L'Ecossaise - Micro-Brasserie L'Alchimiste

Haydn-Juby

Quebec (Canada)

3.73/5  rDev +10%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

Served from a 341ml bottle

A: Brown with reddish tinges when pressed against light. Small one finger head that died down at a moderate rate leaving some lacing.

S: Mostly toasty malts with really no hops.

T: This beer is a malt bomb. Mostly a toasty malt sweetness. Hop bitterness is very low and next to non existent. A little bit of dark caramelized fruits, earthiness, and nuttiness are available on the palate as well. For the most part the beer relies on the toasted and caramel malts though.

M: Carbonation is fairly low but that makes it even more drinkable. Maybe a little bit of a thinner body then I would like too but this might feel like its amplified because the carbonation is lower then average.

O: Pretty good beer. I liked it and would consider buying it again. It would be no problem drinking a few of these. It seemed extremely similar to one of my brown ale home brews .Tasty but nothing astounding.

Serving type: bottle

04-06-2013 20:15:11 | More by Haydn-Juby

fostachild

Ontario (Canada)

3.8/5  rDev +12.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

pours a dark red/brown colour. okay amount of light tan head - decent lacing.

smell was actually really good. malt, caramel, and roasted aromas.

similar roasted feel in taste. also malty and sweet. carbonation a bit thin, but still good drinkability - session-able.

overall a good, enjoyable scottish ale that also happens to be very reasonably priced - definitely worth a try.

Serving type: bottle

11-03-2011 01:37:56 | More by fostachild

chefelf

New York

3.63/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

I'm not too familiar with the Scottish ale style but this was an enjoyable beer. It is a reddish-brown color with not too much head. It has a nice roasted flavor and is not too heavy on the carbonation.

It was a nice beer. My only recommendation is that they put more information on the labels of their beers. The name of the beer is listed but no information about the brewery. Someone would have to do research to find out who brewed it.

I think they're a new brewery so I'm sure they'll iron out those kinks in the future.

Serving type: bottle

09-09-2011 13:49:31 | More by chefelf

Yoonisaykul

Quebec (Canada)

3.1/5  rDev -8.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Some of the hardest to open twist-tops I've encountered.
Just noticed there's no mention of the brewery on the label, only the name of the beer.

A- Held up to a light, a deep, almost purple, ruby. Very light-beige head. Retention is not too good but I won't deduct too many points because I'm not 100% on my glasse's beer cleanliness.

S- Some peanut butter and jelly. Light alcohol. A bit of boiled beet. Roasted coffee as it warms.

T- Not as much flavour as most other scottish ales I've tried but it still tastes good. Light caramel and/or molasses. Cigarette butt smokiness in the finish and after-taste. A tad metallic. A bit too watery in general.

M- Good body but maybe a bit thin for the style. Medium to high carbonation. Finishes dry.

D- Good. I think I could do a 6 pack.

Wouldn't buy a 6 pack of it though.

Serving type: bottle

12-07-2010 21:29:33 | More by Yoonisaykul

spinrsx

Ontario (Canada)

3.03/5  rDev -10.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

12oz Bottle

Appearance - The beer pours a dark red/brown colour with a large creamy light brown head. There is a low amount of carbonation showing, and there is some faint lacing. The head stuck around for several minutes it dissipated.

Smell - roasted malts, a rustiness, toasted nuts, a smokiness

Taste & Mouth - There is an okay mouthfeel; might need a little more carbonation. There is an odd flavour that I can't quite put my finger on, but my best description would be a rustiness mixed with lemon juice. There is also a strong toasted/roasted and smoky flavour with lots of malts and slight caramel. It finishes with a slightly bitter aftertaste.

Drink - Worth a try, not my favorite though.

Serving type: bottle

10-26-2010 00:23:03 | More by spinrsx

rodenbach99

Quebec (Canada)

3.1/5  rDev -8.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

brown 341ml. bottle, the label changed 3 times.

A: nice brown colour, beige head very appealling to the eyes.
S: aroma of caramel, dyacetyl probably.
T: the mouth is full of caramel, lots of caramel with a hint of fruits in the finish.
M: medium-bodied beer, nice sweetness
D: very drinkable,

Serving type: bottle

02-24-2009 17:22:19 | More by rodenbach99

ZorPrime

Quebec (Canada)

3.18/5  rDev -6.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Nice appearance, dark yellow-brown color. First scotch ale I drank so I'm not sure where this beer is when compared to other same beer style.

I would say this is not my favorite beer style. Drinkable. However, I would say that one drink is enough. Wouldn't drink two of those in the same night.

Not much head and sadly I can't remember the scent I got. That's why I gave it a 3.0 but will try again and get a piece of paper to write down my tasting experience!!

