Samuel Adams Scotch Ale - Boston Beer Company (Samuel Adams)

Gusler

Arizona

3.93/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Reviewed 08/14/02
The beer on the pour appears deep dark amber with a modest light tan head, frothy and the lace a fine sheet. Nose is heavy, strong malts and hops a beer that fights back, start is sweet, malt laden and the top middling in feel. Finish is spiteful in its acidity, hops personable in their spiciness, very dry and a good drinking beer all around.

Serving type: bottle

11-09-2003 00:58:32 | More by Gusler

DrJay

Massachusetts

4.05/5  rDev +7.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Clear coppery dark amber with a fluffy eggshell cap of foam. Lots of lacing, mostly chunky-style, with good head retention. Malty aroma, notes of caramel and sugary sweetness, plus the added bonus of well-balanced peat and smoke character. I certainly didn't expect that! Low bitterness with caramel and malt sweetness that didn't end up cloying. Peat was more subdued in the flavour, but made its presence known in the finish. Medium bodied with decent texture, average carbonation. Easy drinking for a beer with some peat character. A pleasant surprise, but seems more of a scottish than scotch ale to me.

Serving type: bottle

04-25-2009 22:07:31 | More by DrJay

plaid75

New York

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

Poured a medium amber hue with a one finger frothy white head. There was good retention and lacing.

The smell featured a moderately sweet malt with a peaty smokiness.

The taste consisted of a smooth smoky sweetness and a light grassy hop.

The mouthfeel was toward the lighter side of the style.

Overall a very tasty malt driven ale.

Serving type: bottle

11-13-2009 02:23:40 | More by plaid75

biegaman

Ontario (Canada)

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

Samuel Adams Scotch Ale may be flat, but it's a fine looking beer all the same. Its blood red body is dark but shows brilliant ruby highlighting and pristine clarity; the beer's richness is apparent in its complexion which itself shows a great deal of depth.

The aroma is deeply malty, with far more smoky peat apparent than caramel. Already you start to notice a resemblance to whiskey - why do I get the feeling this peaty smell will stick to my clothes after? Of course, it has far more malt and far less alcohol than any blend or single malt, but it does share the smoky grain and even a touch of oak.

The one thing every Scotch Ale must have is rich malty and peaty flavour. This one has plenty of both of those features as well as a firm kettle caramelization, hints of smoky grain, black cherry-like fruitiness as well as some nutty character. Still, it's not terribly sweet. Notching so many different rungs obviously places this one high on the flavour ladder.

The beer drinks with much more weight and character than the reasonable 5.4% notching would lead you to assume. Although not even a shadow of alcohol can be noted, I would have guessed this closer to the 7% range simply for its depth and complexity. It has smoky notes, sweet and nutty notes, an earthy bitterness and a ton of peat flavour.

Samuel Adams doesn't just provide a superficial glimpse of the scotch ale style as many brewers do, they provide you with a bona fide example that is indistinguishable from the immemorial ales of Scotland. While it doesn't take the style to the same extremes as other American micros, I'd still consider this one of my favourite examples this side of the pond.

Serving type: bottle

07-30-2011 18:43:04 | More by biegaman

Brad007

Vermont

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

Pours a dark, ruby red color with a decent head that fades into a one-finger head with mild lacing. Aroma is strong and malty with the smoked peat showing through nicely. I really enjoy the aroma. Taste is malty/fruity upfront and fades to a nice smoked peat finish at the back of the tongue. Definitely a smoky beer. A second sip catches more of the smokiness .

The finish is somewhat dry and lingering. I can see why this beer was so popular, that Sam Adams had to bring it back.

Excellent.

Serving type: bottle

01-05-2008 02:27:56 | More by Brad007

stakem

Pennsylvania

3.95/5  rDev +4.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours a deep amber with less than a finger head that dissolves fairly fast. After a couple sips there is barely a translucent film across the top of the beer. Despite the lack of the head, it leaves a bit of lacing on the glass. Nose has a bit of malty sweetness, very pleasant. Also can smell hints of smoke and maybe something to the effect of Pete. Taking a sip you can taste a bit of smokiness as well and a slight bit of hop bitterness in the very crisp finish. Mouthfeel is a bit light and carbination is perfect. One delicious brew that is quite easy to drink.

Serving type: bottle

09-02-2009 21:56:00 | More by stakem

mothman

Saskatchewan (Canada)

3.95/5  rDev +4.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured into Sam Adams Sensory Glass

Pours a 2 finger light tan fluffy head. Leaves some thick lacing. Color is a deep amber bronze.

