Cold Smoke Scotch Ale - Kettle House Brewing Co.

radioscooter

Pennsylvania

2.35/5  rDev -40.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 2

Got in a BIF. One of a very few potential saving graces of a wildly disappointing haul.

Poured into a Thistleglass. Nice 2 finger head with no lacing but many little bubbles left behind.

Aroma is too many Hops for a Scotch Ale. No matter how you describe or interpret it. Plus that "US beer phenolic ugg. Sigh. Ah well. Down we go.

Ah. Too bad. Utter crap.

Basically a food colored PBR. Well, not unexpected. Crazy high carbonation, as if we're 15 again and squirreling away Mickey's Big Mouth.

Let me describe this to you: 1. Grab some cheap, BMC beer (any) Decant it into a 16 oz. can. Add some dark brown food coloring. Put a "Scotch Ale" label on it and hope that some of the trailer folks want to spread their wings a little but really still want to drink to get drunk.

Time waster. Drain + pour. Not remotely a Scotch Ale. I cannot believe the other reviewers were drinking the same product as I.

Serving type: can

11-21-2011 03:36:17 | More by radioscooter

rwinzing

New Jersey

2.93/5  rDev -25.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Doing some drinking of extra's I have gotten in trades. Not sure where this one came from but thnx anyway! Poured into my DFH signature glass.

Very dark amber color almost brown. Nice lacing and had a very small head that is off white in color

Smell - not much of any aroma a little sweet but not much there

taste - sweet and nice. Newer style to me light not overwhelming

mouthfeel - thin

Overall - would drink again but wouldn't seek out.

Serving type: can

07-28-2011 21:21:02 | More by rwinzing

Agold

Pennsylvania

3.05/5  rDev -22.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2 | overall: 3

Got this beer from a friend who went to Montana. Pours with a nice white head that leaves nice bit of lacing. Not much retention. Aroma a bit of nice caramel and mild toffee. Flavor is mild. Does not have much of the caramel or toffee that is in the aroma. Very mild caramel and a bit of maybe roast? There is also a bit of herbal hops. Theres really not much going on. Mouthfeel is too light for the style and carbonation is too high. Overall this beer is nice, but definitely not a great scotch ale. I think another point or two of ABV and maybe a bit more body would have been helpful.

Serving type: can

01-06-2012 03:43:16 | More by Agold

scruffwhor

Illinois

3.23/5  rDev -18%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Tanks to da NJG aka "DBK" for hooking me up wit anoder MT brew!

Tarnished, garnet hue. Good, light beige head after the initial pour. A little ring o' foam forms around the endge of the beer after letting it sit for a couple minutes to warm up. I can see a few small bubbles rising to the top of this darker brew.

Malty sweet aroma of dark fruit and heavily toasted and mildly roasted malts. Dark plums and black cherries and dry, sweet pumpernickel bread crust.

The taste starts and moves to the middle with musty roasted barley flavors. The finish mellows with some warm plum, hint of coffee and roasted mlat. But that mustiness sticks around longer than desired.

Chalky palate, sweet overall, but that mustiness is a little off putting. Pretty good overall I'd say.

Serving type: can

10-28-2012 17:19:22 | More by scruffwhor

mnstorm99

Minnesota

3.25/5  rDev -17.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Can thanks to smellysell.
Beatiful looking beer with a nice dark opaque amber color and an off white head with some nice lacing.
Aroma is sweet and smokey, just as I expected with a crapload of malts to give it a decent balance from the smoke.
Taste is less smokey and much more malty. a little too much going on there for me to really pick it out.
Nice smooth creamy texture, coats nicely going down.
I could drink one or two of these, but I need my hops and this is a good one to have between a couple of hoppy beers to cleanse the palate as you will.

Serving type: can

10-09-2007 14:45:50 | More by mnstorm99

beernut7

Massachusetts

3.33/5  rDev -15.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5

This dark scotch ale was not as impressive as the others at the brewery. The roasted malt was paired with a fruity hop character. The brew was light and refreshing…a little too light and refreshing for a style of ale that was probably created to impart the need in man to throw objects in many different ways for sport or war.

Serving type: on-tap

08-20-2002 17:37:46 | More by beernut7

beertunes

Washington

3.33/5  rDev -15.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Poured into pint glass. Poured a translucent deep reddish brown with just trace of off white head that had no retention and left no lacing.

A slight peat aroma is the first feature to reach the nose, followed a nice malt base. The flavors are subdued version the expected tastes.

The body was typical and drinkability was slightly above average. Overall, a decent example, worth trying if you see it.