Will try it some other day since I do have 2 more bottles!

Serving type: bottle

06-08-2008 02:15:38 | More by ZorPrime

DoubleJ

California

3.53/5  rDev +4.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

When I was looking around the Marché Des Saveurs in Montréal, I wanted to leave with something to show. I looked around and my eyes shouted "Hey, look! A scottish ale from an unfamiliar brewery!" The rest is history. The label is bilingual, and the price tag from the store remains on the back. On to the beer:

Too late, but I used a bottle opener. So? But it's a twist-off top. Oh. The beer pours a ruby brown into my pint glass, the body mixing in orange hues. Good two-finger head on top. Aroma...sweet, malty with an undertone of smoke. Okay, and now to taste this Ecossaise-Québeçois beer...interesting to say the least. Body is medium, a little dash of coffee here. Some toffee and diacteyl on the side. Fruity flavor starts to gain momentum along the journey. Hops are light, providing a tea-like flavor and a sizzle on the tongue. Solid balance, and good drinkability.

Not every Québeçois beer can be made by Unibroue, Dieu du Ciel, or McAuslan. This was a good "reality check" beer.

Serving type: bottle

01-03-2008 04:38:11 | More by DoubleJ

demcorhip

Ontario (Canada)

3.08/5  rDev -9.1%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Thanks to manaryp for bringing this west.

Not much of a looker, an opaque brown, with a half finger light tan head that quickly dissipates and leaves no lacings. The aroma is a step up from the appearance, with scents of toffee, a peat like earthiness, floral accents, hints of wood, dark fruits, and cocoa.

Tasted much like the nose, toffee and some diacetyl, a slightly strange (for the style) twangy and mildly phenolic "smokey peatiness". Not sure if this is derived from fermentation byproducts or the use of peated malt. Slightly tart and finishes with what i can only describe as grape Kool-Aid.

Light to medium bodied, watery, yet finishes with a powdery feel. Some interesting flavours, and some that are slightly off, that dont quite come together to make a cohesive brew.

Fairly refreshing, but then again i have a soft spot for grape Kool-Aid, reminding me of my more or less carefree childhood. Since i can get around that aspect of this brew i would even find it sessionable, although the powdery grape Kool-Aid finish may be too much for some or even most beer drinkers.

Serving type: bottle

07-28-2007 12:43:24 | More by demcorhip

markaberrant

Saskatchewan (Canada)

2.28/5  rDev -32.7%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

A - dark orange colour, clear. Pours a big head with large soapy bubbles due to excessive carbonation, recedes to a thin tan cap with carbonation continually pushing through. No lacing.

S - sweet caramel, slightly earthy, overly phenolic. I got a bit of sour when I first opened the bottle, but it has mostly dissappeared.

T - Slightly sour, totally lacking in malt backbone, some uneven roast at the end. The aftertaste is surprisingly decent.

M - Totally overcarbonated, prickly, completely ruins any decent malt flavour from coming through. I'm also getting some warm alcohol, which seems out of place for a 5% beer... especially considering that I'm not exactly chuggin it.

D - Uh... no.

This beer reminds me of "bad homebrew"... it has all the characteristics of poor fermentation/sanitation/malt extract. Not even close in terms of style, and full of flaws.

Cripes... it's still fizzing away like mad... and I poured it 15 minutes ago.

Thanks to Jpagewatts for the bottle!

Serving type: bottle

07-08-2007 03:14:06 | More by markaberrant

Viggo

Ontario (Canada)

3.28/5  rDev -3.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Purchased at Metro Johanette while in Montreal for Mondial!

Pours a clear red/brown, very thick tan head, settles down to a thin layer, nice lacing, looks pretty good. Smell is very sweet, floral, almost perfumy, caramel notes, bit of roast, sugary sweet, very fruity. Taste is sweet and fruity too, caramel, floral, some toffee roast in the finish, lingering sweetness, almost cloying. Mouthfeel is medium bodied, medium carbonation, almost astringent in the mouthfeel, carbonation is a little high, and too sweet in the finish. Pretty drinkable though.

Serving type: bottle

06-06-2007 21:17:52 | More by Viggo

JOaikido

Quebec (Canada)

3.8/5  rDev +12.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

341 ml bottle.

A- Good orange tinged head that slowly settles to a thin foam and some lacing. Good bubbliness. Nice dark coppery red colour with slight purple highlights. Very attractive beer.

S- Caramel and roasted malts. Butterscotch. Touch of fruit (raisin).

T- Malt dominates with caramel and some dried fruit. Could be stronger flavoured. Butterscotch starts to come through a bit as the beer warms.

