Black Douglas Ale - Broughton Ales Ltd

maddogruss

New Jersey

3.63/5  rDev -8.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Got a bottle of this as part of my PhD study program at the Cloverleaf Tavern in West Caldwell, NJ

A: Pours a dark brown body with a small, white head with ok retention and lacing; pretty standard for the style.

S: A pretty sweet, burnt toffee smell with some slight caramel notes. Alcohol notes were also evident in the smell.

T: A sweet, burnt toffee taste with a slight alcohol burning which was a little unexpected given the lower ABV style, but I guess i should have surmised based on the smell. There were some earthy notes evident in the taste as well with some slight caramel undertones in the aftertaste.

M: Overall, a pretty smooth, medium bodied beer that is perfect for this time of year. Not too shabby, slightly filling, and yet still pretty refreshing.

D: A nice mouthfeel and taste combo does make the beer still pretty drinkable. Alcohol presence was still evident, but nothing too overbearing or anything that really detracted from the quality of the beer or the overall drinking experience of it. Worth a go if you can grab it; definitely a pretty solid, Scottish ale.

Serving type: bottle

10-08-2010 18:28:19 | More by maddogruss

Bill235

Ohio

4/5  rDev +1%

05-13-2013 11:41:18 | More by Bill235

mick303

Ontario (Canada)

3.68/5  rDev -7.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A- a caramel ruby colour, slight head with some decent lacing.

S- sweet toffee, caramel malt, fruity apple note, quite a bit of barley malt, mildly roasty.

T- sweet caramel, vegetal notes, toasty malt, cinnamon and some spice, and some zesty citrus but there doesn't seem to be much holding it all together. Finish has some caramel sugar, dry barley finish.

M- mild body, soft carbonation, a bit watery then dry and a bit bitter tannic tannic on finish, drinkable.

Not a particularly remarkable or memorable ale, easy enough to drink, and some decent malty notes coming through, but not much complexity. Develops nicely though, good session ale.

Serving type: bottle

03-28-2013 10:12:33 | More by mick303

harpus

Alabama

4/5  rDev +1%

03-27-2013 13:56:29 | More by harpus

matjack85

Illinois

4.5/5  rDev +13.6%

02-02-2013 06:38:00 | More by matjack85

Thunderballroom

New York

4/5  rDev +1%

12-25-2012 05:21:50 | More by Thunderballroom

cliff1066

Virginia

4/5  rDev +1%

12-09-2012 18:54:19 | More by cliff1066

BYOFB

Wisconsin

4.25/5  rDev +7.3%

11-24-2012 21:56:28 | More by BYOFB

Minkybut

Virginia

3.2/5  rDev -19.2%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

I poured this okay beer into my tumbler at 45 degrees. The beer was co-cola colored pouring a pretty big head that had really bid bubbles. I guess that is why they did not last very long either. The beer smelled really good. It had a rich caramelly hazel nut smell that I thought was going to be yummy. It was not though and in fact the beer was fruity tasting with a bitter finish. I will not buy again.

Serving type: bottle

10-17-2012 23:11:07 | More by Minkybut

bzach

Indiana

3.5/5  rDev -11.6%

10-16-2012 06:57:50 | More by bzach

Bryfind

Louisiana

4.5/5  rDev +13.6%

07-11-2012 13:26:53 | More by Bryfind

Aml42000

Washington

3.48/5  rDev -12.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

A- Dark brown body with a beautiful ruby tint at the bottom of the glass. Thick off white head with excellent lacing.

S- Roasted malts expressing caramel and hazelnuts. Very subtle, but quite elegant aromatics.

T- Almonds on entry with hints of chocolate and caramel on the mid palate. Some light fruit and hops on the finish.

M- Medium to full bodied with light carbonation. Drying finish. Very soft in the mouth. Elegant.

O- A good effort here. It takes a little coaxing, but some good complexity both aromatically and in the mouth comes through. The pint bottle is a good serving considering the low alcohol and easy approachability.

