Wee Heavy-er Scotch Style Ale - French Broad Brewing Co.

csparace

Illinois

3.25/5  rDev -7.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25

So from the start the smell seems a little off. Its like a wetish peat smell. The taste is super super mild. Overwhelmingly mild. I have to look for the scotch for sure and it doesn't have that warming quality that I like in better scotch ales. Carbonation levels are appropriately low, but since the taste is, well watery, it doesn't really satisfy me. You can get a bit of an earthy woody feel with this beer, which is kind of attractive, but should be much stronger.

I picked this up at a gas station for $4 bucks so I'm still content. Definitely not a bold beer by any measure, but probably a good beer for anyone starting out with the genre or with micro brews in general.

Serving type: bottle

04-23-2013 03:55:17 | More by csparace

zeledonia

Minnesota

3.6/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A new brewery for me. One of my favorite unheralded styles, and one that helped get me into craft beer.

Pours deep coffee brown, a hint of red, and dark enough that it's opaque but for the edges. Two fingers of big creamy light tan head, foamy, dense, delicious-looking. Relaxes slowly to a thick ring around the surface, creeping up to meet the abundant lacing. I don't know if that description paints the picture, but it's pretty.

Smell is malty and earthy with a bit of smoke. Dank, dark mud, a little musty, with figs backing it. Nice, if a litte on the soft side.

Taste is a bit flat. I don't have anything bad to say about it, but there's just not enough there. Very earthy malts, peaty, but they drift away too quickly, leaving only a lingering mild bitterness. Could be better; mostly I'd like to have more varied flavors from it.

Mouthfeel is good. Medium-heavy body, carbonation that rises up in the middle stages, right when it's needed, and a smooth finish that slides gracefully away.

A decent wee heavy. Definitely earthy and peaty. Main complaint is that I just want more flavors, more variety/depth/complexity, out of it.

Serving type: bottle

12-20-2012 03:45:20 | More by zeledonia

nickfl

Florida

4/5  rDev +13.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Pours with a small head of off white foam on top of a clear, dark amber brown body. The head settles fairly quickly and leaves decent lace.

S - Dark toffee with just a touch of roast.

T - Soft caramel and dark sugar up front. Smoky caramel in the middle with a finish of dark, smooth malt and a touch of red apple.

M - Medium thick body, moderately low carbonation, and a slightly sweet finish.

D - Well done, the balance is excellent and the beer hides its strength quite well.

Serving type: bottle

12-06-2012 03:59:58 | More by nickfl

kylehay2004

Florida

4.18/5  rDev +18.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A: half finger rapidly dissipating head on an excellent clear deep amber body. A very attractive beer.

S: roasted and toasted malts, burnt toast and caramel.

T: flavor follows nicely with more toasted malts, sweet caramel, toffee, nuts, nutmeg and brown sugar. hints of smokey notes

M: medium body and moderate carbonation. very clean taste.

Overall: This beer is very attractive, incredibly easy to drink and very flavorful. The ABV is well hidden, a very nice beer and one of my favorite for this style. Its simple but that almost makes this one better.

Serving type: bottle

12-06-2012 03:59:15 | More by kylehay2004

buschbeer

Ohio

3.53/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

22oz bottle
Served in a tulip glass

A - When held to the light it reveals a dark rust color with amber highlights. It was topped with an inch of beige head.

S - I get some toffee and caramel malt. I get a little smokiness and some alcohol.

T - The taste is caramel malt with some roasted and smokey notes. I also get a little alcohol.

M - Medium

O - It's not a bad beer, but nothing great. I would probably drink it again. I guess it's above average.

Serving type: bottle

09-03-2012 20:04:48 | More by buschbeer

akorsak

Pennsylvania

3.63/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A bomber bottle from the brewery in AVL. Notes.

A: A caramel color, still translucent but definitely richer and darler on the amber spectrum. A white head - no lacing.

S: The nose is a combination of caramel and nuts - malty no two ways about it. Decadent with chocolatey notes following the caramel and nuttiness.

T: The nose is a big set up that the body struggles to keep up with. The ale is plenty malty - the caramel and nuts still there - but the sweetly bitter tinge of the chocolate isn't. Over time, as the ale warms up, a distinct peaty aroma manages to peep through - that is the richest part of the ale. Enjoyable but I liked the Heavy-est more.

