Caledonian 80/- - The Caledonian Brewing Company

IdeaSpeeder

Ontario (Canada)

3.68/5  rDev -2.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Serving Type - 500ml can, poured into a nonic glass

Appearance - Pours an amber/medium brown color. Medium to low carbonation. Head is creamy and think, but dissipates quite quickly.

Smell - Definitely sweet smelling, with some toffee and malt aromas coming through. Possibly some dates.

Taste - Sweet and 'malty'. Some fruity flavours.

Mouthfeel - Thick, but average for the style. Carbonation is unobtrusive

Overal - 4/5

Serving type: can

04-13-2013 01:51:46 | More by IdeaSpeeder

mick303

Ontario (Canada)

3.98/5  rDev +5.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours a chestnut colour with decent head and good lacing. Little in the way of carbonation.

Smell has mainly caramelized malt, with a nutty aspect. some coffee

Taste is good, a nice complimenting balance of malt and bitterness on the end. Every bit a scottish ale. Not too sweet, there's a nice bitter finish on it. A nice coating semisweet maltiness. If its not especially deep, it is quite pleasing.

Mouthfeel is quite light, it is very refreshing and sessionable.

An easy drinking tasty scotch ale, doesn't try to be anything its not, and balanced quite well. Lacks a bit in body.

Serving type: bottle

12-09-2012 20:36:52 | More by mick303

brewskifan55

Mississippi

3.73/5  rDev -1.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

At the Kenilworth, Edinburgh

A: Cola brown. A frothy one finger head that lingers. Wondrous lacing.

S: Malts come on strong. Sweet, toffee.

T: Smooth, light, malty, a bit smokey.

M: Light, watery. Not much carbonation.

O: Very drinkable. Recommended.

Serving type: on-tap

07-27-2012 16:09:47 | More by brewskifan55

EmperorBevis

United Kingdom (England)

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

Pours a gorgeous brown sugar coloured red hued body with a thick just ever so slightly off white big bubbled head that halved quickly but kept.

A subtle aroma of toffee, pepper and tequila, have to put your nose in but its worth it.

Nice well rounded taste of bold malts sweet smacks of grain and then swept around and out with a lovely hoppy finish.

good carbonation if slightly lively
and a decent mouthfeel makes a right little treat on a cold friday night

Serving type: bottle

12-17-2011 00:00:29 | More by EmperorBevis

Rijtjeshuis

Ontario (Canada)

3.78/5  rDev 0%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

can to nonic

look -- pours a rich amber colour, 23-25*SRM. The head is good, it comes up to about two and a half fingers and falls at a reasonable rate to a cap that lasts. Little lacing. Colour of the head is off-white to cream. Clarity is very good.

smell -- a good hit of sweetness off the top. Very malty. I get caramel malt with a bit of dark, carmelized aroma in there and just a hint of smoke. Ther being said, the aroma wasn't too strong. A hint of crispness on the end, bit no real hop or yeast. Still a touch too sweet for me.

taste -- a good improvement on the nose. the leading flavour is really full caramel, which is deepened by some richer malt flavour (perhaps kettle caramelization). A hint of smoke, but no real peat flavours. Moderate hop bitterness, but no real flavour, no real yeast flavour.

feel -- medium high body and lower carbonation. There's a bit of butteriness that lends a bit of velvet feel to the finish. Finish is drier than expected.

I quite like this one, a good show for the malts, without getting too sweet. Good drinkability.

Serving type: can

12-02-2011 00:32:46 | More by Rijtjeshuis

andrenaline

Ontario (Canada)

2.93/5  rDev -22.5%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

A - Pours a crystal clear, dark copper colour, with a thin layer of head which quickly recedes and leaves no lacing.

S - Scent is bready and malty, caramel, toffee and a hint of wooden peat.

T - The peat is very subdued and mild, the bready caramel malts dominate and a touch of leafy green hops on the finish.

M - Comes across a tad thin, could use a carbonation lift.

O - Given the style, it could easily have used a bit of a flavour boost. Too mild for my liking and by no means better than average for the style.

Serving type: bottle

10-21-2011 00:40:51 | More by andrenaline

fostachild

Ontario (Canada)

3.6/5  rDev -4.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

best before 30 06 12.

nice clear dark brown amber, only a bit of head fades quick - barely any lacing.

smell is interesting - fruit, malt aromas with a bitterness to it.

taste is nice and similar to the smell with the malt, bitterness but also some sweetness and roastiness. overall pretty easy going, but you still get some nice flavours each sip - solid offering.