Serving type: can

09-18-2009 09:25:34 | More by beertunes

emmasdad

Colorado

3.33/5  rDev -15.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Another one shared by schmittymack on Saturday evening; This one poured from the tall boy can a nice reddish brown color with a small lingering tan head. Aromas of toffee, dark fruit and a hint of smoke. On the palate this one was medium bodied, with flavors of caramel, toffee, sweet malt and a little smoke.

Serving type: can

04-19-2011 01:16:27 | More by emmasdad

dc55110

Minnesota

3.4/5  rDev -13.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

My brother who goes to school in Missoula recently brought this back for me.

Pours an nice dark mahogany, with a nice single finger of head that sticks around for a while, leaving a small amount of lacing.

Smell is of roasted & sweet malts. Nothing jumping out.

Taste is very similar to the nose, sweet roasted malts. Hints of roasted coffee beans, toffee...

Rather thin on the tongue, finishes clean with little residual taste in the mouth. Pleasant but nothing remarkable or noteworthy for that matter.

I guess I prefer, especially for this category, for the flavors to be a little more bold. Not a bad beer by any stretch of the imagination, just nothing that would make me go out of my way to get it again.

Serving type: can

05-15-2011 00:31:22 | More by dc55110

Klym

California

3.45/5  rDev -12.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Poured into a stone nonic. Big thanks to my family for getting this one to me!

This is a pretty strongly average scotch ale with some slightly above average features. The mouthfeel is certainly the weakspot on this one, thin and a tad flat with no appealing carbonation. There's a bizarre over-sweetness in the aftertaste on this and the heat comes through a little thick in the beginning. Balance is a big issue in this beer but overall it comes through with a sweet alcohol that is reminiscent of a classic scotch ale. Not bad to drink but also not that easy to give a flattering tick.

Serving type: bottle

10-11-2011 03:45:19 | More by Klym

tone77

Pennsylvania

3.48/5  rDev -11.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Thanks to woodychandler for this beer. Poured from a 16 oz. can. Has a very dark brown color with a 1/2 inch head. Smell is rather mild, some malts present. Taste is good, lots of malts, some sweetness, hints of coffee, just a touch of hops. Feels full bodied in the mouth and has good drinkability. Overall this is a good quality beer.

Serving type: can

03-08-2011 14:11:02 | More by tone77

EricCioe

Montana

3.53/5  rDev -10.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Had at a scotch ale blind tasting with Adam H and RWNewhouse.

This pours deep brown, darkest beer of the day, with a nice espresso crema head. On the nose there is a big dose of caramel, with fruity esters and toffee making up the backdrop. In the mouth the caramel and toffee don't leave much room for anything else, and that's not necessarily a bad thing in this style. The finish is long and fuzzy, different from the other beers, with a medium body.

Overall, we were surprised that this one finished one or two for all of us. We've all had it a million times and we couldn't pick this one out of the two we thought it might be. This is a decent example of the style, worth drinking for sure.

Serving type: can

02-20-2012 02:26:13 | More by EricCioe

zeledonia

Minnesota

3.53/5  rDev -10.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Canned on 18 Jan 2012, so a touch older than I'd like. Enjoyed 15 Jun 2012, reviewed from notes.

Pours a medium brownish amber, decently dark, and clear. Yellowish head, foaming up nicely, and leaving good lacing.

Smell is malty and slightly peaty, which I like. But it's rather light for a Scotch ale, with an unusual crispness. It's not deep, rather it's light and airy for the style.

Flavor is richer and slightly heavier, with that peaty character. Slightly smoky, but more like soil - moist, dark, and deep. Tastes very dark brown.

Mouthfeel is good - medium-bodied, medium-low carbonation. Finish is quick but watery.

A decently tasty scotch ale, kind of on the easy-drinking side of the style spectrum. I can see why this is a popular beer in its area, but I think a lot of what makes it more palatable makes it less exciting to me.

Serving type: can

08-01-2012 20:35:30 | More by zeledonia

ckeegan04

Texas

3.68/5  rDev -6.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Deep, dark amber color with a one+ finger off-white head. Excellent retention and lacing.

S - A little weak, but very deep and rich malty aroma. A little on the sweet side and lots of caramel and some burnt sugar in the aroma.

T - A very sweet caramel taste up front. A little sugary sweetness to it as well. A light earthy hoppiness comes through mid drink before fading to a very malty finish.

M/D - Medium to full bodied and very creamy. A little light on the carbonation but still very easy drinking.

A strong offering from the folks up in Montana. Not as good as Old Chub, but still very tasty. Love seeing craft beer in cans.

Serving type: can

10-11-2008 01:29:57 | More by ckeegan04

wagenvolks

Texas

3.68/5  rDev -6.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Tallboy can into a Duvel tulip. Canned on Jan 6, 2011.