M: A resounding malty body, well-carbonated with just a bit of hoppiness to balance. The nose is a winner, followed by the finish of a warmer glass.

Serving type: bottle

09-02-2012 17:21:19 | More by akorsak

Dope

Massachusetts

3.45/5  rDev -2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

A: Pours a rusty brown with a enormous fluffy tan head. Fades at a medium pace, leaving only minor lacing artifacts behind.

S: Caramel is prominent, not much else. Maybe a hint of toffee. Touch of toasted malt and I swear I get orange marmalade.

T: Toffee and caramel up front. Turns toasty with a hint of brown sugar and maybe even some maple. Simple and malty but smooth at least. Ends a touch drying with some earthiness.

M: Carbonation way too high, making this one annoyingly airy.

O: Meh, it would be a pretty simple but tasty scotch ale that would probably garner a 4, but the carbonation is way too high, bringing this one down.

Serving type: bottle

07-31-2012 04:20:53 | More by Dope

Boto

Connecticut

3.78/5  rDev +7.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

22oz bomber: This one pours a dark, clear caramel brown color. There was just a wisp of an off white head on it. Nice big malty nose to it. Mainly toffee, toasted malts and caramel. Just a hint of some earthy hops. Medium bodied. Toasted toffee malt taste, just a hint of bitterness coming through. Nice.

Serving type: bottle

06-09-2012 21:50:20 | More by Boto

tdm168

North Carolina

3.98/5  rDev +13.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

On tap at Jack of the Wood in Asheville

A - deep amber bordering on dark brown with a reddish hue; thin lacing of off white head

S - creamy, butterscotch, caramel, toast

T - caramel, butterscotch, creamy, mild hop bitterness in the finish

M - medium bodied, smooth, well carbonated

This is a good example of the style. It has a nice flavor profile and good drinkability. It's worth cehcking out.

Serving type: on-tap

05-29-2012 08:39:06 | More by tdm168

McNealc31

Ohio

3.95/5  rDev +12.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

ours nicely with a bigger head than most Scotch Ales, and that familiar deep amber color. Toasted malt and toffee are coming through in the aroma. Rather inviting. Surprising amount of chocolate in the flavor. Toffee and smoked malt are rather noticeable, as well. Hops provide just a bit of a bitter and dry finish, but don't overpower anything, just as it should be with Scotch Ales.The 7% ABV give a bit of heat in the flavor and warmth in the finish.

I like this Wee-Heavy-er Scotch Ale. Perhaps not quite in the top tier of the style, but the chocolate gives it a nice twist.

Serving type: bottle

05-20-2012 01:54:57 | More by McNealc31

Mora2000

Texas

4/5  rDev +13.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Thanks to mikesgroove for sending me this bottle.

The beer pours a dark reddish-brown color with an off-white head. As expected, the aroma is full of malt, with heavy amounts of toffee and caramel, as well as a hint of chocolate. The flavor is very similar. I get a lot of toffee and caramel, as well as some peat malt notes, a hint of smoke and some light amounts of dark fruit. The alcohol is also present in the flavor. Medium mouthfeel and medium carbonation.

Serving type: bottle

05-13-2012 02:35:44 | More by Mora2000

Apellonious

North Carolina

3.88/5  rDev +10.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap at jack of the wood.

A - dark brown, slightly cloudy, no head, sticky thin lace.

S - slight smoke, bread

T - chewy malts, bread, and smoke, but not overpowering or distracting. Some fruit hits at the back of the tongue.

M - sits well. Slightly below average carbonation. Sticky finish.

O - good scotch ale, worthy a try. Would drink it again.

Serving type: on-tap

04-14-2012 23:11:07 | More by Apellonious

cindyjeffsmith

Georgia

3.5/5  rDev -0.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

appearance: dark brown, some reddish highlights. Wispy tan head.
smell: Nose on the light side of a wee heavy. Subtle caramel bready.
taste: Much like the nose. Pleasant though more subtle than I prefer.
overall: Nice and tasty. My first French Broad. Should be Wee-er Heavy.

Serving type: bottle

04-11-2012 23:31:34 | More by cindyjeffsmith

VncentLIFE

North Carolina

4.15/5  rDev +17.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

On tap at City Beverage in Durham. Oh and pint night. Lets go

Pours murky brown with a thin white head. No real carbonation.

