Burning Skye Scottish Style Ale
Empyrean Brewing Company

Burning Skye Scottish Style AleBurning Skye Scottish Style Ale
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From:
Empyrean Brewing Company
 
Nebraska, United States
Style:
Scottish Ale
Ranked #75
ABV:
5.3%
Score:
80
Ranked #26,377
Avg:
3.48 | pDev: 13.79%
Reviews:
88
Ratings:
191
Status:
Active
Rated:
Jan 14, 2024
Added:
Aug 11, 2002
Wants:
  4
Gots:
  33
Brewed in the tradition of Scotland's malty-sweet beers. Sweet and smooth with a wee hint of smoked character. Brewed with American, English & German grown barley and American hops.

13 IBU
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by BEERchitect:
Photo of BEERchitect
Reviewed by BEERchitect from Kentucky

3.25/5  rDev -6.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
Decent brew that captures some of the intended Scotch Ale peat, campfire character, and with crisp, well-attenuated malts. Enough hops to balance, but not enough to compete with the sweetness or the prominant smoky character. Lightly phenolic (plastic and smoke) with a big bruised apple flavor and quite yeasty. Finishes mostly crisp, with a linger of the apple, fruity flavors. Good beer, but the apple is a bit distrating, and a better malty body would have drastically improved the beer.
Jan 18, 2008
More User Ratings:
Photo of santan_jello
Reviewed by santan_jello from Pennsylvania

3.77/5  rDev +8.3%
look: 5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Very satisfying not-too-dark color. Not too much of a scent for my pallet. Smooth malty taste, with nothing overbearing and no aftertaste. A little thick of a mouth feel for this style of ale. Overall enjoyed!
Jan 14, 2024
Photo of LesDewitt4beer
Reviewed by LesDewitt4beer from Minnesota

3.89/5  rDev +11.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
12 oz can drink by dated Jan 8, 2024 into a Becher glass.
L: Pours murky dark apricot & tea color with brighter edges, a 1/4" thin eggshell white head that has OK retention, a few steady carbonation bubbles, moderate lacing patterns with rhythmic banding.
S: Caramelized malts, grains, background earthiness.
T: Slightly floral, light citrus, gently complex mixed fruits, a touch of brown bread, toasted grains, a touch of yeast. Moderately malty overall with a fruity aftertaste. Sweetness and bitterness are light, even-keeled and are in tandem.
F: Crisp & bright medium-bodied feel with a mild center and a smooth medium-fast drying finish.
O: Very pleasant tasting and easy drinking. A mild brew overall and very well balanced. It's a bit of a "Malty Session Ale" if ya like. It is very good in its style.
Oct 18, 2023
Photo of WoodBrew
Reviewed by WoodBrew from Ohio

3.4/5  rDev -2.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
I got a bottle of this beer from my good friend and old neighbor from the 'Wego. It poured a clear copper with thin white head that is leaving a spotty lace. The scent had subtle caramel malt notes. The taste was nicely balanced and easy to drink with sweet light malt base and subtle caramel presence. The mouthfeel was lighter in body with good carbonation. Overall it is a good beer.
Apr 07, 2023
Photo of Beginner2
Reviewed by Beginner2 from Illinois

3.7/5  rDev +6.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Only my second from Empyrean; that is rare since they were started in the previous century.
I give pretty good OA Hugs to Empyrean for being around so long. But also because they are traditional: milling their grist on the top floor and then the brew's steps flow down their 4 story warehouse in old Lincoln. In a college town, you'd think that tradition fits. University open-mindedness also supports Empyrean's different portfolio, which is maltier than most.

As for Burning Skye, this copy was two months past its Best By date... but as a malt-head, that doesn't bother me much. At 13 OG, Skye Looks almost like a pale... but still sports a nice lace. Smells are mostly malt, fruity. Tastes are integrated; only 13 IBU is used to tame the malt. Balanced. It sits lightly and slightly above average in my mouth. Under-rated in my book.
Feb 13, 2023
Photo of GuyFawkes
Reviewed by GuyFawkes from Illinois

3.5/5  rDev +0.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Smudged date on bottle, so unknown vintage; drank 7/4/22 @ the Yarchives.

Cloudy orange/brown appearance.

A rough pour yielded a huge khaki head; strong lace.

Cream soda & faint caramel notes in the nose.

Medium mouthfeel.

Smoke & cream soda flavors.

This was pretty smoke heavy, and the nothing else really stood out about it.

Not one I'll return to.
Jul 05, 2022
Photo of Captain69
Rated by Captain69 from Illinois

4.04/5  rDev +16.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
great malty ale slightly sweet with great malt taste in every sip- it shows retired in beer advocate but i just got a six pack marked 2022
Apr 15, 2022
 
Rated: 3.62 by socon67 from New York

Nov 08, 2019
 
Rated: 3.7 by craigbelly from Iowa

Sep 13, 2019
 
Rated: 3.23 by GarbageMan10 from Texas

Oct 11, 2018
 
Rated: 3.59 by gopens44 from Virginia

Sep 16, 2018
 
Rated: 3.53 by WDJersey from Colorado

Nov 25, 2017
 
Rated: 4 by Gene-Colorado from Colorado

Jun 28, 2017
 
Rated: 4.24 by Julian_Hayden from Nebraska

Jun 14, 2017
Photo of Try-em-all
Rated by Try-em-all from Missouri

3.8/5  rDev +9.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
Dark gold, a bit cloudy, one finger head, subtle smokey aroma and magnificent taste, perfect with bbq, try it.
Apr 05, 2017
 
Rated: 3.18 by Nolster from Minnesota

Apr 04, 2017
 
Rated: 2.56 by Dactrius from Netherlands Antilles

Jan 24, 2017
Photo of Franziskaner
Reviewed by Franziskaner from Missouri

3.66/5  rDev +5.2%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Shiny copper penny colored with a fingernail of off white on top. Vibrant carbonation bubbles continue to rise to the surface from within. The aroma is of bready malt and caramel. I'm tasting caramel, honey and dark wheat. The mouth is smooth and viscous.
Oct 22, 2016
 
Rated: 3 by Hopstout from Minnesota

Oct 09, 2016
Photo of simplejj81
Reviewed by simplejj81 from Wisconsin

3.06/5  rDev -12.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25
Not what I'd expect for a scottish ale, totally drinkable, but quite a disappointment.
The mouthfeel is a bit too light, and the taste is not even a hint of smoky as the label suggests. Also the ABV at 5.3% is atypical for this style.
Sep 23, 2016
Burning Skye Scottish Style Ale from Empyrean Brewing Company
Beer rating: 80 out of 100 with 191 ratings