Pike Kilt Lifter Scotch Style Ale - Pike Pub & Brewery

SargeC

Japan

4.13/5  rDev +16.3%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Appearance: Hazy caramel-brown. Nonexistent head with a few large carbonation bubbles. Very still

Smell: Smoky sweet malt and alcohol.

Taste: Initial sweetness with a nice smoky finish. Hints of tobacco. Evolved as I drank it. It became very earthy and dare I say, peaty. It almost began to resemble a decent blend of scotch as the pint went down.

Mouthfeel: Coats well with a medium body.

Drinkability: Nice character. Had many scotch ale qualities, but made its own statement without going over the top.

Serving type: bottle

11-05-2007 05:03:44 | More by SargeC

silver0rlead

North Carolina

4.15/5  rDev +16.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

I've enjoyed but not been particularly impressed by the other pike beers, hopefully this one is different. Pours a clear amber color with a nice tan head that retains well. The aroma has some candied fruit notes upfront, along with molasses, esters, a hint of smoke, toasted bread and a bit of alcohol. The flavor is a little more complex than the aroma, with a nice fruity character upfront (apple, plum, date) along with some caramel and molasses, toasted bread, smoke, and some herbal hops. The mouthfeel is medium and drinkability is excellent. A quite enjoyable scotch ale, with just the right amount of smokiness and restrained sweetness.

Serving type: bottle

07-28-2010 03:20:35 | More by silver0rlead

49degrees

British Columbia (Canada)

4.2/5  rDev +18.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Oooooh. I really like this beer. Out of the traditional PNW bottled staples, Pike's Kilt Lifter and Bridgeport's Pintail Ale are among the more frequently chosen brews to have, Modelled after traditional scotish heavy ales, Pike's version has an interesting blend of smokey peat on the palette along with some real thirst quenching kicks from its arrangement of hops.

Pours very clean with a moderate size head, giving way to a decent collar, a tight surface foam and decent glass lacing. Although not pegged as a bitter, this one certainly plays double duties for my own tastes and because it has a fairly bitter punch to it, it’s a great addition with a meal. But be forewarned, if you're not careful, this 'heavy' will quickly become a warming ale as its 6.6%abv can sneak up on you when you least expect it,

When you see Pike Place in the store, this Pike Kilt Lifter is the one I'd recommend from this classic Seattle brewery.

Serving type: bottle

01-16-2003 19:33:08 | More by 49degrees

freed

Oregon

4.22/5  rDev +18.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

I've enjoyed this quite often over the last couple years. Like all Pike beers, it has a very nice label; clean lines, stately.

It pours a deep mahogany with a nice, uneven head. Carbonation tops it in very sporadic patterns, like the yeast was still active. The smell is sweet and malty with a slight smoked tinge. The taste in this batch is a bit sweet, but normally its a wonderful full and chocolate body. If you're not careful, you can drink a whole sixer, and it really affects your skiing.

Serving type: bottle

05-16-2003 21:45:54 | More by freed

ralree

Maryland

4.22/5  rDev +18.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Tried in Seattle in August 2008.

A: Deep reddish tan with slight lacing. Head and lacing are basically non-existent. Pretty clear - just slightly cloudy.

S: Interestingly hoppy smell with a fruity background. Same toasted malt like the IPA. Brown sugar.

T: An interesting fruit flavor with aromatic hops forming the background. Aftertaste is a sweet clean flowery malt, not as toasted as that in the IPA. Apricot is the fruit. A really refreshing ale. Has a bit of a nutty taste as well, with a bready undertone along with spices and a bit of alcohol.

M: A little heavier than the IPA. Medium-bodied. Basically non-astringent. Not too oily.

D: Drinks like a champ. Goes down easy, and goes well with cheese. A little rich/sweet though. I don't think I could down a lot, but a pint is no problem.

Serving type: on-tap

08-09-2008 23:20:56 | More by ralree

GarthDanielson

New Hampshire

4.22/5  rDev +18.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Poured from a bomber into a pint glass, the beer is a caramel-red color with a thin, filmy head. The nose has aromas of caramel malt and nut, with very slight hoppy scents. The beer's flavor is a rich malt sweetness, which is well-balanced with subtle green, bitter hops. The body is round and smooth in mouth, with a slightly bitter finish that follows a scotchy-malt aftertaste. Dangerously easy to drink, and goes well with almost any kind of food since the flavors are not overpowering. One of my favorite offerings from Pike's.

Serving type: bottle

03-04-2011 00:20:09 | More by GarthDanielson

jreitman

California

4.28/5  rDev +20.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

(from notes at brewery) Nice amber color with a good nose to boot. Nicely fruity and malty sweet with a pretty well hidden alcohol profile. Was very smooth drinking and light on mouthfeel. Surprisingly, there were quite a bit of floral hop flabors in there, but it did not detract too much from the style and was a nice variant.

Serving type: on-tap

07-27-2002 09:18:41 | More by jreitman

AKBelgianBeast

Alaska

4.3/5  rDev +21.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Drank the shit out of this beer my first and second year of college.

Pours an unusually light color for the style with a peachy brown orange color and totally clear. A stark white head retains well and leaves pretty good lacing.

Nose has a rock candy like, crisp malty sweetness that brings back memories. A good bit of caramel, but no strong smoke or peat is present.

Ah, there it is. A ridiculously creamy flavor is complimented by slight smokiness and a good peaty profile. I didn't find this in the nose, but it is quite clear in the taste. Despite the lighter color of this beer (stylewise) its actually got a very authentic malt profile. Not much of a hop profile, as is expected for the style. The finish is nice and smooth, crazy creamy, and the aftertaste lingers on with caramely malt sweetness.

