Arcadia Loch Down Scotch Ale - Arcadia Brewing Company

RenownedHack

Kentucky

2.83/5  rDev -22.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Poured from a 12 oz. bottle into tall wine glass.

A: The appearance isn't anything too horribly remarkable. Quite dark, slightly light-permeable, with about a finger of head which dissipated moderately quickly, leaving some light lacing.

S: There's a booziness there. The first thing I thought of was Jack and Coca Cola - maybe SoCo. Definitely some bourbon oakiness in this one. The nose really isn't that impressive.

T: I really hate to say this, but the balance on this one is off. I took a sip, waiting to see what the taste was reminiscent of, and it was just kind of...flavor. Nothing at all standing out, nothing at all balanced with or supplementing anything else. Just a blob of various flavors with an oaky finish. Very light hops for a moment or two, but that flavor dissipates quite quickly.

M: It doesn't feel bad in the mouth; it really doesn't. It feels pretty medium-bodied, just the right amount of carbonation, and no irksome, syrupy hanglings. It's really pretty basic, though, truth be told.

O: I really feel like so much more could have been accomplished by this brew, and that it's onto something. I feel like it fell short of its goals somewhere, however, and just kind of faded into the woodwork. It's disappointing, because it felt like it was getting there with smell, taste, mouthfeel...then it just stopped without peaking. A bottle rocket when you wanted a mortar shell firework.

Serving type: bottle

04-14-2013 06:44:37 | More by RenownedHack

Alextricity

Michigan

2.76/5  rDev -24.4%
look: 2 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 2.75

Appearance: Looks like Coke or something -- dark reddish brown with about a finger of head that quickly bubbles away. Absolutely no lacing whatsoever, and very few bubbles stick to the side of the glass.

Smell: Really Scotchy with some traces of alcohol. Caramel malts are there as well, but this is distinctively Scotch-like.

Taste/feel: Now, there's no bottle date on this, but I have to think it's past its prime. Dark fruits and Scotch on the front, and it really stays the same the whole way through. Slight bitter aftertaste. Quite carbonated, and with a pretty thin feel.

This is the second Scotch Ale that I've had in a row (the other being Innis & Gun's Oak Aged) that has just been unappealing to me. This is considerably better than the I&G beer I had, but I still feel like it has to be an old bottle. It looks ugly, it smells "bleh", and it doesn't taste very good. I'd say it could be because I don't like the style, but I find Dirty Bastard and Old Chub to both be tasty brews. Not feeling this one by Arcadia.

Serving type: bottle

04-07-2013 19:56:40 | More by Alextricity

jmendels

Michigan

3.59/5  rDev -1.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5

An overall enjoyable beer. While I didn't find it to be anything impressive, it's a good craft brew. The taste has a bit of toffee with some subtle roasted characteristics. It's medium bodied and leave s you warm after drinking. The after taste was a tad too bitter, I feel like this beer could have been balanced better.

3.5/5.0

Serving type: bottle

03-24-2013 02:29:17 | More by jmendels

breakingbland

Michigan

3.84/5  rDev +5.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a bottle into a pint glass.

Appearance: A deep brown -- almost opaque with a red tinge.

Aroma: Sweet with some hints of oak and smoke.

Taste: A definite coffee taste. It has a well balanced taste profile with a sweet, lingering hoppiness.

Mouthfeel: Smooth body with a slight carbonation bite.

Overall: I like this style, and this is one of my "go to" everyday favorites. It goes with a variety of foods, as well as standing well by itself.

Serving type: bottle

03-12-2013 23:21:31 | More by breakingbland

Caskaway

Illinois

4.15/5  rDev +13.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.25

Currently, the bottle is labeled "Arcadia Ales" and contains the illustration of a castle. It must be a new bottle, not sure if the recipe has changed.

Poured from a 12oz bottle into a pint glass. Pours dark, minimal head, reminiscent of syrup. Smell is nothing to write home about, but taste and mouthfeel are wonderful. Borders on overly sweet, but full-bodied malts are enough to keep it balanced.

