02 | More by brentk56

UCLABrewN84

California

3.88/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a clear copper with a foamy tan head that settles to a film on top of the beer. Foamy streaks of lace form around the glass on the drink down. Smell is of toasted malt, nuts, and a slight caramel aroma. Taste is much the same with a nice malt flavor that lingers on the finish. There is a mild amount of hop bitterness on the palate with each sip. This beer has a good level of carbonation with a crisp mouthfeel. Overall, this is a good beer that is tasty and easy to drink.

Serving type: bottle

01-04-2013 02:02:48 | More by UCLABrewN84

BEERchitect

Kentucky

3.85/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A standard and a favorite. Clear ruby in color, pours a thick creamy head that lasted til the last sip (expected for the nitro tap) Mild aromas of caramel, toffee, barley with a tad bit of hop detection and subtle sourness. Tastes wonderful of toffee, caramel, maple syrup, and perhapse vanilla. Moderate roundness in the mouth and rapidly tapers toward the finish. Becomes a bit watery, but fine for style. Finishes clean and disipates expenintually to a mildly bitter dryness. Very easily drinkable.

Serving type: nitro-tap

09-14-2005 11:34:38 | More by BEERchitect

oberon

North Carolina

3.9/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

I have had this many times from the bottle and for the first time had on a nitro tap at the Lucky Dog a local establishment.Great pour (wich I expected)very creamy with a light bronze color,aroma light a little fruity and metallic.Nice mellow taste fruity and even a little smokey?Some metallic notes in there,seemed almost marshmellow-like,had three before I knew it.I really like it out of a nitro tap,hell my wife even had three.

Serving type: nitro-tap

01-16-2004 14:14:55 | More by oberon

NeroFiddled

Pennsylvania

4.43/5  rDev +16.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Copper/amber in color with a rich, creamy head that holds fairly well. The aroma is not real assertive, but gives a first note of light hop, followed by lightly toasted - almost 'wort-like' - malt. The body is on the light side, and combined with a gentle carbonation, gives a lightly creamy mouthfeel. The flavor offers a nice balance with malt preceeding hops and a very slight butterscotch note. Clean, fresh, medium-long dry aftertaste. An excellent session beer with some complexity and a high level of drinkability.

Serving type: bottle

08-10-2002 03:38:42 | More by NeroFiddled

feloniousmonk

Minnesota

3.1/5  rDev -18.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Some people just adore the cascading effect of the rolling foam in a nitro "draught" pour, tap or can. Doesn't do much for me...I just want to see the damn beer, and get to drinkin' it...buuurp...

this one, when the flashy effect dissolves, is a crimson/amber hue, capped with a thick, creamy head that lasts quite a while...very nice, indeed.

Aroma: coppery, metallic, odd..some hops, a bit of fruity sweetness, malty, but not much too it, beyond the initial impression.

Taste: kind of limp...tastes like fish, no kidding...was is smoked? Very unusual, and not too kind, nothing I enjoy. Smooth on the tongue, but this smoked fish feel never leaves! Weird!
Easy drinking, but to a fault, very minimal character, insipid mouthfeel, lean body...I'm gonna have to keep passing this one by (though I couldn't resist one last chance...)

Halfway, through (it's a 15 ounce can we got here) it's almost passable, but still disappointing.
...
crazy how much I liked the bottle, when I reviewed it over 2 1/2 years ago, but was far from taken by this version!

Serving type: nitro-can

07-02-2005 09:14:03 | More by feloniousmonk

WesWes

New York

3.88/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I rather enjoyed tasting this beer. It poured a pretty copper color with a low white head. It's aroma is very seductive; a caramel/malty scent that makes you want to throw it down the hatch quickly, but savor it along the way. I did find however that the taste is quite plain. There is a watery feeling about it. The malt aroma that was so prominant, was not so prominant in the taste. It drank very smooth. The body is very lite. The abv. I was discouraged to find out is less than 4. Am I drinking lite beer or what? Oh well, like I said it was a very drinkable and enjoyable beer. A Scottish Ale from the heart of Scotland.

