Wee Heavy - Belhaven Brewery Company Ltd.

BenLikesBeer

California

4.03/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Well, color me shocked, really - this beer is wonderful. And that surprise is of course, I admit, due to ignorance; after attempting to study a collection of British Isle beers and being consistently underwhelmed, I dismissed this one in the same line. It'd be harmless, but vaguely metallic, light bodied, and somewhat boring.

But man was I wrong (sorry Belhaven!)

When the first word you utter is a surprised "Wow!" (paired with the stereotypical holding of the glass away from you as you look on in disbelief) you know you have a keeper. Like an English Barley wine stripped of much of its alcohol and hop bite, Wee Heavy is deceptively friendly and, pardon the vernacular, tasty.

The color - a ruby amber - is truly gorgeous, with perfect clarity and a bubbly creamy head that unfortunately dissipated a bit quicker than I would have liked (the glass was clean I swear!)

The aroma is delightfully unique, with a great caramelly-biscuit thing going on, while something truly unique hides in the background. Cola, maybe? Ice tea? It kept me guessing. It's a fun thing to experience.

There's almost no hops here, and only the faintest touch of bitterness in its finish. Medium-to-heavy body with a nearly syrup-like quality, the beer is deceptively light - "clocking in" at a mere 6.5%, when I would have readily accepted something a few percentages higher. But it's genuinely delicious, a pleasing beer that doesn't try to do anything extraordinary or gimmicky and rises as one of the greats because of it. Do not relegate it to something second tier or boring; this must be experienced.

Serving type: bottle

05-13-2013 22:18:16 | More by BenLikesBeer

UCLABrewN84

California

3.54/5  rDev -12.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5

Pours a clear super dark reddish-brown with a foamy khaki head that settles to a partial film on top of the beer. Foamy streaks of lace form around the glass on the drink down. Smell is of toasted malt, grain, and caramel covered fruit. Taste is much the same with a roasty flavor on the finish. There is a mild amount of bitterness on the palate with each sip. This beer has a lower level of carbonation with a slightly crisp mouthfeel. Overall, this is a pretty good beer but the aromas and flavors are quite mild.

Serving type: bottle

03-18-2013 02:13:51 | More by UCLABrewN84

Hoppsbabo

United Kingdom (England)

4.16/5  rDev +2.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

A: Mine is in a clear bottle and the beer looks a lot darker in the glass than in the bottle. It's a clean dark ruby with a creamy, intricate, small beige head.

S: Fruity esters and a metallic maltiness.

T: Doesn't taste metallic. There's a fair bit of porter-like smokey malt and plenty of rich caramel sweetness. The fruit is less prominent and it's like a dark plummy flavour which is not easy to pin down.

M: Very smooth and silky. Quite sticky. Fizzy enough but in a soft way and balanced.

O: My first wee heavy and what a surprise. It's more akin to a Belgian dark ale than anything I've ever had in England. Tastes to me exactly like Leffe Brune with a bit of porter smokiness.

Serving type: bottle

02-20-2013 04:30:11 | More by Hoppsbabo

Huffs

New York

4.54/5  rDev +11.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5

Poured into a pint glass, has a great head, thich and creamy with a tan color. Beer was red / amber in color and clear. Aroma was light, sweet and malty. Taste had caramel notes with hints of vanilla and cream. Mouthfeel was creamy and clean. Aftertaste was malty to start with a hop finish. I have not had a beer from the UK in a while, am reminded why I was great fan when I first got into the beer scene 30 years ago.

