Cold Smoke Scotch Ale - Kettle House Brewing Co.

ChainGangGuy

Georgia

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

Appearance: Pours a clear, dark garnet-hued body wtih a small, bubbly, whiteish head.

Smell: Peaty, malty aroma of caramel candy, toasted nuts, and even some chocolate.

Taste: Toasty, nutty malts with a mild sweetness. Light peat character. Sprinkle of cocoa powder. Mildly earthy bitterness. Slight taste of pitted fruits. Mildly sweet, relatively clean finish.

Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied. Medium carbonation.

Drinkability: Not a bad lil' scotch ale, though I could stand and would appreciate a ramped up peaty smokiness.

Serving type: can

06-02-2008 23:42:56 | More by ChainGangGuy

biboergosum

Alberta (Canada)

3.95/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Canned on June 3, 2010. Good to know.

This beer pours a clear, very dark mahogany hue, with a multitude of foamy, rocky light beige head, which renders some thin layers of lace around the glass upon its retreat. It smells of roasted bready caramel malt, a bit of peat, and some citrusy alcohol. The taste is lightly toasted caramel malt, a soft chocolaty nuttiness, a little bit of vanilla bean, and an echo of smoke. The carbonation is quite sedate, the body medium weight, appealingly smooth and practically seductive. It finishes clean, and off-dry, a mildly smoky nuttiness presiding.

One easy-drinking scotch ale, no heat from the fortifying booze at all, which means that the name is at least half-right, the titular smoke being pretty ethereal.

Serving type: can

10-08-2010 23:13:28 | More by biboergosum

glid02

Georgia

4.1/5  rDev +4.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Can shared by jophish17 - thanks!

Pours a clear chestnut brown color with a half-finger tan head. The head recedes into a thin layer on top leaving solid lacing.

Smells of smooth caramel malts with a hint of toastiness and milder hints of toffee.

Tastes similar to how it smells. The malt flavors are a bit more complex as now hints of milk chocolate and lightly roasted malts back up the robust caramel malt flavors. Midway through the sip the flavors sweeten and hints of toffee make their way out, carrying through to a crisp ending.

Mouthfeel is good. It's got a nice thickness with moderate carbonation.

Drinkability is very good. I finished my glass quickly and could easily have a few more.

Overall this was a nicely done scotch ale - very smooth and generous with different varities of malt flavors. Well worth a shot.

Serving type: can

03-28-2010 16:06:58 | More by glid02

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

JohnGalt1

Idaho

3.95/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

16oz can from the cellar purchased by my fiancee's parents at the Bozeman Community Food Coop .... Don't exactly remember the price but I thing around $4/can ... expensive but really a nice value and a chance to help keep canning alive while promoting a great Montana brewery.

I shared this brew with a coworker .. my half from my small weizen glass. Very nice beige head that left rings of lacing for the entire glass.. brew is brown... dark brown.. nice ruby highlites..

Biscuit malts and dark caramel... bready notes in the nose.. some expected esters that are not overplayed.. no hops, although I may be missing them..

Flavor is spot-on. malty and toffee... some very lite raisin... brown malts lingering ... good mix of yeasty fruitiness.. great body and carbonation.. blindfolded, I never would have guessed this was a canned brew.. I can never detect "peat smoke" in Scotch ales, and I won't try in this one.. but I swear there is a slight "Scotch" finish at the end of the palate.... smoooothh. creamy. very nice.

I have 1 more in the cellar.. I will probably keep it for a rainy day.. but you never know.. Cold Smoke is one of those beers that I really like to share with friends.

