Pike Kilt Lifter Scotch Style Ale - Pike Pub & Brewery

jdense

Oregon

3.55/5  rDev 0%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

On tap at EOU Faculty Lounge 9.13.2010, $4.00 a pint.

One finger very light tan head, medium-fast dissipation with minimal lacing. Clear amber body, a singular trail of carbonation. Nose is lightly roasted malt, pretty sweet, a bit of grassy hops. Taste mirrors nose, caramel sweet, slight bit of roast, just a hint of hops. Medium-light mouthfeel, not much effervescence. Not bad drinkability, close to style, but not sure I'd order one again.

Serving type: on-tap

09-14-2010 03:56:55 | More by jdense

Bouleboubier

Pennsylvania

3.55/5  rDev 0%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

An American take that's maybe one of the more reminiscent of Scotch/Scottish ales. The flavors and feel fall somewhere in between 90/- and wherever the more daring Wee Heavys generally average (160/-?). Does the extra-thick body mask some flaws and/or give the impression of a "heavy"-er beer? Perhaps.

Shared this "dinner size" bottle with a friend and it poured amber-ish red with a thin-ish head, welling up, felling down. Moderate haze in the amber-red.

Before referencing their website, it was readily apparent they used an English yeast on this one - BIG fruity esters, real big. Exceptional malt presence as well - caramel at moderate levels - a sweetish touch over the mild, evenly split biscuit/bread characteristics. No hops, but of course, while the peat-smoked malt whispers.

Much of the same flavor-wise. Caramel-kissed malty, juice-fruity and sweetish, with a murmur of smoke calling midway, raising its voice a little while being carried off atop the spectral-gel dextriny wave going down. Naturally enjoyed this most toward the end when the glass was no longer cold to the touch.

By my estimation it falls nicely between the boldest shilling ale and a slow-sipping heavy. You wouldn't miss the peat presence if it was removed. Big body. Not bad.

Serving type: bottle

03-16-2011 02:50:33 | More by Bouleboubier

andrenaline

Ontario (Canada)

3.55/5  rDev 0%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

One of the few beers remaining from the beers I brought back to Ontario from Alberta.

A - Pours a hazy copper colour with an amber hue, finger of head with little retention and no lacing.

S - Bready oatmeal, cereal notes, caramel, toffee and bran flakes.

T - Pretty mild for a scotch ale, bready caramel and bran, touch of peat that lingers with a hint of espresso and some alcohol sweetness.

M - No complaints here, nice carbonation level that goes down smooth and leaves with a touch of dryness.

O - A tasty scotch ale, but a little too mild for my liking. I like my scotch ales to possess more on the peat flavours, so don't look to this one if you're looking for a bold scotch ale. This might be a good choice to ease someone into the style.

Serving type: bottle

10-30-2011 19:54:52 | More by andrenaline

colts9016

Idaho

3.53/5  rDev -0.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured into an English pint glass at about 45 degrees.

Appearance: A deep amber with a light copper hue. There was a one finger that dropped to a quarter inch ring whit ring. There is a lot of carbonation in the glass. The clarity of the beer is clear.

Nose: A nice roasted malt with caramel, earthiness, and fruity esters.

Taste: A nice roasted malt with caramelize flavor, there is some earthiness, some diacetyl and some peatiness.

Overall: The mouth feel is slight carbonate with a dryness. The finish has a hint of bitterness. The beer is overall just okay. There wasn't anything that stood out to make this beer pop.

Serving type: bottle

01-14-2009 01:38:08 | More by colts9016

wordemupg

Alberta (Canada)

3.53/5  rDev -0.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

355ml bottle poured into pint glass june9 2010

A clear copper with some very tiny suspended particles and a small amount of bubbles floating up to a fast falling fingers worth of head that left no lace

S some woody earth and candied cherry with toffee

T again some earthy wood but with a little spice and a fair bit of sweetness but not much for a Scotch ale

M thick enough to please with decent carbonation and it's just a tad sticky

D not lacking in and areas but not going to amaze you either worth trying but don't look too far for it

I don't mind this beer but at nearly 20$ for a 6er here in Alberta I doubt I'll be drinking much of this in the future

Serving type: bottle

06-10-2010 06:23:52 | More by wordemupg

Uncle_Jimmy

California

3.51/5  rDev -1.1%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5

Appearance-slightly hazy reddish orange, 1/2 finger of off white foam that disappears immediately. It has a high alcohol or sugar content because it has legs like a wine.