Serving type: bottle

06-04-2003 07:52:24 | More by WesWes

metter98

New York

4/5  rDev +5.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A: It poured clear amber in color with a thick, creamy white head. A moderate level of carbonation is visible; the head retention is very good.
S: The smell isn't very pronounced but has aromas of caramel malts and earthy hops.
T: There's a rich flavor of malts in the taste along with some hints of nutty and smoky flavors.
M: It feels medium-bodied and very smooth on the palate.
D: This beer is easy to drink and quite sessionable.

Serving type: bottle

05-02-2010 01:16:25 | More by metter98

zeff80

Missouri

3.55/5  rDev -6.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A - Poured out a cloudy orange color with a creamy, off-white one-finger head never really disappeared.

S - It smelled of corriander, malt and a grassy/hoppy quality.

T - It tasted of yeast and a subtle maltiness. Slight bitter aftertaste.

M - It is very soft and very creamy, like a good cocoa. A light to medium-bodied beer.

D - A very nice beer. An excellent representation of the style. Nothing amazing in terms of flavors but a good taste that goes down easy.

Serving type: nitro-can

04-17-2007 01:15:50 | More by zeff80

Gueuzedude

Arizona

3.48/5  rDev -8.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Pours from the can into my 25cl tulip with a creamy, tight, light tan colored head that stars out a fat two-fingers in height. The beer is a brilliantly clear, red-stained, deep amber color that shows a cranberry-red tinged, deep copper color when held up to the light. The aroma has a nice berry-like fruitiness to it up front, but becomes more toffee like once I start to focus on the aroma. Malt aromas of crushed crackers, lightly toasted bread and some hop & / or malt notes of grass and very faint herbs.

Lightly sweet tasting, which accents a nice, soft berry (currant & faint blackberry) character as well as caramelized malt flavors. Quite smooth as the widget clearly knocked out all of the carbonation, this is very light and quaffable as well. Finishes with an almost menthol-like, very faint herbal hop character and a touch of bitterness. There is some light, dry grain character towards the finish that provides hints of crushed saltine crackers and a touch of toasty grain character.

This gets a bit fuller and more flavorful as it warms up a bit; nothing overwhelming, but it is certainly a beer I would have again. While not overly flavorful, it does have a nice mix of notes that keep this an interesting tipple.

Purchased: Plaza Liquors, Tucson AZ

Serving type: nitro-can

05-31-2008 02:08:58 | More by Gueuzedude

TheManiacalOne

Rhode Island

4/5  rDev +5.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On nitro-tap 8/28/07 at British Beer Company in Walpole, MA, served in an imperial pint glass.

A: The beer is a light brown color, with a medium dense off-white head that fades very slowly and leaves a thick lace on the glass.

S: The aroma is of vanilla, caramelized malt, some spice and a touch of hops.

T: The taste is very malty and creamy, with flavors of vanilla, spices and a smoky touch. The hops presence is mild. The after-taste is slightly sweet.

M: Very smooth with a little crispness, medium body, light carbonation, finish is slightly sticky.

D: Tasty, goes down very easily, not too filling, decent kick, good representation of style, nice beer to wind down with after a good meal, an ideal dessert beer for sure.

Serving type: nitro-tap

08-30-2007 14:58:59 | More by TheManiacalOne

Knapp85

Pennsylvania

3.6/5  rDev -5.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

This beer pours out as a golden color with really nice nitro charged head on it. The lacing is quite good on this beer. The smell is a bit mild, smells fresh and kind of creamy there are some grains on the nose that are pleasant. The taste is light but had a pretty good malt base with a pretty good bitter finish. The mouthfeel was creamy and light. Definitely a nice brew to try.

Serving type: nitro-tap

06-05-2011 21:03:10 | More by Knapp85

russpowell

Oklahoma

4.4/5  rDev +15.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours caramel to brown with a nice 3" offwhite head. Head retention & lacing very good

Smell: Malty sweetness and some peaty smokiness

Taste: Malt sweetness mingles with smokiness. Dry ever so slightly smokey/sweet finish

MF: Great balance with a smooth, slight syruppy feel, very good Carbonation levels

Extremely drinkable, this is a well put together beer that makes me want to try the nitro version soon. Highly reccomended, simple but tasty

Serving type: bottle

03-17-2006 04:24:19 | More by russpowell

emerge077

Illinois

3.9/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Eggshell foam, nice webby lacing, with a burnt copper body. A good 1-2 fingers of foam from the 1st pour.