Mouthfeel is just about ideal. Viscous, but not overly so, and certainly not cloying.

Drinkability is pretty strong as this one is not exactly high on the abv scale as far as the style is concerned.

Overall, this is simply put, a solid and sessionable scotch ale that is packed with style accurate flavor. As common as it may be, it is solid. The color really throws one off going into it, but as soon as that signature scotch ale flavor makes its way in, there is no question what style is in the glass. This is definitely the best readily available scotch ale in a decent priced sixer that ive had. I was afraid that i only loved it becuase i drank it so much before my palate really matured and i would hate it now, (like their IPA) but this is a solid offering from pike. Nice scotch ale.

Serving type: bottle

10-20-2009 04:02:03 | More by AKBelgianBeast

Offa

California

4.38/5  rDev +23.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

This is a wonderful, slightly different and smokey wee heavy-type beer.

Dark, slightly reddish golden amber, it has a smallish off-white head steadily shrinking to a foamy ring leaving little lace. It is a bit darker and redder than the Pike IPA.

Aroma is rich caramelised dark fruits, some dark toastiness.

Taste is lightly smokey up front with rich dried fruits, toasty grain/barley, light earthiness joining later. The toastiness, rich fruits, light earthiness and light smokey quality all carry through the finish and linger gently. It's slightly on the sweeter side. It is not very good with many foods, but alone or with Pike's macaroni & cheese made with it, it is simply wonderful.

Serving type: on-tap

08-24-2010 04:10:29 | More by Offa

TiMX

Oregon

4.47/5  rDev +25.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

This is a great beer. Overall very well blanced and clean. A bit of malty sweet taste but not too much. Light and easy to drink. Maybe a bit too light for a Scotish Ale but just fine with me. This will be a great summer ale.

I will buy this beer again. Pike again has put out another Great well balanced beer. If you like this ale you will love their Ruby Scotish Ale!!

Serving type: bottle

03-11-2007 01:31:37 | More by TiMX

DrDocRudge

Florida

4.5/5  rDev +26.8%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

A little to light for a scotch ale, both in terms of taste and color. Instead of a chewy brew you get a medium-bodied ale that is a touch too bitter. Since most scotch ales are naturally sweet (though not overwhelmingly so), I was slightly disappointed with this one.

Serving type: bottle

08-28-2001 13:32:35 | More by DrDocRudge

cokes

Wisconsin

4.53/5  rDev +27.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Soft orange bodied with a small but tight cream colored head. Retention is middle of the road.
Full maly aroma. Distinctive peat notes (not really smoky, though). Sweet and earthy.
Taste begins with a heavy toffee melee. Sweet and chewy. Never approaches cloying. Dough flavors rest below and bulk this one up even more. Organic earthiness holds down the middle. Quick pangs of smoke and metal. Dries considerably towards the finish. Hops are an understated force. Spicy, and herbal. Alcohol is briefly noted towards the end.
Medium-full bodied, next to zero carbonation. Rolls like a thunderhead across the mouth's horizon. Bold yet rounded and almost soft at times.

I think it is safe to call Pike's an outstanding brewery.
Many thanks to jreitman for this one.

Serving type: bottle

10-30-2002 21:36:57 | More by cokes

mmmbeer

Massachusetts

4.55/5  rDev +28.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

12 oz. bottle with no freshness date. Brewed to 1.064 with pale, crystal, carapils, peated and Munich malt; hopped with magnum and goldings to 27 IBUs and fermented with English ale yeast. It pours almost ruby (more of an auburn), lightly-hazed, with medium carbonation and a thin cap. Rich and sweet in the nose from the Munich and crystal, blended with earthy, tea-like, nearly roasted notes. The flavor starts malty and rich, lightly sweet, followed by hops and an earthy fullness from the peat. Hints of raisiny crystals creep in here and there and are balanced by lightly spicy hops that contribute little bitterness. A flavorful yeast strain rounds it out and things end on a lightly peated note. While it begins crisp and dry, once the carbonation ebbs the body fills out nicely. Very nice brew here - a bit more hop flavor than most Scotch ales, but this is well-balanced and damn tasty. Definitely recommended.

Serving type: bottle

01-09-2011 21:30:53 | More by mmmbeer

tavernjef

Minnesota

4.58/5  rDev +29%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Copper infused rust color, a bit of chill haze to it, large and thickly fluffed beige head sits well for a while before descending to a thin collar and the lacing sticks in strings and spots. Aroma is super yummy malt goodness, thick and dark caramel, super nice peat moss thats not overly smokey, but favorlaby earthy and has a terrific sweetness to it overall. Taste follows suit with a brigade of dark caramel and toffee sweetness with super nice earth tones and breadiness to make it rich and thick. Again the peat is there but not overwhelmingly smokey, it adds just enough to it to really go "Wow". Hops play underneath more towards the finish with a slight spice and bite helping the end of warmth and add to some of the slight dryness. Great feel, nearly full, very well rounded, and toothsweet smoothness and the low carbonation makes this a creamy thick treat to drink. The first thing that came to mind, and only after a few sips, is that its a whole hell of alot like a good barleywine. But without all the baggage of the higher ABV. A real plus and incentive to get alot more of this in the future, as it is quite a malty, yummy treat. One I would keep in my fridge alot if I could get it. Yummy! Did I already say that?

Serving type: bottle

05-31-2004 02:28:35 | More by tavernjef