Serving type: can

09-27-2011 02:26:54 | More by fostachild

thehyperduck

Ontario (Canada)

3.83/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a translucent copper colour topped with an ample, puffy off-white head. Retention is respectable; a decent cap remains in place for the duration of the session along with some stringy lacing on the sides. The smell is subdued but pleasant; roasted caramel malts with a nutty character to them.

Flavour is similar - toasted bread and caramel malts, vanilla toffee and roasted nuts. A little smoky throughout, with some leafy hop bitterness in the dry finish. Not really sweet or bitter, there's a good balance here. Maybe it's a genetic thing that comes with my Scottish heritage but I have always liked the taste of 80/-. Medium-bodied and quite creamy with low carbonation. Due to the low alcohol and exceptional smoothness, this is a great session ale.

It's been a few years since I've had this stuff, but I think it deserves to get back in the rotation. Nothing especially complex, but a highly satisfying ale and definitely worth a try.

Serving type: can

07-25-2011 05:20:45 | More by thehyperduck

flyingpig

United Kingdom (Scotland)

3.33/5  rDev -11.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Dark brown colour with hints of amber, it has a tanned white head with a thin bubble texture to it but is short lived.

A dark, nutty aroma to it although the smell is not the most pronounced. It has an almost smoky aroma too it and includes some mild fruit smells & a nice caramel scent too.

Not dissimilar to the the smell with a strong caramel flavour and some sort smoky taste and the back end. Again there is a nutty presence but this is only a small one at the end that is coupled with some sweet flavouring.

Medium bodied beer with a smooth texture that is appealing & is followed up by a mild tang when drank thanks to some good carbonation. Overall the drink has a nice feel to it & is very easy to drink.

Not a bad beer at all, very enjoyable & easy to savour. There is a large smoky presence to this one & the flavours are pretty nice, especially on the nose where the competing smells are very well balanced.

Included in the 1001 Beers to Try list:
http://abarwithnoname.wordpress.com/1001beers

Serving type: bottle

07-17-2011 19:53:55 | More by flyingpig

jazzyjeff13

United Kingdom (England)

3.75/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A 500ml bottle with a BB of Dec 2011. Described on the rear label as a blend of six malts and three types of hops.

Poured into a Sam Smith's pint glass. A clear coppery-amber colour with good carbonation. Yields a large off-white head of foam with a creamy texture and decent retention. Aroma of sweet, grainy malt with hints of roasted grain and caramel/toffee.

Tastes of slightly sweet malt with a mild bitterness. Notes of grain and caramel with faint hints of chocolate and roasted malt. Underpinned by a subtle leafy bitterness, although no aromatic hops are discernible. Mouthfeel is smooth, tingly and somewhat astringent. Aftertaste of mild bitter malt.

A highly drinkable ale with an undemanding but moreish flavour. The sweetness, grainy notes and mild bitterness all blend perfectly to create a pleasing beer. Well worth sampling if you encounter it.

Serving type: bottle

06-16-2011 23:27:33 | More by jazzyjeff13

paxkey

Ontario (Canada)

1.3/5  rDev -65.6%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 1 | feel: 1 | overall: 1

different can than one pictured. can is black and not striped.

rust colored beer poured into a nonic. generous offwhite head. rocky.

that is a hit to the nose. getting almost a celery-like aroma. might be the malts, sensing some grain in the back of that powerful note coming from the glass. some alcohol underneath the main aroma. i'm sensing the smell may be mostly from the hops actually. is it bad? freshness date says jan 31,2012. smelling horseradish now. its a strong smell its unusual and not entirely welcoming but i will taste anyway.

ya that is off. spit it back in glass. feh.

better luck next time caledonian...luckily i have a fresh weihenstephaner

Serving type: can

05-30-2011 23:35:16 | More by paxkey

biegaman

Ontario (Canada)

3.85/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Caledonian 80/- looks the product of layers upon layers of brown and amber shades laminated one atop the other; it is a deep-set tone with a heavily lacquered tawny overlay. It has as much clarity as a whiskey but a much denser, heavier look and is crowned with a loose splashing of stagnant white suds that travel part of the way up the glass.

I feel as though I've just stepped into some kind of secret garden; the smell of scorched earth and peat reverberates with tremendous presence. A mead (fermented honey)-like sweetness silently stoops behind the notes of heather and peaty tree bark. Vapors of fruity esters and a little kettle caramelization rounds things out nicely.

Caledonian 80/- doesn't smell or taste much like I remember it smelling and tasting. It is much more distinct than I recall, with a far more pronounced peatiness and is buried knee deep in a smoky, scorched earth flavour. Chances are hops could be partly behind that earthiness, although the beer's bitterness is not by any means compelling.