Cold Smoke shows a deep magenta color as it's poured, and fills the tulip with a mahogany core. Up top, the creamy head is fueled well by the carbonation trails below; the consistency is reminiscent of Guinness. Aroma presents muted notes of milk chocolate and caramel with a hint of peat-like pungency. The hops are floral and fragrant, and the highlight of the nose.

Nice flavor profile: somewhat mild, but clean and without any off-flavors. The dark malts suggest baker's chocolate, coffee, and a toasted nuttiness, and are well-balanced by an earthy, herbal hop presence. Mouthfeel is crisp and silky at the same time. The small bubbles of carbonation pepper the front & sides of the tongue, while still allowing the beer to finish with a velvety gulp. Quite a well-crafted Scotch Ale, this. Not the most flavorful or eye-opening of the bunch, but it drinks incredibly well for the style.

Serving type: can

02-02-2011 03:23:04 | More by wagenvolks

GClarkage

California

3.7/5  rDev -6.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

06/20/08- Had via the can during my two week Montana vacation.

Presentation- 16oz can with a best by date one the top of the can. Poured into my Duvel tulip.

Appearance- Deep auburn colored pour with a one inch plus foamy and creamy tan colored head. A nice full rim remains for the duration. Nice lace patchwork left behind.

Smell- Roasted caramel malts, earth and light dark chocolate coca powder. Not very assesrtive though.

Taste- Very light sweetness from the deep roasted caramel malt base. Peat, dirt, earth and a mild smokey character. Very lightly hopped and a mild nutty flavor.

Mouthfeel- Very smooth, slightly creamy with a mid to lower carbonation level.

Drinkability- Not bad at all. Not as sweet as expected as most scotch ales I have had have been. Smooth mouthfeel makes is very easy to drink.

Serving type: can

06-20-2008 20:18:20 | More by GClarkage

smm

Minnesota

3.73/5  rDev -5.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pops brought a can back from the west when he passed through Missoula.

SA Perfect Pint

A- Dark reddish mahogany color. 3/4 Inch or so of a white/tan head which dissipates quickly after taking a sip.

S- Slightly sweet, not getting a whole lot off the nose. Kind of corny.

T- Sweet and malty, semi-chocolaty, slight bitter finish with a twinge of coffee. Nothing really jumps out.

M- Very very smooth, moderate carbonation.

D- Quite drinkable, the smoothness is very enjoyable.

With the right price point I could see knocking back a few of these during a winter evening. Hopefully one day I'll end up in Montana to go skiing and make it happen.

Serving type: can

11-26-2010 05:12:28 | More by smm

Schmittymack

Colorado

3.73/5  rDev -5.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured from 16 oz can a darker brown color with a tan head that stayed around a bit. Not exactly sure what the nose picked up but the taste was sweet malt, a touch of caramel, and an ever so slight bit of hop bitterness/bite at the end. Decent brew but I definitely prefer the Eddy Out over this one.

Serving type: can

04-23-2011 15:25:37 | More by Schmittymack

popery

California

3.78/5  rDev -4.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This Scotch Ale has a great look. It's a deep rich brown liquid with a creamy ecru head. The aroma is sweet with caramel and brown sugar. There's a touch of peat in there along with some dark fruits. The taste is a touch sweeter than I'd prefer, but it's still quite good. A little more smokiness would do wonders for this beer. Mouthfeel is smooth and creamy. It's a pleasant, enjoyable beer and I could imagine having it in regular rotation, especially for fans of the style. Good stuff.

Serving type: can

02-04-2011 08:09:54 | More by popery

RodneyFarva

Spain

3.78/5  rDev -4.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

16oz can poured into a glass

a: pours a deep brown with some ruby undertones. 1 finger of tan head, slowly dissipates.

s: malts, toffee, caramel, dark chocolate

t: mostly malts and a good amount of dark chocolate, some toffee and caramel still. very smooth, has a nice oiliness and chewiness to it that adds some depth. the drawback for me is that the carbonation is too high, which makes the mouthfeel off. the whole taste brings a very nice smoothness that the high carbonation puts off by bringing in a bitterness.

o: a very nice scotch ale, nice complexity with the different aromas and flavors. the carbonation is too damn high!

Serving type: can

03-26-2012 22:09:17 | More by RodneyFarva

woodychandler

Pennsylvania

3.83/5  rDev -2.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

I CAN hardly wait to open this beer! It came to me in a trade and I spent part of the afternoon drinking CANned Belhaven to warm up for this review.