Overall, I think this is an exceptional and robust beer. Much better than the current scores would indicate.

Serving type: bottle

01-30-2013 02:25:35 | More by Caskaway

mfnmbvp

Illinois

3.33/5  rDev -8.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

12 oz. bottle, no bottled on date present. Poured into a Boulevard tulip glass.

A - Pours extremely dark and thick with just the slightest bit of a ruby glow coming through. One finger of thin head that goes down quickly. Little bit of alcohol lacing on the glass.

S - Can definitely smell a woody, smoked, whiskey smell coming from the scotch. Slight hint of vanilla, but not overwhelming.

T - Bit on the heavier / thicker side, but it works for this beer. Definitely a strong booze aftertaste on this one. Little bit of spice. Nicely balanced level of carbonation.

M - Mouth is nice and thick and filmy. Feels good, if maybe a little bit of hotness / spice that lingers for a minute. Extremely dry finish.

Overall, it is a decent brew for sure, but I tend to favor similar beers that are lighter bodied and lean more towards a vanilla flavor. Still a very well-made beer, and I have been a fan of most of the beers I have had from Arcadia.

Arcadia Loch Down Scotch Ale ---3/5

Serving type: bottle

01-13-2013 04:11:37 | More by mfnmbvp

JohnnyHopps

Indiana

2.93/5  rDev -19.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

The bottle was poured into a sampler glass and shared with three other samplers. The ale poured a murky brown with little apparent head. One sampler described the aroma as smelling like old lady hair. If you have beer been to the salon with your grandma and smell the chemicals that go into the hair of the elderly, that is the essence of the aroma. The initial taste was that of a grapey scotch. The maltiness of the scotch is presented in the background and falls rather awkward with the grapiness. Dark fruit such as prune is also present, though the sweeter aspects of these fruits are absent relative to the drier aspects. The grape aspects turned medicine in the aftertaste, leaving a coating on the back of the throat. I really enjoy scotch ales, but I found this one to be quite flawed.

Serving type: bottle

11-21-2012 13:51:16 | More by JohnnyHopps

NuclearDolphin

Minnesota

4.75/5  rDev +30.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Poured into a Pint Glass

Appearance - Dark brown with an very dirty brown head, along with a good amount of lacing along the sides. Almost has the appearance of an Imperial Stout

Smell - Very rich peated scotch, caramel, toffee, yeasts and sweet malts. The malt is very strong with this one.

Taste - Robust caramel, toffee, scotch, yeasts and malts. Very sweet tasting even by Scotch Ale standards thanks to the strong malty backbone, and being incredibly delicious at the same time.

Mouthfeel - Fairly thick body but free from carbonation, so this feels incredibly creamy and it goes along with the flavor perfectly

Overall - Perhaps the best scotch ale I have ever had because it does so many things right with it's flavor and body, along with the rich aroma that comes along with it. I can't wait to try more from Arcadia Brewing!

Serving type: bottle

08-26-2012 01:47:48 | More by NuclearDolphin

soju6

Missouri

3.55/5  rDev -2.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A: Pours a deep mahogany color with a small head and no real lacing.

S: Aroma of roasted malt, dark fruit with some chocolate and caramel and hint of spice. Can sort sense the 8% ABV.

T: Taste follows the the aroma with roasted malt and dark fruit, followed with a blend of chocolate and caramel sweetness and bit of spice. Mild bitterness and a slightly sticky finish.

F: Medium body, with a smooth and creamy texture and a subtle feel of the alcohol.

O: Nice scotch ale, quite good for the style without being overpowering.