Serving type: bottle

02-02-2013 03:09:33 | More by Huffs

pkalix

California

4.88/5  rDev +20.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75

pours very dark but with a ruby appearance throughout; very little foam.
smell is exteremely unique to me. SKUNK! but not the green bottle skunk you usually get from one of those canadian beers, but an actual skunk kind of aroma- pleasant, ya know? (i know, i'm a little strange, but not all skunk odor is bad....).
the taste resembles the aroma but there is some awesome malts in there and the bitterness balances out at the end. i'm assuming that skunk odor came from the hops but it's still present and available on the palate. there's almost a 'carbonation' feel to the sides of the tongue which i cant determine if is the bitterness or a reaction.
as the name implies, it is a bit heavy but not thick and dark like the stouts but more like a dark newcastle (a lame comparison, indeed, as i abhor newcastle, but one i think conveys the description adequately to the masses). i suppose it may be difficult to ascertain my response to this brew with my descriptions of skunk, etc, but i absolutely love the beer. at 6.5%, it's a nice area of power and still gives a hearty BEER flavor that is appreciable and defined. it's not too fruit-y (like a lot of the stronger ones ive been drinking recently), and it's not too heavy or dark and bitter. i place this one high on my list of favorites as it's not overly rich. the feeling of the beer in my mouth is satisfying and full and while not extraordinary in looks (head, color, etc) it is just a perfect, humble brew. defeinitely a brew you should experience.... may be a straight 5 across the board, in my opinion, but i dont want to abuse the ratings. and unlike many of my higher rated brews, THIS ONE is one i can drink over and over and over....

Serving type: bottle

01-26-2013 01:31:39 | More by pkalix

Fatehunter

Oregon

3.84/5  rDev -5.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

A finger of head on a dark amber colored body.
The aroma is barnyard, earthy and grainy with a mild lemon note.
The taste has a solid malt sweetness throughout, a mild bitter, finishes sweet.
A crisp, but a bit sticky texture. Moderate carbonation and medium body.
Enjoyable, if not sweet, but that's normal for this style.

Serving type: bottle

01-21-2013 04:35:54 | More by Fatehunter

napier51

North Carolina

4.76/5  rDev +17.2%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5

This was love at first sight! I loved the appearance with its amber, caramel look. Was taken back a bit by a clear bottle. It poured as well as any beer I have ever seen and left a nice lace on the glass. The taste was a caramel, buttery flavor with a nice aftertaste that let me know it was an ale. It is stock in my refrigerator. I treat myself to at least one a week. After all, it is a bit "Wee Heavy!"

Serving type: bottle

01-18-2013 18:46:50 | More by napier51

kvnstfrd

Missouri

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

Poured from a clear 500 ml bottle into a 16 oz. glass goblet.
Deep reddish-brown color with a small but fluffy, tan head. Smells of spicy hops, caramel, brown sugar and ripe fruit. Taste is sweet, but not overly so. Caramel malts, a woody, earthy flavor and just a slight hint of smoke is present. Really nice, zesty hops, but not overpowering. Nice balance. Mouth-feel is a little thin, carbonation is about right. Pleasant. I’ve only been able to locate a few authentic Wee Heavies, but I’m really liking this style and this is the best one so far.

Serving type: bottle

01-03-2013 17:10:45 | More by kvnstfrd

tvv375ia

Iowa

3.98/5  rDev -2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

poured from 500ml bottle into pint glass

A-dark amber with a 1 finger hea that fades to a ring without much lacing

S-lots of malt and maybe some dark fruit like plums

T-bready malt with some fruit on the finish

M-good carbonation and a nice fruity finish

O-no problems with this one, well done and easy to drink

Serving type: bottle

10-26-2012 10:28:09 | More by tvv375ia

BrownAleMale

Wisconsin

2.38/5  rDev -41.4%
look: 3 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

500ml bottle poured into a Gulden Draak tulip glass.

Appearance- Very very dark red to light brown in color. Basically a sliver of off white head.

Smell- A very green bottled beer skunkyness smell.

Taste- In the front there is that skunky beer flavor and some smoke and bread malts on the backend. The feint backend has what I have come to expect from a scotch ale but the front is either skunked or not to appealing.

Mouthfeel- Medium to light with pretty high carbonation especially for a scotch ale.

