Arcadia Loch Down Scotch Ale - Arcadia Brewing Company

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

Fargrow

Michigan

4/5  rDev +9.6%

05-18-2013 18:40:24 | More by Fargrow

MLKincer

Ohio

2.5/5  rDev -31.5%

05-17-2013 22:38:54 | More by MLKincer

GinsuDave

Michigan

3.75/5  rDev +2.7%

05-17-2013 01:05:27 | More by GinsuDave

HarmonMW

Michigan

3.5/5  rDev -4.1%

05-12-2013 00:08:24 | More by HarmonMW

Punqbert

Michigan

3.75/5  rDev +2.7%

04-17-2013 01:45:26 | More by Punqbert

jewellrunner

Missouri

4.5/5  rDev +23.3%

04-14-2013 12:56:46 | More by jewellrunner

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

WoodBrew

Illinois

3.75/5  rDev +2.7%

04-12-2013 14:51:28 | More by WoodBrew

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

Rons35

Michigan

3/5  rDev -17.8%

03-29-2013 23:57:55 | More by Rons35

MichiganBrews

Michigan

4.25/5  rDev +16.4%

03-28-2013 01:50:11 | More by MichiganBrews

MallyOMight

Michigan

3/5  rDev -17.8%

03-26-2013 22:08:48 | More by MallyOMight

skaboom420

Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev +2.7%

03-25-2013 21:26:16 | More by skaboom420

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

AlMarzo

Michigan

3/5  rDev -17.8%

03-23-2013 05:52:28 | More by AlMarzo

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

MySauceIsHot

Illinois

4.25/5  rDev +16.4%

03-07-2013 22:34:49 | More by MySauceIsHot

Narkiboy

New Jersey

3.75/5  rDev +2.7%

03-03-2013 19:16:20 | More by Narkiboy

sixerofelixir

Ohio

3.75/5  rDev +2.7%

02-27-2013 18:04:24 | More by sixerofelixir

JohnnieNepal

Michigan

3.75/5  rDev +2.7%

02-23-2013 04:00:17 | More by JohnnieNepal

Zaphog

Michigan

3.75/5  rDev +2.7%

02-09-2013 03:12:38 | More by Zaphog

BigFatPanda

Michigan

4/5  rDev +9.6%

02-03-2013 19:46:46 | More by BigFatPanda

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

ruckus232

Illinois

3.75/5  rDev +2.7%

01-30-2013 01:49:42 | More by ruckus232