From the CAN: "You hold in your hands the award-winning Cold Smoke Scotch Ale. Brewed with Montana grown and malted barley, hops from the Yakima Valley and pure water from Missoula's aquifer - it is a dark, smooth ale with a slightly sweet coffee finish.

Named after the light, bottomless powder that falls in Montana, Cold Smoke is the transcendent powder experience craved by skiers and boarders. What you hear on Cold Smoke days: 'Face shots!', 'Snorkels!', 'No friends on powder day!' If you have ridden Cold Smoke, you know what I mean.

Kettlehouse Brewing Company, LLC operates two breweries within a long fly cast of the Clark Fork River in Missoula, Montana. Our beer mission is to match our beers to the quality of the Montana experience.

...

Slainte, Tim O'Leary"

My pour created two fingers' worth of bubbly, thick, light-tan head with good retention. Color was a deep cola-brown with NE-quality clarity and ruby highlights. Nose was sweet, milk chocolaty, cocoa and coffee. Mouthfeel was medium-to-full with a more muted sweetness on the tongue than the nose had led me to expect. Finish had a coffee/cocoa flavor that lingered. This was nowhere near as sweet as I had girded myself to expect. I really enjoyed it, but its absence of noticeable hops made it less compelling than many American-IPAs would be for me.

Serving type: can

09-07-2009 22:38:12 | More by woodychandler

robwestcott

Indiana

3.85/5  rDev -2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

big thanks to toastermm for this one. big fan of the wee heavies.

poured carefully from the can to a sun king shaped pint glass a super dark chocolate brown with nice red highlights when held to the light with a full finger short lasting toffee colored head.

somewhat subdued aroma of dark fruits and dark sugars.

big malt forward tastes of dark fruits forward with mildly sweet coffee after

super thick, smooth and sweet. medium to highly carbonation. no bitter to be found.

drinkable - oh yeah. very.

Serving type: can

10-21-2010 00:07:31 | More by robwestcott

arizcards

Arizona

3.85/5  rDev -2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Picked up a four-pak at Wolds Valley Market in Seeley Lake, MT on Tuesday this week. Canned on 8/26/11.

Brew poured brown with a nice bubbly tan head that lingered.

Nose was malty, hint of smoke perhaps.

Taste was sweet malts finishing with a dry hop. Aftertaste is almost wine like but not cloying. Hint of coffee present.

Mouthfeel is light to medium bodied, some carbonation.

Overall a smackable beer, not to sweet but brewed to the style. I would think most beer drinkers would enjoy a cold one of these!

Serving type: can

09-08-2011 21:50:42 | More by arizcards

Bockrules

New Mexico

3.85/5  rDev -2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

poured from the pint sized can into a tulip glass (the closest thing I have the suggested thistle glass)

A - Pours a very dark brown (nearly as dark as a stout) with a two-finger, rocky, tan head. Head is intact for most of the beer, and never really completely falls apart. Leaves behind a few splotches of lacing on the top of the glass and a wall of lacing at the very bottom.

S - Fair amount of caramel malt with hints of coffee and brown sugar.

T - Caramel malt upfront. The body is on the malty side of things, with caramel and brown sugar flavors, while the earthy hops linger in the background to balance things out. Flourish of brown sugar and earthy hops as the beer passes over the back of the tongue leads a lingering, slightly bitter-sweet coffee finish.

M - A little the weaker side of medium bodied with ample carbonation to give it a some a little bit of a creamy feel. I would like to see it even thicker and creamier.

Cold smoke is a damn good beer and an excellent example of a somewhat rare brew. In fact, I hadn't even heard of a Scotch ale (only Scottish Ales) until I did field work out in Yellowstone this summer (and brought this back). To me, this seems to be more balanced than the majority of brown ales (more hops), while still retaining an alluring sweetness. A better beer than Double Haul, and worth the $2.50 I paid for it within the park. I wonder what it can be had for on tap or at a more reasonable venue?

Serving type: can

10-25-2011 06:57:21 | More by Bockrules

mwilbur

Minnesota

3.88/5  rDev -1.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from can into shaker pint glass. Canned 8/7/12.
A: Pours a clear, but quite dark mahogany with thin light tan head that quickly recedes.
S: Nice fresh light caramel malt, sweet coffee notes, and lighted toasted grains.
T: More heft here than in the aroma which is good to see. Solid and sweet dark caramel malt, sweet lightly roasted coffee, hints of wood and smoke.
M: Extremely soft and smooth...like drinking cashmere...weird, but it's the first thing that came to mind. Light body. Lingers nicely on the palate.
D: Easily drinkable, quite refreshing, and more on the sweet side for style. A solid offering. Thanks to Brad for bringing this one back!

Serving type: can

10-12-2012 03:41:55 | More by mwilbur