Serving type: bottle

07-09-2012 21:55:22 | More by soju6

superspak

Michigan

3.25/5  rDev -11%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

12 ounce bottle into tulip glass, bottled on 11/1/2011. Pours cloudy very dark reddish brown color with a fairly dense 1-2 finger light khaki head with good retention, that reduces to a thin cap that lingers. Some nice spotty lacing clings to the glass. Aromas of big raisin, prune, toast, molasses, caramel, earth, cocoa, and light herbal. Pretty nice aromas with good strength and complexity. Taste of prune, raisin, cocoa, earth, molasses, caramel, toast, slight smoke, tobacco, and herbal. Lingering notes of dark fruit, molasses, toast, tobacco, caramel, cocoa, and herbal on the finish for a good bit. Pretty good flavor balance and complexity; but has some unpleasantly cloying characteristics after the finish. Medium carbonation and medium-full body; with a nice creamy and slightly slick mouthfeel. Alcohol is well hidden with only a warming after the finish. Overall this is an ok scotch ale. If it didn’t have the cloying flavors on the finish it would have scored higher. Certainly wasn’t too difficult to finish.

Serving type: bottle

07-09-2012 01:42:21 | More by superspak

SometimesIfart

Michigan

1.65/5  rDev -54.8%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 1.5

My brother picked up a 6 pack of this at a local Kroger and he handed me one. The appearance is a very dark brown, almost black, With a smell of stale burnt toast. The taste pretty much follows the smell, Except it adds a slight sour, dark coffee flavor. The mouthfeel is fairly warming for a moment, However it then just regains it's sour dark coffee flavoring. Did not like this beer at all. I am definitely not a fan of Scotch Ale in any way shape or form.

Serving type: bottle

06-17-2012 04:14:20 | More by SometimesIfart

HarrySTruman

Michigan

3.65/5  rDev 0%
look: 2 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours dark brown/deep red hues. Looks almost like a dark Diet Cola without the fizz. Not a lot of carbonation, virtually no head, lacing is minimal.

The mouthfeel was filled with alcohol, but it finished with a dry, yet fruity taste. The after taste was fantastic, really the highlight of this beer.

I'm certainly not an expert on scotch ales. I've always enjoyed Belgian Ales and thought I would buy this beer to support a local brewery. The taste wasn't as bold or as complex as most of the Belgian Ales I have had, but that very well may be the point.

I enjoyed this beer and would call it better than average. I would certainly drink it again and check out other options from this brewery.

Serving type: bottle

06-07-2012 01:06:28 | More by HarrySTruman

divineaudio

Michigan

3.25/5  rDev -11%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

pint glass. from notes.

a - pours a murky, reddish brown with a thin cap of tan head. spotty lacing.

s - earthy, carmel with notes of cocoa powder.

t - carmel malt with a light smokiness. notes of cocoa powder and raisin. no discernible hop character.

m - heavier side of medium with lighter carbonation.

o - decent but nothing memorable. can think of a few other examples of the style i would choose over this.

Serving type: bottle

05-03-2012 18:28:46 | More by divineaudio

TheCondor

Missouri

3.83/5  rDev +4.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

I got this brew from the cooler at my wife’s uncles place when we went there to eat last week. Being a wine drinker, it is rare he has pretty good beer at his house, outside Stella and Boulevard Pale Ale. Those are both pretty good, but I have had them plenty. However, I guess his son had brought him a sixer of this, and he had given all them away except that lonely one standing before me….Poured from the bottle into a pint glass.

Appearance – Pours a nice deep brown color with a tan head which dissipates rather quickly, leaving little sign of lacing. There is a lighter brown tint at the outside of the beer, but for the most part it is nice and dark. Just the way I like my beer. Bubbly too….

Smell – Bready malts, toast, biscuits, and a dash of scotch and alcohol at the end. I enjoyed the nose on this brew, I though it was good! I like the balance between alcohol and bready malts.

Taste – Much like the nose, there is a nice bready, biscuit, malty front and middle to the drink, with a strong alcohol finish to it. Balanced, representative of the style, you certainly know this is a scotch ale/wee heavy from the first drink, really as soon as you smell it. The strong alcohol kick doesn’t bother me, because I enjoy scotch/bourbon/whisky etc., but some may find it a little strong.

Mouthfeel – A little on the thin side, but smooth. Warming with the alcohol

Overall – I thought this was a pretty good brew to be honest. I really enjoy wee heavys, I like the scotch taste to them, and I thought this was an overall good beer. I would buy it again, I would drink it again, I would recommend it to people who I know like this kind of beer.