Aroma is malty. Carmel, honey, and coffee.

Taste is of leafy hops and robust malts. Honey and carmel as well. Leaves a smokey aftertaste.

Mouthfeel is a little crisp, but very refreshing. Leaves a coffee aftertaste, but it still a little sticky.

Overall this is another staple from Sam Adams. Very easy drinking beer with a lot of flavor.

Serving type: bottle

04-12-2009 00:20:34 | More by mothman

largadeer

California

3.13/5  rDev -17%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Dark reddish-brown with excellent clarity. An inch tall head tops the body, and settles to a thin cap in minutes.

Really not much aroma on these Sam Adams beers... Peat, smoke, toasted malt. Pretty bland.

Very smoky on the tongue. Toasted and roasted malts, peat, earth. A rather dry beer, with the smoke only enhancing that perception. Medium-full body, pretty viscous for a sub-6% alcohol brew. Virtually no hop flavor or bitterness, the finish is more malty with a sticky peat smoke flavor.

An alright scotch ale on the whole, though it's a bit heavy handed with the peat smoked malt, making for a somewhat one-dimensional beer.

Serving type: bottle

03-21-2011 07:43:44 | More by largadeer

Stinkypuss

Pennsylvania

4.08/5  rDev +8.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A stoway found deep in the fridge from another time...

Pours an amber brown with a solid foam head. Good lacing forming rings to remind of sips gone by.

Aroma of bready malts. Seriously bready, like fresh baked bread.

Flavors of scottish style malt. Characteristic of whisky malt, peat and caramel. Slight roasted edge. Hops have died down to an earthy bitterness. Toffee and caramel prevelent. Hints of cocoa. A well rounded brew all in all.

Mouthfeel is full bodied with a malty finish.

A solid ale with a good amount of character. Not overly strong and a nice session beer.

Serving type: bottle

11-30-2009 04:11:40 | More by Stinkypuss

ZAP

Minnesota

4.38/5  rDev +16.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A tasty, malty, Scotch Ale....pours a deep reddish orange...noser is big on the peat...close to full-bodied..medium carbonation...a nice tasting beer....sweet and malty....hints of the peat and a spiciness on the finish....very tasty...seems to warm up the belly some which would contradict it's ABV rating some....

One ofthe better SA beers and an enjoyable drink...nowhere close to McEwens but that is a truly special beer...this is simply very good..

Serving type: bottle

02-12-2004 05:54:29 | More by ZAP

Slatetank

Pennsylvania

3.85/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A- Ruddy deep copper with golden bronze higlights. A even beige flower like head topography that expands as it reaches the edges of the glass and smooths out slowly

S - A medium strong peaty whiff and mellow malty sidenote as gentle dry smoky aromas emanate with subtlety

M - Thin with an effect of density, depth is an element that is promoted byt the malt character.

T -An interesting dry character is contained within the sweet and salty bitterness. Nutty and smoky flavors hang in the retreating sweet miasma.

D - Mouthfeel is pleasant. I found myself enjoying almost as much as the gentle hop spice nuance complimenting the malt backing. A larger gulp increases enjoyment of the experience w/ this ales salty caramel sweet balance.

Serving type: bottle

04-09-2007 14:30:25 | More by Slatetank

twiggamortis420

Texas

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

12 oz bottle pours a fairly clear amber color with a medium sized tan foam. Not too much in the way of retention or lacing.

Nose is caramely sweet with a touch of toffee and bread loaf. Not much in the way of hops and is low on any sort of fruitiness. Clean, fresh smelling but has an almost oxidized malty-sweet aroma. Pretty good nose overall.

Taste is similar to the smell, with the flavors somewhere in between a Scotch Ale and a Winter Warmer. Sweet malts blend with a nice biscuity, bready yeast flavor. Reminds me just a bit of AV Winter Solstice...even tasting a little bit of spice flavors. Hints of peat and smoke. Hop bitterness does not go completely unnoticed on the finish. Its a bit thin and somewhat astringent near the end...not smooth, but yet easy to drink. One of Sam Adams' better concoctions, I would buy a sixer of this every once in a while if they made it available that way.

Serving type: bottle

03-03-2010 04:48:38 | More by twiggamortis420

BeerFMAndy

Wisconsin

3.75/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

12oz bottle in a Duvel Tulip (closest to a Thistle I've got). Best by Nov 09 notched.

A - Dark mahogany ruby color topped by a small and weak head with little retention. Needs agitation before smelling.

S - Strong sweet malty caramel smell with some yeast and bread hints. Also, smoke is in this beer slightly. A little spice too.