Aroma- carmel , bandaids light apple and citrus fruit?!.

Taste- carmel butterscotch and band aids. I think a combination of high kettle caramelization and slightly vegetal tasting hop makes for and interesting and earthy ale. The hops more or less balance out there is a slight pine in the finish though.

Mouthfeel- seems right on a bit syrupy, but the booze is well disguised. Lower effervescence is spot on.

Overall- I think a decent representation of the style. It improves as it warms in the glass I think I would like to see it a touch clearer in the glass, and maybe a touch less boozy.

Serving type: bottle

04-07-2013 17:39:10 | More by Uncle_Jimmy

Wasatch

Utah

3.5/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A - Pours a cloudy brown/amber color, some carbonation, tiny head, some lacing afterwards.

S - Scents of malts and a little smokiness.

T - The taste is sweet malty with a clean finish.

M - Light-Medium body, nicely balanced brew.

D - Drinkable. This brew surprised me, I thought that I would not like it, but it's really not that bad. Would buy again.

Serving type: on-tap

03-19-2006 20:04:02 | More by Wasatch

TheBungyo

Washington

3.5/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

Pour is reddish orange. Head appears for a moment and then vanishes entirely. Nose reminds me of hops dipped in caramel. Taste is hoppy, brown sugary, and caramel-y. This one isn't completely doing it for me, I'll be honest. Mouth is quite nice though. Very thick ... carbonation is like a blanket. Drinkability is ok because the taste isn't bad or tastebud wrecking after only a couple sips. It would work to try a sixer of this.

Serving type: bottle

05-07-2006 10:09:30 | More by TheBungyo

skillerified

Illinois

3.5/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Nice dark amber color with red and gold hues peeking through in the light. No head, no real cap and not much lacing to speak of, maybe just a hint of tan and white floating in there. The smell is a sweet caramel-like scent. Not too complex. Some smokey tones linger there too. The taste was very much on the sweet side, but had a nice little spicey, smokey bite to it. Again though, not too complex. Light to medium bodied with a mildly carbonated mouthfeel. Goes good with the food at the pub, but I wouldn't necessarily be looking for this one otherwise.

Serving type: on-tap

02-24-2007 01:12:46 | More by skillerified

rkuhnel

California

3.5/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

From a 12 oz bottle. This was also called "ruby ale" on the bottle. It poured a light amber, very clear, with a small white head adn light lacing. Nose is mostly of malts and hops;. Medium mouthfeel and flavor is somewhat sweet. There is a little fruit and bit of herbal taste. Mild finish.

Serving type: bottle

03-28-2007 05:34:47 | More by rkuhnel

woemad

Washington

3.5/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

12oz bottle purchased at Huckleberry’s in Spokane for $1.29. It features a different label than the one pictured on BA. In addition to an abv of 6.5%, the label also lists an IBU count of 27, and an original gravity of 1.064. Prominent on the Pike Brewing Co. emblem is the legend “Family Owned.” From what a friend was telling me, the original owners of Pike have bought back the brewery and are using the original recipes. While I don’t know if that is strictly true, it’s definitely different from the Kilt Lifter I have grown used to.

This poured a copper color, with a big, beige head that took a few minutes to drop. Sheets of lace dripped down the sides of my Boundary Bay pint glass, leaving a spotty lace behind. Definitely lighter colored than Kiltlifters I’ve drank in the past.

This has a more restrained nose than past Kilt Lifters. It is still strongly malty, however, with a peaty scent hovering over things.

Like the smell, this Kiltlifter is a more restrained beer than it’s immediate ancestor. It starts out with a malty sweetness, but it’s a fairly mild sweetness. The peat flavor is still present, but it is more balanced with the sweet aspects. The only place hops come into play is at the swallow, which is mildly dry.

This is a thoroughly medium bodied beer. The mouthfeel is relatively soft.

Despite the abv, this seems more like a session beer than the Kiltlifter I am accustomed to. While it goes down easier, I personally think it is less distinctive than it was before. I wouldn’t mild drinking more of this but don’t feel drawn to by any means. I’d call this re-tooling/restoration a success only with some definite qualifiers.

Serving type: bottle

06-21-2007 07:00:01 | More by woemad

lightindarkness

Indiana

3.5/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Thanks to DHGranstrand for sending this one.