Serving type: bottle

04-30-2012 23:57:52 | More by TheCondor

beergod1

Ohio

3.4/5  rDev -6.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Dark mahogany pour with a thin tan head. Very sweet and deeply roasted malty aroma with hints of fruit and smoke. Malty sweetness dominates the flavors, a scotch like profile, but leaves me wanting more of something. Mouthfeel a bit thin and finish very much in need of a hoppy finish. Not very well balanced. Decent tasting beer, but missing some key scotch flavors.

Serving type: bottle

04-28-2012 19:54:04 | More by beergod1

CMUbrew

Michigan

3.28/5  rDev -10.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

12oz bottle poured into a pint glass

A: Poured with a thin light tan head that made only a brief appearance before leaving behind just a few whisps of foam on top. The beer is a dark brown color that only reveals a lighter brown at the very edges of the glass. Surprising amount of carbonation bubbles rising to the top, although they make their way slowly.

S: Toasted bread malt and a whiff of alcohol at the end.

T: Toasty bready malts with perhaps a slight dough quality make up the flavor profile. A slight trace of earthy hops cut in somewhere but are lost quickly. Then comes alcohol that is in no way shy. It is warming in the mouth and throat to let its presence be known. As this beer warms up the alcohol becomes more aggressive and liquor-like.

M: The carbonation is lighter than all the bubbles would suggest. Body is on the lighter part of medium and has a slick feeling to it.

O: The toasted malt profile was very one-note for me and the alcohol really took center stage. I would almost say the toastiness made the alcohol more abrasive. An unrefined scotch ale in my opinion.

Serving type: bottle

04-22-2012 05:59:18 | More by CMUbrew

homebrew311

Illinois

4.05/5  rDev +11%
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a deep auburn with some clarity. Very dark, light hardly passes through. Thin head forms a collar, some retention and quite a bit of lacing. The nose is rich and malty with waves of toffee and caramel along with grainy bread and nuts. No hop presence on the nose. A slight hint of smokiness in the background. The taste starts of bready and becomes very sweet as the flavor develops. The finish features a touch of molasses along with caramel. Nice balance of flavors working here. The body is moderate with higher than average carbonation for style. Overall, this is a well crafted Wee Heavy. Lots of rich malty flavors are present and well balanced, the abv is well hidden as well.

Serving type: bottle

04-15-2012 00:12:43 | More by homebrew311

litheum94

California

3.23/5  rDev -11.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Bottled 11/1/11.

Deep brown body with sienna hi-lites. Scant, brown head leaves a patchy cover.

Kola nut, molasses and peat, with a slight smoke essence. Vanilla and caramel malts as well, with no hops.

Caramel and nutty malts. Vanilla and cream soda flavors. Some earthy peat. English toffee leads into light hopping on the finish, with a pine and floral essence.

Decent scotch ale. Definitely above average, but there are better examples out there.

Serving type: bottle

03-07-2012 16:16:46 | More by litheum94

matjack85

Illinois

4.4/5  rDev +20.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

I found this single 12oz brown bottle at the Binny's store in Bloomingdale, IL as part of a build your own six pack for $9.99, so that would make each selection $1.67. My label is completely different from the one on the BA web page as mine has a picture of a Scottish castle on top of a hill rather than a coat of arms, but I'm sure it's the same beer judging from the alcohol content, color, and other features common with other reviewers here. No freshness date.

The beer poured a nice dark chestnut brown color, but only made a ½-finger of beige head and left very little lacing.

Very nice smell with lots of roasted malt, molasses, dark fruits, and a bit of alcohol.

Good malty backbone with sweet caramel and molasses leading the way, followed by plum and raisin fruit notes, and a very noticeable and warming alcohol finish. Tea-like hops provide a mild bitterness for balance. I loved it.

The mouthfeel may be the best part of all. A smooth and creamy texture create a medium to full bodied brew, and the medium carbonation level is perfect. There's enough alcohol to make it feel like a warm liqueur going down your throat.