Overall- While the backend of the flavor notes resembles a scotch ale the rest is just not there. I am reserving my full opinion because the possibility of a sounded beer is here.

Serving type: bottle

09-12-2012 21:42:32 | More by BrownAleMale

BlurryVisi0n

New York

3.95/5  rDev -2.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Served in a wellington beer glass.

Appearance: A very dark brownish amber light light bubbles but still apparent, has an off white head rises to maybe a 1/4".

Smell: Maple scent, smells lightly sweet if that makes sense to you.

Taste:: Complex, has caramel taste that has a black tea feel. So much going on here. I am really liking it.

Mouth: Medium carbonation, stick y feel

Overall: Very good beer, something slightly different than the norm. Not every day you get to have wee heavy's and this one just hit the nail in the coffin. Salud!

Serving type: bottle

09-11-2012 03:45:25 | More by BlurryVisi0n

claspada

New Jersey

4/5  rDev -1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours out a clear, deep garnet-hued color with a frothy, full-sized layering of light beige suds that leaves filmy lacing as it recedes.

Aromas begin with a decidedly sweet scent of caramelized sugars, toasted and bready-scented malts. As it warms you get some stone fruit juices dosed with a bit of earthy English hops.

The tastes begin with caramelized sugars with notes of toffee and toasted bread/biscuits. As it warms you get a little grape or under-ripe plum and maraschino cherry. Very light, low herbal effect before a trace of bitterness.

The mouthfeel is medium to medium high in body with medium carbonation. Finish is slightly sweet, sticky and fruity.

Overall it is a good, not perfect, but easily approachable scotch ale. Much less brash and much more traditional than many American interpretations which causes me to prefer this over overly boozy/higher ABV offerings.

Serving type: bottle

08-21-2012 15:46:54 | More by claspada

LiquidAmber

Washington

4.18/5  rDev +3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Review from 5/2010 notes. Poured into a Gulden Draak tulip. Pours a nice dark red amber. Slight off-white head with slight lacing. Caramel malt with a touch of roasted malt aroma. Nice, strong caramel malt and dark fruit, malty middle, a bit of molasses in the finish. Medium bodied with good carbonation. A very nice wee heavy.

Serving type: bottle

08-03-2012 18:20:44 | More by LiquidAmber

FreshHawk

Illinois

3.93/5  rDev -3.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A - Light, clear garnet color. Medium sized, foamy, airy, sticky, white head. Average retention leaving very little lace.

S - Sweet, sugary aroma with a bready and toasted caramel aroma. Somewhat fruity with dark fruit, cherry, and a touch of orchard fruit. Not much spice.

T - Plenty of toasted caramel and toffee. A bit of a sweet bready flavor as well. Plenty of sweet marchino cherry and apple. Touches of raisin and date. Hints of spice and peat but it's mostly a sweet, malty beer.

M - Medium to light body. Low carbonation level and pretty slick and oily.

D - Nice beer to sip on for a dessert. Sweet and malty but not cloying. Goes down easy and enough there to have me going back for more.

Notes: Nice Scotch Ale. Not as spiced or peaty as some. Wonderful caramel/toffee flavors though. Coats the mouth and leaves a nice sweet residue. Well done although nothing outstanding or unexpected.

Serving type: bottle

06-21-2012 22:28:38 | More by FreshHawk

dansmcd

Australia

3.95/5  rDev -2.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A - Pours a nice dark ruby colour, under a finger of soapy eggshell head with sticky lacing.

S - Very aromatic for a Brit, sweet caramel and honey, touch of raspberry, and just a hint of grass and smoke.

T - Slightly roasty, slightly sweet, caramelised fruit, tea with sugar, strawberries, maple syrup and peat.

M - Medium bodied ale with medium carbonation, lacking in some texture I feel.

O - Probably a really good example of the style, not that I've had too many, but it feels excellent to me. Pity about the clear bottle.