MF- Good bodied malty ale. Carbonation a bit high.

D- Very easy to drink but would benefit from a stronger flavour. Good beer overall.

Serving type: bottle

04-21-2007 12:05:23 | More by JOaikido

dherling

New Jersey

3.45/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured out a chocolate brown, murky, with tan lacing and head. The nose is big malt, with a bit of unexpected fruityness to it. the taste ismore like a brown ale to me. It's missing the big alcohol and ragin malt that I expect from a scotch ale. Mouthfeel is good, medium body and carbonation. Very drinkable, and an enjoyable beer, but it's wrong for the style.

Serving type: bottle

03-30-2007 02:56:38 | More by dherling

Phyl21ca

Quebec (Canada)

2.5/5  rDev -26.3%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

Bottle: Poured a clear brown color ale with a small off-white foamy head with limited retention. Aroma of nutty caramel malt is a bit weak. Taste of caramel and toffee malt is dominant but a bit weak for the style. Body is a bit watery and carbonation lively. Overall, this is not something that I would seek again and it is pretty mediocre for the style.

Serving type: bottle

10-16-2006 16:20:33 | More by Phyl21ca

vanrassel

Alberta (Canada)

3.78/5  rDev +11.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Received in CANBIF 2006. Thanks, Matt!

An inviting beer from the start, pouring a nice deep brown with ruby highlights and a creamy tan head. Brown sugar and a nice bready malt aroma greeted my nose and I was looking forward to my first sip.

The taste built on what I smelled moments earlier. It started malty and caramel sweet but ended slighty — only slightly — bitter. It had nice carbonation and a medium-bodied feel.

I don't think this is strong enough to be Scotch ale as the label described it, but if we're calling it a Scottish Ale, it fits well. I could see myself putting back a few of these in a session.

Serving type: bottle

09-12-2006 17:29:38 | More by vanrassel

bloberglawp

Quebec (Canada)

4/5  rDev +18%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Served in a 3 pistoles chalise at somewhere around 12-14 celcius.

Nice brew from Micro-Brasserie L'Alchimiste. Light stottich caramel flavor. Fair aroma, not overwhelming. Good carbonisation. I hope my atemps to homebrewing this type of beer will yield similar results. Low ABV makes you want to keep another handy.

Serving type: bottle

03-22-2006 04:37:31 | More by bloberglawp

DrJay

Massachusetts

3.38/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Dark, coppery-brown, quite clear, topped by an off-white head that thins quickly. Fair lacing. Straight-up grainy malt sweetness in the aroma with just a hint of earthy hops, along with a bit of toffee. Low bitterness, sweet caramel maltiness and a light roasted flavour. The finish has some hop character and the bitterness comes out a lot more. The body is on the thin side, but doesn't fall completely away. Overall, not a bad offering, just not much too bring me back again.

Serving type: bottle

09-27-2005 01:07:47 | More by DrJay

Goldorak

Quebec (Canada)

3.55/5  rDev +4.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Sampled this Beer in it's new format, 12oz regular bottles.

Appearance: Black Cherry cola red, with only a microfilm of white head.

Smell: Malty sweet, subdued alcohol overtone (not surprising as this one clocks in only at 5%ABV) with a dash of citrusy hop to close it off.

Taste: Nice round caramel malt flavor that really pops at first, it almost comes off as maple toffee. Pretty rich and round flavor, the aftertaste is chocolatey, it reminded me of Yoohoo or chocolate Ovaltine. I liked it! The bottle says scotch ale, but it's way too lightweight for that, but it certainly is a smooth and sessionable scottish ale.

Serving type: bottle

07-03-2005 22:04:46 | More by Goldorak

waughbrew

Massachusetts

4.75/5  rDev +40.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Oh, lord, this goes down way too easy. I could not get enough. This is beautiful. Clear auburn with a creme-colored head that is not big, but laces well. The smell is awesome and strong - molasses and all kinds of nuts and caramel and toffee and earthiness. Very appealing. Medium body comes across so smoothly with just a hint of slickness and sweetness. Again, very nutty in a wonderful way, but not weighed down with too much going on - remains open and bright without overhopping. Even a little alcohol comes across at 5%! This is awesome, and, for me, leads this style.

Serving type: bottle

05-26-2005 21:20:32 | More by waughbrew

northyorksammy

Ontario (Canada)

3.28/5  rDev -3.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Another beer slushie from this brewery. Interesting amber appearance with tons of foam that just won't quit. Initially a bit of stout taste and then nothing. Some sweetness. Taste like a weak watery beer you had in college from a big plastic cup. Fizzy. Dry sweet aftertaste.

Serving type: bottle

07-02-2004 03:47:55 | More by northyorksammy