Aroma is earthy and peaty, with a clear display of nutty malt, also walnuts.

Caramel, dark malts, vaguely earthy. Dry earthy hops in the finish (Fuggles?) very understated with a dry nutty finish. Malty feel, medium-bodied with good carbonation. Lighter in body actually, and not really cloying. Could easily have 1-2 at a time, it's more flavorful at cellar temperature.

Serving type: bottle

10-22-2007 02:00:16 | More by emerge077

Halcyondays

California

3.93/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Nitro-tap at Beachwood BBQ,

A: Pours a translucent dark ochre with a creamy white nitro-head, thick lace. Looks as it should with this serving style.

S: Peat smoked apples, very malty.

T: The peat is upfront, but moderate, good Scottish ale malt flavour. Fruity with apples and ale esters, very light hopping.

M: Creamy and smooth from the nitro-tap. For a nitro beer it's good a very good body, I only sense a light thin quality.

D: This is a great session beer, really good malt-oriented flavours. Shows why Belhaven is one of the best out there.

Serving type: nitro-tap

02-07-2010 22:04:51 | More by Halcyondays

jwc215

New Jersey

4/5  rDev +5.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours amber/copper with a one-finger white head that slowly descends to a thin cover, leaving some trailing lace.

The smell is caramelish, nutty, earthy with underlying fruitiness.

The taste is malty - caramelish, and nutty (hazelnut?). Although malty, it had a solid earthy, a bit oily, hop background. An underlying general fruitiness is subtle, but present. The diacetyl helps with the buttery smoothness and gives it butterscotch notes. Finishes long and appetizingly dry.

It has a firm medium, creamy/buttery body.

This is one fine sessionable Scottish Ale.

Serving type: bottle

04-07-2007 01:05:59 | More by jwc215

WVbeergeek

Ohio

4.2/5  rDev +10.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

In comparison to both nitro can and nitro tap offerings the bottle is so much better, much more flavorful and mouthfeel improves ten fold. Appearance: Ruby caramel transluscent brown forms a white bubbly head looks good to me leaves behind scatterd lacing. Aroma: Slightly smokey with peated malts ripened fruit very pleasant toasted malt profile sort of nutty slightly vinous. Taste: Sweet fruit possibly plum gives this excellent Scottish ale a great upfront sweetness, peated malts and toasted character mellow the flavor out hops are bearly evident overshadowed by sweetness but no complaints this is supposed to be a malty ale. Mouthfeel: Medium bodied much better than the nitrogen offerings even carbonation that flows just right down my palate. Drinkability: Excellent staple for the style a must try, I would stay away from it on draft and can.

Serving type: bottle

08-11-2004 16:44:00 | More by WVbeergeek

barleywinefiend

Washington

3.88/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured a dark amber. Eggshell colored head on top was about two fingers high after a moderate pour. Nice thin lacing on the glass.Smelled of sweet malts and a little bread.Taste is sweet malts mostly with a little nuttiness. Also a hint of piney hops in the finish to make a delightful bitterness.

Serving type: bottle

11-04-2008 04:23:40 | More by barleywinefiend

smcolw

Massachusetts

3.63/5  rDev -4.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Beautiful head--thick and tight-bubbled, gorgeous sticky lace. Dark, dark amber in color. Clear when placed in front of light.

Dark malts dominate the aroma--slight cream, carmelized brown sugar, although it is not sweet. The taste has a slight "band-aid" flavor suggesting that this can may have been exposed to chlorophenol. Thin in body, the dark malts seemed watered down. Hop is present, providing balance, but little complexity. The aftertaste is largely chocolate malt. Tastes good, less filling.

Serving type: nitro-can

06-25-2004 01:33:26 | More by smcolw

jdhilt

New Hampshire

3.43/5  rDev -9.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a four finger white head that fades quickly, leaving some lace. Nice crystal clear amber color. Light-medium carbonation and medium bodied. Grainy malty nose and flavor is smooth malt and light caramel. $3.50 for a 500ml bottle from Market Basket Concord, NH.

Serving type: bottle

07-13-2011 22:06:33 | More by jdhilt