Pours a dusty coppery orange color. Decent head settles down to patchy froth and a ring of suds.

Nose is malty rich, with some earthy notes and a background sugary sweetness. Some reddish smelling notes come out of hibiscus and cherry pie filling. Some alcohol fumes present as overtones.

A little tart and tea like on the tongue up front. Maltier middle notes settle in expanding the palate a little, then becoming a bit more coarse with only a touch of sweetness. Finishes with a very mild alcohol spice and bready grains. Has an overall decent flavor, but really lacks malty depth for me. Not enough bottom end to fill this one out, leaving it kind of high and dry.

Feel is medium bodied with a lighter but still sharp carbonation. Finishes with a touch of dryness, and a mild sticky coating.

Overall it's not too bad, but seems to be lacking some depth of flavor for me. Pretty drinkable though, as it is milder than some other Scotch Ales.

Serving type: bottle

07-26-2008 17:48:45 | More by lightindarkness

Shadman

Alberta (Canada)

3.5/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

This has to be the lightest wee heavy I've seen ( OK I've seen two). Clear, Rye-Coke-Water in color. Vigorous pour yeilded a creamy off white head 3 fingers deep. Lacing clings to glass in a way that would make Spiderman blush.

Decent aroma, but quite understated. Earthy, with a hint of roasted malt and some floral, yet slightly citrus-like hop. Certainly no smokiness.

Ok, def. hint of smoke in the taste along with some smooth, slightly caramelized malt. Hop bitterness follows soon afterward. Slight alcohol warming toward to the end. Decently balanced

Quite creamy and smooth on the palate.

I would place this beer more in the camp of Scottish Ale vs. Wee Heavy. AS an ale it is quite nice and very drinkable even with the high ABV.

Serving type: bottle

02-28-2009 01:31:33 | More by Shadman

smcolw

Massachusetts

3.5/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Nearly no head. Orange-amber color. No lace. Small amount of haze.

The aroma is sweeter than I expected, but there is a faint hop smell that was also unexpected. If blindfolded, I might think light brown ale or pale ale.

Stronger malt than hop, but this could be described as a hoppy Scotch Ale. Good body, with a solid level of carbonation. Very short aftertaste. Not very complex.

Serving type: bottle

06-21-2009 22:49:07 | More by smcolw

vtfan77

Virginia

3.5/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A- Deep amber with just a wisp of a head. Not quite "ruby" like the bottle says it is, but there are hints of red, I suppose.

S- Much caramel with a little coffee and just a touch of smoke.

T- Extremely malty with a lot more caramel. The smokiness comes through more in the taste. A touch of bitterness rounds the beer out and helps to counteract some of the sweet malt.

M- Medium-bodied and fairly low in carbonation, although not too much. Almost a little syrupy at times.

D- The sweetness gets a little cloying at times, although it's not too bad. The alcohol's not too high. I can finish the bomber, but I won't want more.

A decent interpretation of a scotch ale, I suppose. It could use a little more smokiness and a bit more complexity in the malt, but overall not too bad. This beer is probably better suited to the cooler months.

Serving type: bottle

06-23-2010 00:36:25 | More by vtfan77

CuriousMonk

Virginia

3.5/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Orangy copper, some fine sediment, a light tan cap with little retention but decent spotty lacing. The aroma is pretty solid in its power, toated and caramel malts, almonds and slight fruit. Lots of toasted caramel taste, a bit almond, interesting sweetness, slight spicy burn. I enjoyed how this tasted but not enough to get any more. Medium bodied, light fizz in the mouth. Smoothness that seems syrupy but is not. Decent middle but it fades to quickly on the finish. Chewy and mild spice meet the bitterness in a lingering after taste.

Serving type: bottle

02-04-2011 16:02:32 | More by CuriousMonk

Rifugium

Pennsylvania

3.5/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

First had: on tap at Pike brewpub, Seattle, WA

With not many other choices on the menu that were appealing to me, I ordered up this Scotch ale. Poured a clear amber color with a small white head that didn't stick around too long; not much lacing to speak of. Mostly caramel maltiness in the nose. Nutty caramel in the taste, some sugar and peat, and a mild fruit flavor. Not too strong, but pretty smooth and drinkable.