I might be mistaken, but my first (and last) few times trying this beer were from a nitro-can, which would explain why this sample doesn't possess the same creamy texture I remember it having. It also provides a clue about why the beer seems so much more rounded, complete and confident; the unapologetic peat, gritty earthiness and smoky, dry finish.

Caledonian 80/- should be exactly what you think of when you close your eyes and imagine a Scottish ale. It has a distinctive peaty character that portrays the true charm of Scotland, something that North American (or English) brewers are simply incapable of capturing. It certainly earns a spot alongside haggis in the Scots' gastronomic highlight reel.

Serving type: can

03-18-2011 19:12:43 | More by biegaman

tbeckett

Ontario (Canada)

3.4/5  rDev -10.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A - Pours a nice deep copper/ruby colour. Fizzy, creamy two finger eggshell head. Mild to medium carbonation. As head fades, it remains in the form of a nice cap, leaving a small amount of lacing. Bright.

S - Toasty, sweet, quite malty, caramel. Very mild.

T - Metallic, sweet caramel, and that toasted or smoky sort of characteristic is present again. Not overly sweet, but fairly malt forward. Nice but not overly tasty or complex.

M - Fair amount of body for such a low abv, clocking in around medium. Low to medium carbonation with a sweet finish.

D - Nothing seriously deep or interesting about this, but it's easy to drink and quite flavourful. The smokiness is what really dominates the taste, making it somewhat difficult to get down quickly, but the sweetness backing it up is a good balance. Not bad, not amazing, I'd drink it if someone offered it.

Serving type: can

02-18-2011 23:40:34 | More by tbeckett

StJamesGate

New York

3.98/5  rDev +5.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours pale rosy tan with a loose off white head that surprisingly holds. Whisky brack nose: raisin, barrel, malt. Sugar roasted almond malts and prickly ginger spice tea hops Dry finish. Minty linger. Lively, light-medium, some stick.

Balanced and the flavors work very harmoniously together. Especially appreciate the hops presence - first conscious experience of WGV, which are seemingly a high alpha Goldings variant.

One of the better examples of the style.

Serving type: bottle

12-07-2010 10:13:34 | More by StJamesGate

Zimbo

United Kingdom (Scotland)

4.25/5  rDev +12.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Clear dark copper brown with a rich head which stays the distance.
Truly smooth and slightly fat and rich on the tongue like velvet.
Loads of treacly malt with elements of pear. Vinous, morish and rich to taste. Ends that way too. Very satisfying.
From a well kept cask this really sings.

One of Scotland's best examples of 80/-, the seemingly disappearing beer style.
May it always be brewed in direct flame open fire kettles in Slateford.

Serving type: cask

10-18-2010 07:40:04 | More by Zimbo

case4816

Ontario (Canada)

3.58/5  rDev -5.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A- Dark Auburn brown, orange hints in Colour. Very clear. Head poured very foamy, and dissipated fairly quickly and did not really linger, just some spots of the head remained for any real amount of time

S- Heavy Caramel smell, lots of Vanilla as well. Can also smell the nice lightly roasted malts. Can also detect the alcohol in the smell. There is a light hint of some coffee (from the malts) as well, but not very much. Also fairly yeasty smell can be detected.

T- Tastes heavy of the caramel and vanilla combination. The malts are very heavy tasting as well. The taste of the alcohol comes through a little, but is not that bad cause it's not overpowering at all. The coffee flavour is also there but only just a hint. There is also an unpleasant flavour of yeast that is detectable the longer the beer sits on the tongue.

D- Very drinkable, but nothing special. Tastes just like a standard Scottish Ale, almost like a Red Ale to me.

Serving type: can

10-04-2010 03:39:00 | More by case4816

MattyV

Ontario (Canada)

3.63/5  rDev -4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Pours a deep amber colour with fluffy off-white head that recedes to a thin ring and leaves a few sporadic gobs of lacing.

Aroma is all malt; bread and caramel.

Flavour is malt-heavy, as expected. Sweet caramel and bread notes with a light roastiness; very rich tasting. The roasted malt flavour lends a touch of bitterness to maintain balance. Some very slight fruitiness detected, presumably the hops trying to make their presence known.

Medium body and carbonation.

This is successfully malt-dominant without being overly sweet. That being said, while an enjoyable beer, more than one would probably be too much. Would have enjoyed more fruity hoppiness, which would've definitely helped its drinkability for me.

Serving type: can

09-29-2010 01:38:01 | More by MattyV

roadhouse

Florida

4.22/5  rDev +11.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Amber-red color with an inch head the dissipates to a mild skim.