T - Dry and malty, not as sweet as the smell. Slightly hopped with a bitter finish and a smokey flavor. Yeasty flavor is evident too.

M - Dry and crisp with a nice bite to it while still being fairly smooth on the way down.

D - Good interpretation of the scotch style that is quite drinkable for its flavor. I enjoy this beer.

Serving type: bottle

05-01-2009 00:02:30 | More by BeerFMAndy

nickfl

Florida

3.5/5  rDev -7.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

A - One and a half fingers of light tan head tops a clear, dark ruby body. Retention is decent and the head leaves behind a thick layer of lace as it settles.

S - Sweet, malty aroma with just a hint of roast.

T - Mild maltiness followed by strong, but round roasted flavor. Finishes with a long, drawn out coffee flavor, malt bitterness, and a good bit of smoke.

M - Moderate to high carbonation with medium body and a bit of astringency in the finish.

D - In my opinion, this beer emphasizes roast character a little too much for a scotch ale, but otherwise it is a reasonable interpretation of the style. The only issue that interferes with its drinkability is a strange, soapy note that fades in and out of the finish.

Serving type: bottle

01-18-2008 02:22:16 | More by nickfl

bluejacket74

Ohio

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

Bottle says best before November 2007. Served in a pint glass, the beer pours dark brown with a half inch off-white head. It smells like smoky, roasted malt, raisins and caramel. It tastes the same way, but very peaty/smoky and malty. It also has a nice bitter finish. Mouthfeel is medium, with just the right amount of carbonation. Drinkability is good too, it's smooth and good to drink. Not a bad beer, I'd definitely drink it again.

Serving type: bottle

04-07-2007 01:50:46 | More by bluejacket74

blackie

Virginia

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

a: Frothy khaki head shows good retention. The beer is a rich chestnut brown in color. Light lacing. Looks good.

s: Surprisingly aromatic nose, but I have come to hold SA to a higher standard than I used to so it's not a huge surprise. Peat malts seem to dominate, bringing a subtle smoky note in addition to various earthy aromas. Moderately sweet with some light fruity esters and a touch of cola and chocolate.

m: Carbonation smooth, just around medium with a full medium body. Creamy.

t: I feel more malts than I taste at first, most seem to be on the benign side flavorwise, but there is a bit of nutty toast. Immediately after swallowing, a great smoked peat flavor comes in. Love the smoke, present in good quantity but not overdone, accompanied by toasted grain bread flavors. Gently hopped, with a mild bitterness in the long finish.

d: a nice beer, pretty drinkable for the style and somewhat rich character

part of a SA mixed 12

Serving type: bottle

09-18-2007 23:28:39 | More by blackie

alexgash

Connecticut

4.22/5  rDev +11.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Found this in the Brewmaster’s 12 pack.
Rich, dark crimson body with a creamy, light-khaki head. Good lacing.
Nose is soapy-sweet. Light smoky, whiskey malt comes through. Not much else.
Tastes of sweet cookie dough malts with notes of peat bog and whiskey. Moves toward a meaty, smoky bitterness as we head into a bready-sweet finish. Medium/big body with a creamy mouthfeel. Nice. Good example of the style (as far as I can tell). One of the best SA’s I’ve had as well. They should sell six-packs of this.

Serving type: bottle

11-03-2004 22:00:05 | More by alexgash

JoeyBeerBelly

New York

4.15/5  rDev +10.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

12oz bottle served in a snifter.

Clear red/amber color with a beige head that left a lot of lacing.
Earthy malt smell with a touch of smokiness.
Malty flavor upfront with a smoked middle and smokey dry finish.
Medium bodied with a smooth and mellow feel.
It was very easy for me to drink the 2 bottles I got in the mix pack.

Serving type: bottle

02-06-2010 00:34:13 | More by JoeyBeerBelly

Vancer

Illinois

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

Wow, another solid Sammy! *except for that lousy lager*. This would be a nice brew to get a hold of – but I guess it’s just part of the winter 12 pack.

Amber oak pour, sheet laces dripping down off the tan head. I’m taken back by the subtle pops of smoke in the aroma and taste – I luv smoke but it’s a different taste for most folk. Medium bodied, sharp and lingering malt finish. Only kicker – on the wimpy side with only a 5ish alcohol backbone.

For me, superb scotch ale. Just luv it, would luv this in a sixer, but que sera, sera.

Serving type: bottle

01-06-2007 23:47:08 | More by Vancer

merlin48

Kentucky

3.9/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours an attractive clear copper body with a healthy beige head that is long lasting before yielding to some sticky patch lace.

