Big Eddy Wee Heavy Scotch Ale - Jacob Leinenkugel Brewing Company

scaliasux

Wisconsin

3.1/5  rDev -17.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5

Appearance - Cola brown. Dark, but appears clear. Maybe a little red. Short tan head. Fairly persistent.

Smell - Rich medium-roasted malts. Molasses, raisins, syrup.

Taste - Sweet and malty. Initial impact is a little subdued, at least less flavor than I was expecting. Rich and raisiny. Finish has a little citrusy sourness. A touch of alcohol warmth.

Mouthfeel - Medium. Feels a little light.

Overall - Doesn't have everything I want in a Scotch Ale, but it's quite a lot more interesting than Berry Weiss.

Serving type: bottle

07-16-2012 04:12:28 | More by scaliasux

DefenCorps

Oregon

3.6/5  rDev -3.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Single for $2.99 from the Village Pump. This rounds out the Big Eddy series (non -bal) for me.

A very dark reddish brown with a dense, light brown head with good retention and no real lacing, this looks decent. The nose is solid. Malt, burnt sugar, toffee, a little smoke, leather and English hops are most noticeable up front. There's also a nice dark caramel aroma, along with a little bit of an herbal, tea-like aroma. Petrichor is noticeable, along with a moderate nuttiness, rather almond/almond oil-like.

The palate, however, is mildly disappointing. Opening with plenty of malt character, this has some heavily toasted malt, burnt sugar bitterness, toffee, some grainy astringency and is, in general, rather intense. The leather pairs quite well with the dark brown sugar and dark caramel, but ultimately, the lack of balance is to the beer's detriment. Nice flavors of rum and raisins are also present. Rather dry and highly carbonated, this beer finishes with flavors of burnt sugar , brown sugar and some sweetness. Some earthy hop bitterness is noticeable as well. Medium-light in body, this beer is quite nice on the palate but for the high carbonation. As it warms up and the carbonation dies down, it improves significantly, and I'm upping my T score to 3.5.

Serving type: bottle

07-13-2012 02:37:55 | More by DefenCorps

tdm168

North Carolina

3.6/5  rDev -3.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

On tap at Wine 101 in Wake Forest.

A - poured a dark brownish amber with a big, dense, thick, brown head that has great retention

S - heavy apple aroma with some faint caramel

T - a bit sweet, a hint of sugar, faint caramel, big apple fruitiness

M - medium bodied, smooth, a bit crisp

This is a mediocre Scotch Ale. The apple notes are intense in both aroma and flavor. It's much better than the usual Leinenkugal offerings, but I probably wouldn't have this again.

Serving type: on-tap

07-12-2012 10:45:19 | More by tdm168

russpowell

Oklahoma

3.48/5  rDev -7%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours an effervescent orannge/brown with a pinky of fast falling tan head. No lacing or head retention, nice viscious look to this

S: Some caramel & toffee, nice boozey notes as this wwarms

T: Follows the nose, a touch leafy hops & a bit of peat & whiskey up front. Some boozeyness as this warms; a touch of toffee too along with some oak.

MF: Semi-chewy, low carbonation

This is pretty run of the mill as wee-heavys go. So far big Eddy has failed to impress me. This is a stye I love, but this one is noting special, but would do in pinch

Serving type: bottle

06-23-2012 05:26:14 | More by russpowell

ElCommodoro

Texas

3.25/5  rDev -13.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Pours very dark, but still barely transparent with a small tan-yellow head. The smell is unlike any other wee heavy I've had. The smell is very sweet, and smells mostly of tobacco. The taste is pretty much more of the same. I knew it would be sweet, but was still rather taken aback by the astounding sweetness I was affronted with. I love sweet beers and after a few sips, I was OK with the level of sweetness, but it's definitely the sweetest beer of the style that I've encountered and at first I thought it was too much. It also has a smoky, tobacco-like taste and a roasted malt bitterness. It's VERY sticky. It's definitely within style, but is an extreme example of the characteristics with which the style is generally described. VERY sweet, VERY alcoholic, VERY smoky, particularly tobacco-like flavours, and ALL bitterness is roasted malt-derived. This is an extreme example of the style, so be prepared. It's not bad if you're into that kind of thing, but it's right on the edge of being over-the-top.

Serving type: bottle

06-12-2012 04:52:01 | More by ElCommodoro

Rizalini

Nevada

3.68/5  rDev -1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a 12oz bottle into my Stone tulip...

A - Pours a clear ruby red/amber color with 1 finger of tan head that fades rather quickly to a ring of foam.

S - Has a slight band-aid aroma, followed by a caramel/butterscotch smell.

T/M - The smell carries over into the taste. The band-aid aroma kinda carries into the after taste, letting a sweeter toffee like flavor take the forefront. Also has an herbal quality to it as well. Medium oily mouthfeel.

O - This one started to grow on me as it warmed up in my glass. I don't know if I would buy another one anytime soon, but I'm not against trying it again when they release it.

Serving type: bottle

06-09-2012 04:43:38 | More by Rizalini

Phelps

Arizona

3.98/5  rDev +6.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Enjoyed at Tops in a tasting snifter.

Cola-brown with good clarity, sparkling crimson where the light hits it. No head at all.

Sweet aroma. Tons of caramel, sugared dried apples, a hint of peat and alcohol.

Much more toast and peat in the flavor, which work really well with the deeply caramelized malts. Caramel, a little apple, toast, peat. Sweet and rich through the swallow. Good stuff.