Aromas of sweet caramel with some toasted notes. A fruity character is there but nothing in particular stands out.

Taste is really great working together with the caramel and toastiness with that odd fruit character coming through as well. Clean on the pallet yet complex.

Mouthfeel is medium with a good level of carbonation.

Surprised at how good this one was, I want more, one can isn't enough. Quite sessionable I must say.

Serving type: can

09-23-2010 13:59:23 | More by roadhouse

kwjd

Ontario (Canada)

3.23/5  rDev -14.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Pours a amber colour with thin head with a small amount of lacing on some parts of the glass. Smells of caramel and bread with maybe the faintest hint of hops. Small bitterness, but more sweetness comes through in the flavour. Fairly thin mouthfeel. I would like to try this on cask as I suspect it would be much better.

Serving type: can

09-12-2010 14:49:33 | More by kwjd

spinrsx

Ontario (Canada)

3.03/5  rDev -19.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

500ml can poured into a pint glass

Appearance - pours a clear copper brown colour with a fair size foamy off white head. Lots of carbonation showing, and also some decent lacing. The head dissipated fairly quickly.

Smell - this beer has some hops up front and some caramel notes. Also a nutty aroma and slightly metallic.

Taste & Mouth - Average amount of carbonation on the drink, light hops and malts at first, a pleasing not overpowering taste. The middle of the drink brings a malty/almond like sweetness, followed by a slightly bitter finish. It's too bad that the beer is a little on the watery side

Drink - A nice well rounded beer that has a little of everything. The richness of a dark beer, but the refreshing aspect of a light beer.

Serving type: can

08-23-2010 00:13:49 | More by spinrsx

kjyost

Manitoba (Canada)

3.83/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a nice rich and clear orange-red with a moderate head, but no lacing. Very enjoyable aroma with notes of caramel, toffee and bread. Taste has many of the same notes, but it seems thin at times, almost watery. No substantial bitterness nor hop aroma. The thinness is the only drawback to the beer, killing the mouthfeel. Nevertheless, an enjoyable and drinkable beer.

Serving type: on-tap

07-10-2010 13:50:32 | More by kjyost

champ103

Texas

4.53/5  rDev +19.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

A: Pours a slighlty hazy dark brown color. A one finger beige head forms with good retention. Lots of patchy lace is left behind.
S: This is awesome. At first some toasted caramel aromas. Though that quickly gives way to a great fruity aroma. Pears, cherries are present. A tart green apple aroma lingers on that is great.
T: Follows the nose. Lots of toffee and sweet malt. A huge fruity flavor. A medely of pears and cherries. One of the biggest tart, green apple flavor I have come across for the style. Just amazing.
M/D: A medium to full body. Velvety smooth, creamy and rich. This is something I can drink all day long.

This is amazing. A great cask offering. One of the best Scottish Ales I have come across. There is really no smoky peat character, but what is here is really unique. A perfect example of a Scottish brewery pushing the bounderies. Highly recommended to say the least.

Serving type: cask

06-15-2010 21:46:47 | More by champ103

jonnypopgun

United Kingdom (England)

3.4/5  rDev -10.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pleasant enough drinking, if not exceptional. Only the faintest of aromas, not the best in that department. Flavour is chiefly sweet and malty. Nicely carbonated. Pretty much no bitterness at all. Good session beer, but prefer Deuchars IPA from this brewery. Would like to try on tap and have spotted it somewhere, so may report back...

Serving type: bottle

05-30-2010 20:32:14 | More by jonnypopgun

seand

California

4/5  rDev +5.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A: Pours a clear brown with an off white head. Enough of the head retains to leave a small amount of lacing.

S: Sweet, light fruit and brown sugar.

T: Sweet but nicely balanced, with some subtle but noticeable hops on the finish.

M: Medium body, medium carbonation.

D: Drinks very nicely, would be a good session beer.

Serving type: can

05-12-2010 00:00:41 | More by seand

imprezawrxsti

Colorado

4/5  rDev +5.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured out of a 500ml bottle purchased at the Odd Bins on the Royal Mile in Edinburgh.

Pours out a dark gold, almost brown colour. Some lacing remains, even almost half an hour after pouring.

Tastes of nuts and malt, slight citrus notes, coriander. Really tasty. Just enough fizz that one can tell it's there. This claims to be "the definitive Scottish style ale", and tastes like a good benchmark to start from. Feels just heavy enough in the mouth, not syrupy, but with a presence.

Definitely a good choice, certainly better than the Tennent's that started the night.

Serving type: bottle

03-14-2010 21:41:08 | More by imprezawrxsti