Aroma has toffee and some floral hops, but a bit too subdued.

Medium body and carbonation, crisp and clean.

Taste has a toffee malt backbone that is pleasantly balanced by a herbal/floral hop bitterness. Peat smoked malt emerges nicely as it warms but makes no effort to overwhelm. Clean finish.

Solid example of the style and very approachable.

Serving type: bottle

02-26-2011 01:08:13 | More by merlin48

tgbljb

Pennsylvania

4.33/5  rDev +14.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured a very deep copper color with massive creamy tannish head.
Smell is mostly of roasted malt with some toffee notes also present.
Taste is excellent, with strong roasted malt tastes and a nice molasses presence also found.
Strong taste retention with a slight bitter aftertaste.
Nice and easy to drink. An excellent beer.

Serving type: bottle

08-26-2007 19:16:19 | More by tgbljb

Jwale73

Rhode Island

4.03/5  rDev +6.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Best before November, notched on the label. Served in my SA Sensory Pint. Translucent amber in appearance with reddish-brown highlights. Luscious off-white head was barely contained in the glass (went from the stripe surrounding the bowl up to the lip of the glass) leaving behind lots sticky white lacing. Good head retention eventually dissipated into a thin consistent layer of foam. Fair amount of lacing with decent adhesion during the tasting. Lots of sweet malt (perhaps a hint of caramel) in the nose as well as a subtle smoky quality. Flavors are consistent with the nose; however, sweetness is less pronounced and a nice earthy-peaty flavor at the finish. Mouthfeel is medium-bodied with just the right amount of carbonation to round out some of the flavors. Decent drinkability for the style, although I personally wouldn't have more than two in a session.

Serving type: bottle

04-04-2008 02:30:55 | More by Jwale73

Gmann

New York

3.83/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours a slightly hazy honey brown color with a small yet dense head which dissipates into a slight cap. The aroma is of light roasted malt, some grape wine notes, perhaps a touch of butter, not much of, if at all, peat or smoke presense. The taste is of a nice malt base, not too thick or roasted. Definitely pick up on the smoke/peat flavors, not too powerful but noticable. Some tea like hop bitterness in the end. The feel is moderate, a little chewy but is cut by the active carbonation, finishes with a slightly dry/astringent bitterness. Perhaps a touch thin for the style. While the feel may be a touch thin, it leads to some good drinkability. Not very heavy in the feel or in the smoke flavor, which would allow you to drink more than 2 if that was available.

Serving type: bottle

11-06-2008 04:12:43 | More by Gmann

mynie

Indiana

4.28/5  rDev +13.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Nice pour. Golden honey brown that gets darker as the bubbles cascade downward and foam up inot a large, retentive cream colored head.

Smells nice, but a wee bit light for a wee heavy. Crisp and fruity bock malt rings out with nodes of nuts, caramel candies, and berries.

Tastes much like it smells only with a smokier finish. Bock malt starts things out, rubbery and nutty, moving into caramel, and then finishing on a dry, lightly sour node of smokiness.

Crisp, refreshing, and immensely drinkable. This is a session ale for the ages.

Serving type: bottle

05-31-2007 22:54:16 | More by mynie

Bierman9

New Hampshire

3.93/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

I was able to sneak out of town with Alewife to enjoy a pint of this on tap at Redbones.... It's been years since I've had this....and never on tap, at that. Glad to see Sammy still cranks out the really desirable stuff now and then....

Color was dark brown, with attractive garnet hues peeking through. Our 'tender filled the pint right to the top, so any head that might have been there was long gone.

Nose displayed a good, partially-sweet, malt backbone, with some peaty notes also coming forth. Now that's what I'm talking 'bout....

Body was a pinch less than medium. Seemed to be a bit fuller than this when I had it in bottles a while back. Still traversed the tongue in a respectably smooth manner.

There was a decent amount of malt in the flavor, with peaty/smoky aspects shining through. Malty sweetness was less than in past versions. Hoppiness was more accentuated in this bier. As it warmed the malt started to become more pronounced, along with the accompanying sweetness. Much tastier near the finish of the pint.

It seemed like it tasted a whole lot better in years gone by, and maybe it has been tweaked some. But perhaps I thought it was tastier back then without the benefit of having learned to discern more flavor nuances. Whatever....it still is a nice bier, and one I wish were still produced regularly. Prosit!!

overall: 3.85
appearance: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | mouthfeel: 3.5 | drinkability: 4

560

Serving type: on-tap

06-01-2003 16:22:25 | More by Bierman9