Serving type: bottle

07-07-2012 22:41:24 | More by Aml42000

kaelingirl

Massachusetts

3.25/5  rDev -17.9%

05-08-2012 01:46:02 | More by kaelingirl

obywan59

Virginia

4.03/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

The ale pours a dark ruby with a light tan head leaving copius lacing.

The aroma is of ripe apples and butterscotch.

There's fruitiness in the taste as well, sweet-tart apple with caramel.

Medium-bodied with light carbonation and warming alcohol in the throat.

This is an easy drinker, very good for a cool spring evening.

Serving type: bottle

04-10-2012 02:19:45 | More by obywan59

buckyp

South Carolina

3.5/5  rDev -11.6%

04-02-2012 23:20:43 | More by buckyp

deadonhisfeet

Kentucky

3.7/5  rDev -6.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a bottle into a pub pint. Appearance is clear, dark amber with a nice fluffy white head. Head retention is about average. The nose has notes of biscuits, dried fruits, nuts, and toasted malt.

The beer has a mild sweet flavor and a bit of a hop bite at mid-palate. The hops give it a somewhat woody kind of taste, making it slightly tart. The beer is nicely carbonated and is medium bodied. The hop profile makes it a somewhat unique Scottish Ale, but I honestly prefer examples with more malty sweetness. This one strikes me as a bit unbalanced. Perhaps I have had too many American-made Scottish Ales and not enough Scottish Scottish Ales.

Serving type: bottle

03-26-2012 23:08:34 | More by deadonhisfeet

BeerGut4Life

Indiana

3.5/5  rDev -11.6%

02-07-2012 17:02:58 | More by BeerGut4Life

tasteisking

Michigan

5/5  rDev +26.3%

02-04-2012 22:03:40 | More by tasteisking

JAHMUR

Connecticut

3/5  rDev -24.2%

01-22-2012 18:15:58 | More by JAHMUR

Kromes

Georgia

3.85/5  rDev -2.8%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

A: Clear dark brown with a thin line of tan bubbles on top.

S: Chocolate, caramel, peat, and port wine.

T: The dominant flavor is dark cherry with a little bit of peat and a touch of caramel.

M: Thin beer with low carbonation makes it is bordering on soda-like feel, but has just enough body to fill it out.

O: The flavors in this beer are good. It's a nice little scotch ale. Not bad for $1.25 on sale.

Serving type: bottle

01-14-2012 01:57:07 | More by Kromes

RyanBeer13

Virginia

4/5  rDev +1%

12-22-2011 23:30:03 | More by RyanBeer13

bigred89

Maryland

3.75/5  rDev -5.3%

12-03-2011 16:17:12 | More by bigred89

Rochefort10nh

New Hampshire

4/5  rDev +1%

12-02-2011 18:27:05 | More by Rochefort10nh

spoonhawk

Iowa

4/5  rDev +1%

11-23-2011 23:19:25 | More by spoonhawk

HardTarget

Texas

3.4/5  rDev -14.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Neck says best before Oct 11, but doesn't give a year, which is always a bit scary. 1 pt. 9 oz. brown bottle with raised hops.

Appearance: What looks to be a black glass shows to be a dark brown with excellent clarity given some back lighting. A half finger of tan foam holds and leaves thick coats of lace on the glass.

Smell: Malty, bit of peat, everything that should be and nothing that's not. Not a huge nose, but respectable.

Taste: Balanced but malty, some earthy hop notes, but there's a slightly astringent finish that seems a bit off. Goes a bit papery in the finish as well which has me wondering again, WHICH Oct 11th is this best by? Still not sure if it's oxidation or a slightly solvent taste which may just be the alcohol peeking through. It's fairly minor, doesn't seriously impair my enjoyment of the glass.

Mouthfeel: Fairly low carbonation but not flat by any means. Medium body with a slick texture.

Overall: A very nice Scot whose acquaintance I am glad to have met. Cheers to Illudium for the sample!

Serving type: bottle

07-16-2011 01:50:53 | More by HardTarget