Serving type: can

12-20-2007 10:06:57 | More by JohnGalt1

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

dirtylou

Washington

3.9/5  rDev -1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

16oz can, singles available throughout Montana...enjoyed by the fire in yellowstone

appearance: cool cans with outdoorsy narratives about the brew - cola-mahogany body, tan lace

smell: dry roasted malt, sweet dark fruits, toffee, peat, brown sugar

taste: quite enjoyed this scotch which i often saved for the nightcap when the evening chill set in...well balanced - sweet caramel and toffee, dried dark fruit, lightly roasted malts, touch of chocolate

mouthfeel: smooth and a little sweet

overall: nice - enjoyed this canned beer quite a bit

Serving type: can

07-11-2011 17:11:36 | More by dirtylou

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

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

Deuane

Pennsylvania

4.18/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A-Clear deep copper with lighter highlights. A medium thin tan head redeuces to a thin ring leaving spotty lace..

S-Sweet caramel, malt and a nice wafting of peat smoked malt. This isn't a rauchbier but much more subtle, giving you just a suggestion of single malt scotch.

T-A swirling combination of sweet caramel, light roast and peated malt. The smokiness is present and prevalent but not overwhelming. This is a smoked beer for the masses....in a good way!

M-The only fault with this brew....and not a huge knock but just enough to warrant a less than good score. Medium-light body with a sharp feel from the carbonation. I would like a bit more body and smoother feel.

D-Tasty stuff, this alone could let me down multiples! I like the smoked elements plus the sweetness is not overwhelming....a fault I see in many scotch ales. This is a well crafted and tasty brew, from a can no less! Give it just a bit more body and round out the smoothness and this could become a world beater!

Serving type: can

08-02-2008 22:54:57 | More by Deuane

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

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

Boto

Connecticut

3.9/5  rDev -1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Draught @ Big Sky: This one pours a ruby tinged brown color. It has a fairly decent frothy off white head on it, but it doesn’t last too long. A bit of a roasted, sweet malt to the nose, as well as some smokiness. I didn’t really get any peat out of it, as I might expect in a scotch ale. A good medium body and flavor. Mainly the sweet roasted malts that were in the aroma, as well as some of the smokiness. Some lurking hops for balance, but fairly hidden. Decent!

Serving type: on-tap

07-15-2007 11:42:48 | More by Boto

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

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

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

indiapaleale

Massachusetts

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

Pour - the can very clearly reads "Canned on Sept 3 10". Love that! I wish more canning breweries made it that easy to see when they filled their cans. Anyways, this one pours a very, very dark amber with a inch of thick, yellowish-white head on top. This looks great, I am ready to dive in.

Aroma - brown sugar, brown bread, molasses, caramel, honey...all the sweet things in life basically. Rich and malty smelling as a good Scotch Ale should be.

Taste - smooth on the lips and tongue with a good bit of malty sweetness clearing the palate...for more malty sweetness. Like most other Scotch Ales the malt is the dominant flavor. Plenty of that biscuity flavor associated with malty brews as well as caramel and honey. As it warms I get some fruity apple cider-y flavors as well. Very tasty stuff.

Overall - sweet but not cloying. Actually, this is more of a juicy, malty brew if that makes any sense. Its refreshing like a lighter brew might be. Sort of hard to explain. Its easy to see why this is their flagship brew, its easy to drink and even easier to enjoy. If you like Amber Ales, ESBs or Brown Ales (or other Scotch Ales obviously) you'll certainly enjoy this beer.

Would I buy more of it? - hells yes. Great stuff in a great, big, awesome-looking can. Loads of malty goodness and just about perfect on a cold night in front of the fireplace.

Serving type: can

12-01-2010 01:21:01 | More by indiapaleale

younger35

Minnesota

3.98/5  rDev +1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This was one of the two Kettle House brews that I received in a trade from JohnGalt1. O yeah, he gave me an ABYSS too! Drank and reviewed in-between games of Halo 3 (I’m a dork…). Drank from my family guy glass (ha!)

