McEwan's Scotch Ale - The Caledonian Brewery Company Limited

Jason

Massachusetts

3.25/5  rDev -14.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Presentation: 12 oz brown bottle with no freshness date.

Appearance: Dark brown with a tarnished bronze hue, good head retention that leaves behind some sticky lace.

Smell: Sweet and mildly alcoholic with undertones of dark sugar, roasted malt and black currants. Smells of a coffee liquor or similar.

Taste: Incredibly smooth and creamy with a slick and almost syrupy mouth feel within the full body. Quite sweet on the palate, cloying at times. Lots of residual sugars floating around with very little hop character at all. Fruitiness is very light with hints of black currants. Malt flavours lack a bit in depth and complexity. Alcohol warms the mouth. Faint roasted malt flavour give a coffee like influence and a bitty dextrin grain leaves an odd feeling in the mouth further in the finish.

Notes: Undoubted as good dessert beer or as a night cap with a cigar, to drink on its own is too much for some. Big time sipping brew that should be consumed at cellar temperature. As far as Scotch Ales go, I have had better and locally brewed at that.

Serving type: bottle

07-03-2002 18:31:43 | More by Jason

timoteo833

New York

3.75/5  rDev -1.3%

05-18-2013 02:10:11 | More by timoteo833

GratefulNole

Florida

3/5  rDev -21.1%

04-03-2013 13:53:14 | More by GratefulNole

Lonestargazer52

Texas

4.75/5  rDev +25%

03-12-2013 17:35:43 | More by Lonestargazer52

spycow

Illinois

4/5  rDev +5.3%

03-11-2013 04:27:37 | More by spycow

Noboatfred

4.75/5  rDev +25%

02-10-2013 02:23:55 | More by Noboatfred

Bnoise11

California

4.25/5  rDev +11.8%

01-23-2013 01:58:28 | More by Bnoise11

MikalMick

Florida

3.5/5  rDev -7.9%

01-22-2013 20:04:04 | More by MikalMick

LooseMoose1978

North Carolina

3.5/5  rDev -7.9%

01-21-2013 13:17:50 | More by LooseMoose1978

Mosul

Arizona

5/5  rDev +31.6%

01-18-2013 04:52:46 | More by Mosul

RandyKemka

Connecticut

3.5/5  rDev -7.9%

01-11-2013 19:56:56 | More by RandyKemka

BeerLover99

New Jersey

3/5  rDev -21.1%

01-11-2013 19:56:37 | More by BeerLover99

lookrider

Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev -1.3%

01-09-2013 18:14:26 | More by lookrider

chefduff2

New York

2/5  rDev -47.4%

01-06-2013 00:00:57 | More by chefduff2

t0rin0

California

3.75/5  rDev -1.3%

01-01-2013 05:10:00 | More by t0rin0

ThisDudeAbides

California

2.75/5  rDev -27.6%

12-24-2012 03:38:43 | More by ThisDudeAbides

barczar

Kentucky

3.8/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Pretty sure this is several years old.

Pours an opaque deep brown with amber highlights and a modest half inch khaki head that lingers.

Molasses, toffee, roasted malt, booze, and a bit of peat begin the aroma. Deep caramelization and a vanilla quality emerge.

Flavor is sweet and buttery, with diacetyl and molasses dominating initially, accompanied by figs, prunes, dates, raisins, and deeply caramelized malts. There's a nutty, lightly roasted malt backbone. Earthy hops round out the profile, which finishes slightly dry. Cola and peaty notes emerge as it warms.

Body is syrupy, with minimal carbonation and slight alcohol warmth.

Overall, a delicious, dark fruit-centric beer, with a touch of earthiness. Fairly peaty. The cola flavor is offputting.

Serving type: bottle

12-19-2012 09:13:36 | More by barczar

priwen

Arkansas

3.25/5  rDev -14.5%

12-15-2012 16:17:22 | More by priwen

cliff1066

Virginia

3.75/5  rDev -1.3%

12-10-2012 05:58:04 | More by cliff1066

Desert_Gypsy_Beer

4.5/5  rDev +18.4%

12-09-2012 17:01:00 | More by Desert_Gypsy_Beer

kojevergas

California

3.08/5  rDev -18.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Served on-draught into a .25cl tulip in a cafe in Belfort, France. 7.2%. Reviewed from notes taken in June 2010.

A: Pours a one finger head of nice cream, fair thickness, and average retention. Body colour is a dark ruby-black.

Sm: Caramel, chocolate, malts, toffee, and alcohol.

T: The notes from the nose are all present in the body, and come together nicely for the climax. Caramelized malt ties it together but feels overdone. The balance is decent. Fairly complex, but far from unique. Built fairly well for the style.

Mf: Coarse enough to bring out its flavours, but otherwise smooth and wet to aid drinkability. Complements the flavours nicely.

Dr: Easy to drink and of above average quality, but it's ass expensive in France at 3 quid per half pint. It's a nice little Scotch Ale, but not good enough to warrant buying again. I'll stick to Old Chub for my go-to Scotch Ale. It does hide its ABV well.

C+

Serving type: on-tap

12-06-2012 21:22:59 | More by kojevergas

KalanM

British Columbia (Canada)

4/5  rDev +5.3%

11-30-2012 03:45:51 | More by KalanM

bzach

Indiana

3/5  rDev -21.1%

10-16-2012 05:26:31 | More by bzach

JeffreyJDavis

North Carolina

3.25/5  rDev -14.5%

10-04-2012 12:25:12 | More by JeffreyJDavis

beerpadawan

California

3.75/5  rDev -1.3%

08-27-2012 00:18:44 | More by beerpadawan