Smells like a German Dunkel. Toasted corn, sweet caramel, and toffee come to mind. No bitterness. Honestly, I swore it was a Dunkel and still do.

At first, I get a mild bitterness. Then the sweetness sets in. Smooth feeling. The caramel and corn syrup really take the forefront here. Toffee comes in later.

Serving type: on-tap

02-17-2012 01:35:06 | More by VncentLIFE

DIM

Pennsylvania

4.33/5  rDev +23%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

a: This was a clear chestnut brown. It was served to me with a small creamy cap.

s: Earthy toffee and brown sugar with hints of chocolate and muted fruits.

t: Mildly sweet up front with restrained flavors of peaty toffee, brown sugar, and hints of raisin. The finish adds a touch of warmth with a little cocoa and some dry, leafy bitterenss.

m: Medium bodied and kind of creamy.

o: Just a spot-on medium sized Scotch ale imo. I enjoyed my $4 dollar bomber just as much and I'm kicking myself for not getting more to bring home. I love the subtlety and restraint shown with this beer.

Serving type: on-tap

01-03-2012 20:52:52 | More by DIM

busterwhite

Georgia

2.78/5  rDev -21%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.5

Poured into a pint glass. Dark brown with little to no head. No lacing.

Smells of malt, some raisins and spice.

Sweet malt flavor with a little bitterness. Not a very strong flavor, almost watered down.

Mouthfeel is too thin and watery.

A little dissapointed, the taste that comes through is good but there was not much of it. This was too weak and thin.

Serving type: bottle

12-17-2011 15:32:27 | More by busterwhite

mikesgroove

South Carolina

4.15/5  rDev +17.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

brown with a huge tan colored head. A great amount of lace was left down the glass, and the settling of the beer was a fantastic site, grat pour, looked perfect. Smell was sweet right away. Lots of sugar and caramel smells, hints of grains and breads and even a light hop presence rounded this put nicely. The taste followed right away, but was alot more hoppy then I had envisioned. Lots of caramel and sugar flavors

Serving type: bottle

11-27-2011 06:12:35 | More by mikesgroove

dc55110

Minnesota

2.68/5  rDev -23.9%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Poured from a 22oz bottle into a 12oz snifter.

Pours a deep amber, almost crimson. A flurry of head quickly rises, but dissipates just as fast. A decent amount of lacing rings the glass.
The smell is some what bright and fruity. There is a bit of the normal caramel maltyness in the background. Sweet is what I smell...
The taste is very similar to the nose, bright tangy sweetness with an underlying amount of the caramel malt I am looking for.

Rather thin, carbonation while looking full, is not very present.

Overall this is OK at best. I think this bottle may have been well past its prime.

Serving type: bottle

11-24-2011 04:33:23 | More by dc55110

John1985

Tennessee

3.45/5  rDev -2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Ale was poured from a 22oz bomber into a large glass mug.

A - Chestnut brown with a small quarter inch head.

S - Small amount of cocoa and malt

T - Slightly roasted malt with bitter sweet chocolate. A little alcohol burn at the end. Not much hop presence but I'm sure it was in there to balance the malt.

M - Fairly full bodied but not cloying. I put the bomber down easily.

O - This would have been great when I was in college 30 years ago but it is rather ordinary by today's standards. With all the great brews available, I have no plans for a repeat purchase.

Serving type: bottle

11-19-2011 03:15:39 | More by John1985

chinchill

South Carolina

4.03/5  rDev +14.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

undated 22 oz. bottle; recently purchased near brewery in Asheville, so no reason to doubt it is fresh. Served in a large Austrian Ottakringer mug.

A - deep mahogany with a huge creamy white head that lasted and left a moderate amount of lacing.

S - Mainly medium malts, but a bit of floral booziness, about typical for 7% ABV.

T - Very well-hidden alcohol! This drinks like a 4% brew excepting some subtle and pleasant alcohol esters. Plenty of sweet-side components in here -- brown sugar, malts, molasses, caramel, toffee -- but enough hops have been added to make this rather neutral on the bitter/sweet spectrum, and to add a bit of spiciness. A light smokinesss and slight dryness in the finish. 4.25

M - medium-thin bodied, good carbonation. A bit thinner than optimal but exceptionally soft and creamy for style.

