Traquair House Ale - Traquair House Brewery Lld

biboergosum

Alberta (Canada)

4.23/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

In honour of tomorrow's Hogmany celebration (at least that's what my Scottish friends call it), and the frigid (even frightful) weather outside, a wee heavy is just what the doctor ordered.

This beer pours a mildly murky, red rust-tinted deep browned amber colour, with a few fingers of tightly foamy, sort of creamy off-white head, which recedes rather lazily, leaving some broad swaths of random limestone cliff lace around the glass.

It smells strongly of sultana raisins, molasses, chocolate-ensconced caramel, and grassy, earthy hops. The taste is dominated by a heavy caramel/toffee maltiness, ever so slightly astringent smokiness, well-understated benign fruitiness, and a quite tame earthy hop twinge. There lies a rather subtle kind of oakiness, one pithy enough to allow the sweet malt to retain its dominance, even in the face of a 15-proof alcohol quotient.

The carbonation is duly understated, the body a hefty tartan-worthy full weight, with a supportive smoothness and lingering creaminess. It finishes quite off-dry, a northern malty aftertaste slightly warmed from the elevated alcohol.

One deftly rendered wee heavy, to be sure, everything one might need to prepare/fortify you for your particular stramash tomorrow. After that, this will still do you well, at least until spring's first tentative promises of lager-fueled patios.

Serving type: bottle

12-31-2008 05:04:46 | More by biboergosum

510a

Washington

4/5  rDev -4.3%

05-18-2013 05:31:26 | More by 510a

coz

Illinois

4.5/5  rDev +7.7%

05-18-2013 01:43:57 | More by coz

BeerRefugee

Oklahoma

3.61/5  rDev -13.6%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a clear dark red. Thin tan head that dissipates fairly quickly. Strong, sweet aroma of malt and dried fruit. Flavor is raisins, dried cherries, toast and just a hint of vanilla. A little more alcohol burn than usual for the style. Medium body. Slightly slick, oily finish and very mild carbonation.

Serving type: bottle

05-17-2013 20:39:35 | More by BeerRefugee

hilgart1

Illinois

2.75/5  rDev -34.2%

05-12-2013 02:01:59 | More by hilgart1

MCDub

North Carolina

4.25/5  rDev +1.7%

05-10-2013 14:49:05 | More by MCDub

Bill235

Ohio

4/5  rDev -4.3%

05-09-2013 14:43:09 | More by Bill235

dalepryor

Kentucky

4/5  rDev -4.3%

05-08-2013 03:54:17 | More by dalepryor

Kreaux

Texas

2/5  rDev -52.2%

05-03-2013 23:48:18 | More by Kreaux

YamagamiTravis

Japan

4.5/5  rDev +7.7%

04-24-2013 14:25:25 | More by YamagamiTravis

Jameswoody

Montana

4.25/5  rDev +1.7%

04-24-2013 05:03:43 | More by Jameswoody

Hellpop65

Kansas

3.75/5  rDev -10.3%

04-23-2013 22:32:20 | More by Hellpop65

SLeffler27

New York

4.31/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Fills a Dogfish Head snifter with murky, ruddy brown ale and a quick, thin creamy beige head. Each swirl leaves a viscous film on the glass.

Sweet toasted malt gives way to strong fig and light sherry. Some brown sugar and cashew or hazelnut is also discernible.

Malt is up front with moist wheat bread or perhaps pumpernickel. Fruit flavors are less prominent, followed by milk chocolate that comes out after warming. There is a nice balance to the sweetness of butterscotch and dates in the mild finish.

A medium to full body with cotton texture, fizzy carbonation and light alcohol.

This is a comfortable beer with enough character to be interesting but not so much as to be distracting from other pursuits while consuming. Warmth is a good friend to this beer, which was aged four years in the cellar.

Serving type: bottle

04-21-2013 14:54:26 | More by SLeffler27

Ciocanelu

Romania

4.5/5  rDev +7.7%

04-20-2013 12:36:31 | More by Ciocanelu

wrightst

Maryland

4.5/5  rDev +7.7%

04-12-2013 00:18:34 | More by wrightst

Nayr

Hawaii

4.25/5  rDev +1.7%

04-06-2013 09:05:40 | More by Nayr

Hultkrantz

Sweden

4/5  rDev -4.3%

03-23-2013 23:42:06 | More by Hultkrantz

vande

Illinois

4/5  rDev -4.3%

03-20-2013 01:07:06 | More by vande

josephwa

Minnesota

3.5/5  rDev -16.3%

03-19-2013 21:23:23 | More by josephwa

imfrigginfly

Hawaii

4.25/5  rDev +1.7%

03-18-2013 16:18:04 | More by imfrigginfly

Lukass

Ohio

4.5/5  rDev +7.7%

03-17-2013 22:14:57 | More by Lukass

saeh

France

4.5/5  rDev +7.7%

03-16-2013 06:25:31 | More by saeh

chippo33

Vermont

3.25/5  rDev -22.2%

03-13-2013 23:46:53 | More by chippo33

enelson

Illinois

4.5/5  rDev +7.7%

03-10-2013 23:24:06 | More by enelson

PEIhop

Massachusetts

4.25/5  rDev +1.7%

03-08-2013 02:25:19 | More by PEIhop