At 8% abv it's definitely not sessionable, but it sure is a great and tasty sipper. I highly recommended trying this one.

Serving type: bottle

02-29-2012 11:25:35 | More by matjack85

russpowell

Oklahoma

3.18/5  rDev -12.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Pours a chestnut tinged mahogany with a thumb of tan head. Above average head retention & lacing

S: Plums, cherry & taffy

T:Dark fruit, woody hop notes & cola notes up front, along with some raw boozey notes. Molasess, carob & cherry are there as this warms, Finishes with raw boozeynes cherriess a touch smokeynesss

MF: Medium bodied, light carbonation, warming but rough around the edges

This is better than previous bottles I've had, but still not much to get excited about. Another run of the mill beer from Arcadia

Serving type: bottle

02-27-2012 05:19:44 | More by russpowell

FungusBrewer

Illinois

3.25/5  rDev -11%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Poured a deep brown-chestnut pint with average head retention. Grab a spoon for this one. Loch Down ale tastes a bit buttery, heavy, and malty. Slight burnt toffee characteristics, but not "dried fig" like some old ales. At 8%, without the balanced hops, you taste the booze.

Best enjoyed while watching Highlander.

Serving type: bottle

02-21-2012 21:17:48 | More by FungusBrewer

micromaniac129

Pennsylvania

3.38/5  rDev -7.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A rich chestnut brown color. Very little in way of carbonation that produces very little head, even when poured vigorously. Aromas of roasted malts cocoa and licorise. there is also a high level of diaceyl in the nose. The taste finds rich malts cocoa and licorise like in the nose but also a big dollup of alcohol. At 8 ABV it's sits right there in the open daring you. Not hidden at all. The diaceyl that was quite present in the nose retreats to a more subdued level on the palette.
The beer drink smooth and somewhat dry even though the beer itself is rather sweet overall.
A bit plain jane as far as scotch ales. I'd could take it or leave.

Serving type: bottle

01-28-2012 19:50:50 | More by micromaniac129

scruffwhor

Illinois

3.73/5  rDev +2.2%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Clear, but very dark ruby color. Quick head and foam. Seems close to what most other Scottish ales I've had.

Heavy toast, a little roast, and caramelized plums on toasty muffins.

The roast is heavy on the front of the palate, But the middle has a great combo of roast and toast malt flavors come together. The two flavor categories push out some very bready, muffiny flavors with a caramelized sweetness.

The palate is malty, a little sweet, and somewhat syrupy. You get a little warmth on the finish.

Serving type: bottle

01-28-2012 00:25:19 | More by scruffwhor

cquinn17

Illinois

3.73/5  rDev +2.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

My first review ever! I just decided it was time I guess and happened to be pouring this beer.

12 oz. bottle poured into a NB globe.

A- Dark brown with a very minimal head and little retention. good amount of visible carbonation

S- I get lots of roasted malt and some alcohol notes. Also some sweeter molasses notes present as it warms.

T- Starts off with some smoky and roasted malt flavors, as it moves across the tongue I pick up some peat notes. Finishes slightly bitter and has a touch of alcohol at the end.

M- thinner mouthfeel than I would have liked, good amount of carbonation

O- Nothing really stands out about this scotch ale, but its not bad. A pretty good example of the style that doesn't do anything to crazy. I'd drink it again.

Serving type: bottle

01-11-2012 09:44:09 | More by cquinn17

schoolboy

Ohio

4/5  rDev +9.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I think I may have been a little harsh with straight 4's on this, but I am just starting to get an appreciation for this style. I previously had avoided scotch ales, but I am starting to like them, as I said in a review last week.

This one has a unique malty flavor. It makes no appologies for its' booziness. The color is a pretty brown and the head is pretty weak. The aroma is pretty interesting, .ike the taste. I would definintely buy this again. It is another step towards my appreciation of scotch ales.

Serving type: bottle

01-07-2012 03:53:46 | More by schoolboy