Serving type: bottle

05-18-2012 03:38:32 | More by dansmcd

Luigi

North Carolina

4.83/5  rDev +19%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Pours out a rich clear dark garnet color with a massive off white head that sticks all around the glass.

The aroma is sweet and smokey. Toasted malts, and sweet and sour fruits.

The taste is full of sweet, sour, and smokey flavors. Hints of raisin, caramel, smokey toasted malt. There is a good amount of diacetyl , giving a nice butterscotch flavor. Hop bitterness is kept to a minimal.

The body is medium and slick on the palate. Finishes with lingering toasted and smokey malt. Just easy sipping beer.

I have nothing more to say than it is a pleasure to drink an ale from my Scottish heritage. And Belhaven has never disappointed.

Serving type: bottle

04-26-2012 06:05:39 | More by Luigi

msromberg

Texas

4.88/5  rDev +20.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Sweet and malty, but not at all heavy.

Nice dark color.

Minimal head.

A very, very enjoyable beer.

Light body, clean after taste.

Just the right amount of bitterness.

The color would lead you to hink that it would be much heavier than it actually is.

Serving type: bottle

04-14-2012 23:34:56 | More by msromberg

Smoulton

4.73/5  rDev +16.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

I hadn't tried Belhavens Ales before..saw this Ale and had to try it as I have Scottish heritage and have had other Scottish spirits before and The Scots really know how to make Their spirits.I was truly impressed with this ale.It was smooth and has a great aroma and taste.Truly a Great ale.Will definately imbibe in it again,as well as try their other ales.

Serving type: bottle

04-06-2012 20:38:18 | More by Smoulton

beerdrifter

Germany

4.38/5  rDev +7.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Unexpected surprise finding this at the package store on the base I'm stationed at here in Germany. Beautiful mahogany pour with two finger off-white head with decent retention and nice lacing. The nose has an initial subtle skunkiness that dies off quickly and yields to a wonderful toasty and malty aroma with hints of caramel, dark fruit, and maple syrup. The taste follows suit with earthy and nutty, yet slightly sweet hints of toffee, caramel, brown sugar, maple, and just a wee bit of peat, pardon the pun. The mouthfeel is thick and chewy but extremely smooth. And everything about this beer improves as it warms. Haven't had much exposure to the style, but this is one damn fine beer!

Serving type: bottle

03-27-2012 16:49:41 | More by beerdrifter

TheBrewo

Michigan

3.83/5  rDev -5.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

We pour a deep, iced tea-colored brew. It holds a one finger head of huge, milky off-white bubbles. This dissipates at a faster pace, but leaves a nice aggregation and sheet across the top of the glass. Lacing is patterned and spotty. Carbonation appears active, and no sediment is noted. The nose predominates with bright barley and a dash of skunky adjuncts. There is apple wine vinegar and lactic sourness at the top. This softens up with buttered bread malts, faint ginger, earthy figs, and soft caramel. With warmth the malts become deeper and have a chocolatey vibe, but this is not nearly as robust as the steely barley throughout. As we sip, chalky, dry malts hit first, with an instant wash of caramel and toffee sugars. There is also a tannin-like quality, bringing up thoughts of herbal tea. A steel and rust bring us to the middle, where a buttery boldness and white sugar sweetness smooth things over. The mouth is wet, and becomes somewhat salty and watery. This supports the malts, making them fuller and more complex at the base. The finish shows a revival of the sweetness, with white sugars, toffee, and a borderline chocolate flavoring. There is a lemony twang as the final hints of browned, roasty malts leave the palate. With warmth the alcohol finally comes through, giving its own warming quality. The aftertaste breathes of sugary tea, chalky chocolate, charcoal smoke, must, and moss. The body is light to medium, and the carbonation is average. The mouth is left exquisitely dried with a tannin quality, but remains full and satiated, without too much puckering. There is nice slurp and froth, with a clean bubbly pop to each sip. The abv is appropriate, and the beer drinks fantastically.