O - a VERY drinkable beer; this bottle went down fast. More like a brown ale than usual for style, but has sufficient maltiness and light peaty smokiness to fit the Scotch ale category.
One of the best beers I've had in this category. [4.25]

{rating confirmed with 22oz bottle in May 2012)

Serving type: bottle

10-13-2011 23:17:35 | More by chinchill

Avagadro

New Jersey

3.28/5  rDev -6.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5

A: French Broad Wee Heavy-er shares the same color as coffee, is free of haze, and is topped off by a thin off-white froth.

S: The nose is well presented, but consists solely of coffee. I was hoping for a few more notes, especially some caramel and bread ones.

T: As promised by the nose, this brew is one noted with roasted barley being overly accented. Wee Heavies should have considerable caramel notes to them, and be somewhat sweet. This one, however, is thin and overly roasted. It's not off-putting, but it's not to style.

M: Thin, light carbonation, and little in the way of texture.

O: I think this brew would fare better as an American Porter, but it is still too simple to make any headway; there simply isn't any depth. That said, as simple as it is, it is tasty. And at $4 a bomber, I really can't be too disappointed.

Serving type: bottle

09-08-2011 02:30:19 | More by Avagadro

AleWatcher

Illinois

3.18/5  rDev -9.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Thanks johnqvegas for the bottle.
Bomber into nonic pint.

Looks like a cream soda... With ginger ale clarity. Reddish brown body-- foamy 1 finger head.
Smells of toasted caramel and just a touch of earthy peat.
The taste is pretty bland too. Really hoping this would be a really amped up version of a scotch ale... But alas, it was not to be.
Some sweet bread notes and peat with and caramel.

Body is light and watery. Low carbonation... Almost too low.

Overall. Meh. This beer isn't terrible, but it leaves a lot to be desired.

Serving type: bottle

08-28-2011 02:28:23 | More by AleWatcher

fsvan

Tennessee

2.1/5  rDev -40.3%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2

Bomber poured into New Belgium globe.

A- Brown, with only tinges of red. Doesn't look like a wee heavy at all really, thus the 3. Minimal white head.

S- After the first smell I checked the bottle to make sure it is what I thought it was. Lots of roasted malts, but smells like a porter or a stout with a good dose of coffee. None of the peatiness that I expected. To me that peaty smell is a must for the style and it just isn't there. The smell isn't bad, but judging by style, it is not what it should be, and I rated it accordingly.

T- Again not much peat to it. Taste is of light roasted malts, again like a coffee stout. Taste is subdued vs. the nose. No real hop presence, but a slight coffee like bitterness. No alcohol to note, which is the best part of it, and that isn't good.

M- Medium, but light for the style

O- If I was given this beer blindly and asked what style it was by BA listed styles, it'd take at very least double digits to guess wee heavy. It tastes like an average stout. It just isn't what it claims to be (and isn't very good otherwise) and I judged it accordingly.

Serving type: bottle

08-04-2011 01:35:26 | More by fsvan

swooshjtb

Mississippi

3.43/5  rDev -2.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

I had this French Broad offering from a bottle poured into a glass. This beer is a dark brown color, very similar to a traditional porter. There is little to no head after the initial pour.

This beer smells more like a porter than a Scotch ale. It's not very smoky or earthy.

The initial taste is well-balanced between maltiness and hoppiness, but doesn't taste much like most other Scotch ales. The aftertaste is sort of earthy. The mouthfeel is pretty good with good balance of carbonation. It's refreshingly crisp for a dark ale.

Overall, I could drink this beer with no qualms (maybe as a porter rather than a Scotch ale), but it's not much to write home about. French Broad Brewing Co. has better offerings.

Serving type: bottle

06-06-2011 00:45:52 | More by swooshjtb

cosmicevan

New York

3.9/5  rDev +10.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

been sitting on this bottle for a while, thanks to my sis and bro-in-law for always supplying the NC love.

a - opened the bottle and filled my unibroue tulip. really nice deep brown with a white head that hung out for a while, but didn't leave any lacing. looked a lot like a brown ale.

s - again, brown ale ish. brown sugar, nice malt presence. a bit of booze. molasses.

t - really tasty. brown sugar, malts, molasses. caramel.

m - medium bodied, good carbonation.

o - overall, very impressed with this beer. a bit on the brown ale side of the spectrum, but delicious to enjoy.

Serving type: bottle

05-29-2011 22:51:58 | More by cosmicevan