Appearance- Pours a dark brown with a bit of a amber/yellow tint with a nice one finger creamy head. Leaves a nice cap and collar with fairly decent lacing.
Smell- Lot’s of malt in this big fella. Lightly sweet with soft fresh bread tones. A bit of caramel goodness mixed in with very little, if any, hop kick.
Taste- Slightly sweet with a smooth honey like start. Nice bit of a roasted malt to go along with the sweetness and very slight smokiness. The smokiness is a bit different than what I expected. Could have used maybe a touch more “peatyness”. Finishes with a bit of a fruity bitterness with just a touch of alcohol. Overall pretty tasty stuff.
Mouthfeel- Nice and velvety smooth with very little carbonation.
Drinkability- This is a very easy drinking, pretty tasty brew. I’d drink this regularly if it was available to me. It sort of reminds me of Surly’s Bender without all the big flavor. Like it’s little brother. Thanks again to JohnGalt1!

Serving type: bottle

11-01-2007 00:24:14 | More by younger35

Duff27

Illinois

3.98/5  rDev +1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Canned on 11/3/2011

A- Half-inch light tan head on a dark ruby red beer. Above average head retention...drink by drink step lacing on one side of the pint glass, splotchy lacing on the side that's being drank from.

S- Whiffs of cola and slight peat/smoke.

T- Big time sweet maltiness, caramel. Cola-esque aftertaste. Low to no hop presence, per style guidelines.

M- Full creamy mouthfeel. Carbonation is there, well integrated and isn't biting. Feels nice.

D/O- Very impressed with my first Kettlehouse offering. May not in the top tier scotch ale conversation but very solid nonetheless. Thanks fdkayti!

Serving type: can

12-13-2011 01:59:56 | More by Duff27

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

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

facundoCNB

New Jersey

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

poured into a pint glass, perfect pour with a nice amount of light tan head that went straight to the brim of the glass. beer color is more like a porter - deep amber/brown. smells of vanilla, oak, slight hint of fruit (overtone of grapes). tastes very smokey, malty, sweet chocolate, slight bitterness from hops (very faint but in the aftertaste). real smooth on the palate, a little creamy on the roof of the mouth.. goes down like a nice stout. this is very well balanced beer.. never thought i liked scotch ales until i had this (and the three floyds one). very nice.

Serving type: can

03-19-2012 17:58:36 | More by facundoCNB

chugalug06

Colorado

4.33/5  rDev +9.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

A - Very nice head, rather aggressive. Head is nice off-white mildly foamy... Brew is nice dark purple with lots of black and and mild browns. Nice lacing too.

S - Yum. Nice. Lots of smokey goodness... Not a huge smoke fan, but this one is done right! Lots of small fruits... Grape, apple, banana, orange....

T - Very subtle smoke flavor, nothing intense. One of the best scotch ales I've had in some time. Mild malt with gentile hop.

M - Perfect carbonation and zero bitterness. Light body with awesome distribution.

O - This brew reminds me of being in Glacier National Park.... Awesome! Can't wait to go back and enjoy more of this fine brew. Definitely worth a try. I wouldn't hunt, but definitely seek. Great job Kettlehouse!

Serving type: can

07-12-2011 02:15:50 | More by chugalug06

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

Risser09

Pennsylvania

4.18/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

12 oz can shared at the homebrew club into a small American Pint - 2008 - Fridge Temp

Appearance: Pours a transparent brown color with orange highlights. A tan head rises about 1" and shows good retention with good lacing that coats the glass.

Smell: Caramel, malt, a tiny bit of smoke and PEAT! Not awfully apparent, but there is some peat aroma that reminds me of a single malt.

Taste: A number of malt flavors includes caramel, toast, fig, and peat. Peat is the most endearing quality of this beer. It makes it feel like what a scotch ale should be, a chaser to your dram. It only makes sense to make one taste similar to the other. Very nice.

Mouthfeel: Creamy and slick at first, but there is a drying effect in the finish. Perhaps it is more of a sharpness. Alcohol is evident, but not cloying.

Drinkability: Great. I have found a new favorite Scotch ale, one that should be the keystone to which the style is interpreted. Peaty, malty, and creamy, not to mention that it comes in a can. Very nice.

Serving type: can

05-29-2008 18:11:04 | More by Risser09