Overall, the best thing about this brew was how flavorful it was. After the nose, which was relatively mild and adjuncty, the flavoring came forward with boldness. The first sips are sweet, intensely drying, and malty. With time, however, what develops is a deeply complex flavoring, which ultimately encompasses the spirit of the style expertly. Everything else seems to fall into place, and this beer keeps you wanting more with every sip.

Serving type: bottle

03-13-2012 02:37:26 | More by TheBrewo

obywan59

Virginia

4.38/5  rDev +7.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

The Wee Heavy poured a crystal clear orange-amber to near mahogany color depending on the light, topped by a 2 1/2 finger light tan head that left a bit of lacing.

At first it seemed skunked and had a metallic aroma, but the off aromas soon dissipated and some nice toasted malt and grassy-citric hops appeared. The aroma enriched even more with light coffee and aome faint smokey, woodsy notes.

The flavor of richly sweet dried dark fruits and a certain smokiness taste of alcohol, reminded me of more expensive bourbon barrel aged beers. The malt flavors are complemented by some tart citrus.

Medium-thick, and a rich, but not overly sticky mouthfeel with nice alcohol burn in the throat, and some pepper on the tongue.

A very elegant beer, rich in flavor, feel, and even aroma, once you get past the initial skunkiness.

Serving type: bottle

03-11-2012 06:25:20 | More by obywan59

Mumps

Maryland

4.58/5  rDev +12.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a 750 ml bottle into a chalice type glass.

This beer poured a very dark copper color (although the light of the pub might have been a factor). Had a very nice two finger head, with a fair disappation. Smelled was a balance of malt and hops, and instantly grabbed my attenion.

Taste was best described as an experience. A definite taste of dark malty goodness, with fruity backing. My instant impression was of a good port. Nice thick mouth feel. Definitely lets you know its there. By the end of the bottle, I declared this my new favorite brew, and thats saying something.

Excellent beer, everything I expect from the boys at Belhaven.

Serving type: bottle

03-11-2012 02:11:44 | More by Mumps

SoonerNY

New York

4.63/5  rDev +14%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a 500ml bottle into a chalice.

A: This pours like a refreshing iced tea with a two finger head and good lacing.

S: As expected, it smells of delicious carmelly malts.

T: Taste is in line with the smell... malty, sweet and buttery with just enough hops to lighten the malt strength.

M: The texture is pleasantly viscous with adequate carbonation.

O: It all adds up,with this brew. It's a great example of the style and will be one that I add to my inventory since it will fit many different occasions.

Serving type: bottle

03-05-2012 02:20:56 | More by SoonerNY

TheTrevor

New York

4.45/5  rDev +9.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

This beer poured copper with a fluffy two-finger tan head. The smell is some sweet bready malt. The taste starts off with some dark fruit that gives way to toffee and caramel and then a bit of hops on the end to provide a very good balance. The mouthfeel is slightly thick with average carbonation. A great example of a great style.

Serving type: bottle

03-01-2012 02:42:07 | More by TheTrevor

Murrhey

Montana

3.53/5  rDev -13.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a 1.9 pint bottle into a pint glass. Reviewed live.

A- One finger white head. Good retention and lacing. Ruby red color. Decent carbonation. Looks quite wonderful.

S- Roast malts, but the over-encompassing smell is definitely skunky. Smells like some potent weed, unfortunately. Maybe I just got a bad bottle?

T- Blew my mind how differently it tasted in comparison to the smell. Lighter malts and fruits. Buttery flavor as well. Complex flavor that totally surpasses the lacking smell.

M- Medium bodied with a chewy sort of carbonation. Lingers.

O- The smell is off-putting, but the taste is lovely and it looks phenomenal.

Serving type: bottle

01-24-2012 07:41:01 | More by Murrhey