Serving type: on-tap

05-31-2011 17:27:52 | More by Rifugium

hardy008

Minnesota

3.5/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Reviewed from notes.

Dark amber with a tan head, with decent retention and lacing. Smells and tastes like caramel malt and peat. A bit smoky, and has some hop bitterness.

Medium body with average carbonation, and not much aftertaste. A decent beer, which I wouldn't mind trying again.

Serving type: bottle

01-06-2012 03:02:57 | More by hardy008

mdaschaf

Washington

3.5/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Review from notes.

A: Pours a deep amber color with a foamy one finger head on top. Sporadic lacing.

S: Nice malty aroma, some caramel, some brown sugar, and toasted malt.

T: It is slightly scotchy with more caramel and smoky peat. Some bready malt and faint fruitiness.

M: Medium bodied with low to medium carbonation.

O: A decent scotch ale, again nothing really special.

Serving type: on-tap

08-20-2012 01:26:08 | More by mdaschaf

kbub6f

New York

3.48/5  rDev -2%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

The head is tiny, off-white, bubbly, greasy. Beer is hazy copper-orange, maybe tending somewhat toward brown. There's sweet toffee/caramel/brown sugar in the nose. Some pipe smoke. Dark tobacco toffee in front; tangy, fruity caramel in the middle; sour fruit and smoky caramel in the end. Interesting. Sour fruit and dark, burned caramel. Not bad. Kind of "homebrewy".

Serving type: bottle

10-30-2005 19:34:40 | More by kbub6f

Gavage

New Jersey

3.48/5  rDev -2%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Appearance: crystal clear amber color with a 1 inch head. Some spotty lacing developed.

Smell: very light caramel sweetness is all that is picked up.

Taste: caramel, a hint of peat and nuts, soft plum sweetness, and a very light bitterness. Malt level seems a bit weak.

Mouthfeel: medium bodied. Crisp throughout. The caramel and peat softly linger on the tastebuds after swallowing.

Drinkability: not too bad, but this needs to be kicked up a few notches on the malt and peat levels. Decent beer.

Serving type: on-tap

07-18-2006 11:27:11 | More by Gavage

PhiloPsych

California

3.48/5  rDev -2%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Completely clear Scotch-brown in the glass. Not much head to speak of. Appearance is true to style. Not a bad beer. But not a very notable beer, either. I'm visiting the area, so I'm happy to try local brews. But I've definitely had better Sotch Ales. It's not as sweet or malty as I expected; and both hoppier and more dank than I wanted when I bought it.

Serving type: bottle

06-21-2010 21:54:26 | More by PhiloPsych

beertunes

Washington

3.48/5  rDev -2%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Served in straight pint glass. Poured a clean, clear reddish-amber with just under an inch of off-white head that had good retention and moderate lacing.

The aroma was mostly malty sweet, with just a hint of hops and yeasty spice in the background. On the tongue, the beer had a nice little sharpness that wasn't apparent in the scent. The malt was the predominant feature of this brew however.

The body was light, but full. Drinkability for this beer is very good, having a sixer for a cookout is a great idea. The brewery no longer calls this a Scotch Ale, they now call it a "Ruby Ale", either way, it's a loyal beer friend. Worth trying when you see it.

Serving type: on-tap

07-25-2010 00:21:07 | More by beertunes

cjgator3

Florida

3.48/5  rDev -2%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

22oz bottle

A- Pours a dark brown color with an off-white head that leaves a ring of lacing around the glass.

S- The aroma is much fainter than expected. The aroma is sweet malts and a good dose of caramel. Nit much else to note in the nose.

T- The taste is sweet malts up front with caramel and a hint of smoke as well. 

M- The mouthfeelis a little thin for the style with a good amount of carbonation.

D- Overall, Kilt Lifter is a decent scotch ale that is solid in some areas (taste, drinkability) but lacking in other areas (aroma, appearance). Worth a try.

Serving type: bottle

08-22-2010 03:48:15 | More by cjgator3

timtwoface

British Columbia (Canada)

3.48/5  rDev -2%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

This is easily my favourite of all the offerings that Pike has to offer. Nothing exceptional, but it is a tasty, malty (but not overly so) beer that drinks very smoothly. I definitely would buy again and the price point isn't bad either. This is the first scotch style ruby ale I've tried and it's made me interested to try other offerings in this vein.

Serving type: bottle

08-26-2012 06:08:54 | More by timtwoface