Smooth medium body with moderate pinching carbonation. Just a little fizz as it moves. Alcohol is like pepper heat on the tongue and lingers long after the swallow.

A solid scotch ale. Displays the all-important smokiness. I enjoy it much more than the other Big Eddys.

Serving type: on-tap

06-03-2012 18:22:30 | More by Phelps

oberon

North Carolina

3.7/5  rDev -1.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap yesterday at Tyler's in Durham.Poured a deep amber-brown with a nice sticky 1/2 finger off white head,nice color defination and a nice head to the pour.Alot of caramel in the nose it seemed to dominate a bit,lighter dark fruit and even a little faint wood/smoke wich was nice.Caramel toffee/butterscotch flavors abound wich isn't really a bad thing but it was dominant,there is a decent woody/earthy notes in the finish.My first Big Eddy try and I thought it was pretty good,a little sweet but not bad.

Serving type: on-tap

05-28-2012 20:46:57 | More by oberon

blackcompg

Illinois

3.33/5  rDev -11%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Poured from their 12oz bottle...

Appearance - Pours a finger of khaki/tan head, color of the beer is a translucent dark garnet amber color. Head diminishes to a ring in minutes, and barely any lacing.

Smell - Sweet ripe dark fruits, bourbon pound cake, whiffs of dark carmels and some vanilla. Really nice aroma.

Taste - Follows the nose, all the flavors come at once, really no transition here, except that the booze comes on strong at the end of the sip. Good flavors, definitely get the dark fruits, dark toffee and vanilla, but just doesn't have the depth and complexity I prefer for this style.

Mouthfeel - Mouthfeel is almost medium, it is smooth, but is also very slick and feels a bit watery. Carb is nearly medium and adds some welcome edges, but there is no transition after this - just more of the same flavors and then the booze.

Overall - It's not a bad beer, but it is not one that I will purchase again. There are some nice flavors here, but really no depth or complexity, and the mouthfeel is thin and a bit watery. As this warms, the booze picks up too. I loved the Big Eddy RIS, but this scotch ale seems to falter a bit.

Serving type: bottle

05-27-2012 06:02:36 | More by blackcompg

drabmuh

Maryland

3.63/5  rDev -2.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Beer poured from a bottle into a snifter. Beer is brown and clear, ruby / crimson, tan head, small bubbles, some lacing, decent retention.

Aroma is boozy and strong, it is very malty.

Beer is malty and heavy with a thin forward with alcohol, very boozy, strong on the palate. It is a big big beer, not for the light hearted, a very big Scotch ale. It is probably not a repeat for me but I did enjoy it.

Serving type: bottle

05-23-2012 19:16:17 | More by drabmuh

feloniousmonk

Minnesota

3.93/5  rDev +5.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Leinenkugel's Big Eddy Wee Heavy Scotch Ale. Limited release, majestic brew with layer upon layer of malt complexity. 9.5% Alc./Vol.

Clear, lightish brown, crimson highlights, ring of cocoa-tan foam hovers over.

Rich malty nose, high on the sweet side, some toffee and vanilla in there. Quite lovely.

Taste: rolls smoothly and seductively off the tongue, over the palate, down the throat. Tasty malt character, minor to no hops discerned, medium bodied, soft, but lingering finish. Some caramel and toffee malt flavors, Rising sweetness. A little bit of raisin, just a touch of rum. Clean, easy drinking.

Nice as it is, though, I'm not overly impressed. A solid offering, and another nice one from the Big Eddy series. Nothing wrong with it, I could use a little more in there. Also, the high alcohol is not having any effect, until…whoa, here it comes...

Serving type: bottle

05-22-2012 04:26:38 | More by feloniousmonk

homebrew311

Illinois

3.05/5  rDev -18.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Served on tap in a snifter at Lucky Monk. Appearance is a deep red/brown with minimal head and lacing the nose features sweet molasses and caramel. Zero hop character present, a hint of smokiness present. Taste is very sweet with some candied fruit, caramel, toffee, and a touch of breadiness. The mouthfeel is light and thin, seems off for the style and abv. Overall, this is a lackluster wee heavy. The flavor is minimal and watered down, this certainly does not meet the level of quality that the Big Eddy RIS.

Serving type: on-tap

05-19-2012 00:13:36 | More by homebrew311

vette2006c5r

Wisconsin

3.5/5  rDev -6.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Wee Heavy Scotch Ale poured a darker brown color, with nice sized head that quickly disapated. The smell was a bit lighter, and a little boozy. The taste had a nice sharp bite, and notes of black licorice, but was a bit watery. Flavor could have been fuller, but wasn't too watery. Overall not a bad beer, better then other lenienkugel beers.

Serving type: on-tap

05-15-2012 23:18:50 | More by vette2006c5r

tisthesaisson

Kansas

3.48/5  rDev -7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Appearance: Beautiful see through deep burgundy reddish/brown, pours is slightly syrupy compared to more common less acoholic beers.

Smell: It smells of some light chocolate, smokey notes, and a slightly metallic twang through out the nose.

Taste: Smokey malty sweet frontnotes that are taken over by a boozy taste, these dissipate rather quickly for such a strong type of beer.

Mouthfeel: I expected this beer to have a heavier mouthfeel due to it being a heavy beer, but it has a pretty smooth mouthfeel that like the taste

Overall: This is an enjoyable beer, but I feel a little let down by the lack of powerfull smokey notes and how quickly the tastes dissipate and lack of a strong mouthfeel, but I could easily drink this with a nice steak or pork for those reasons and be happy.

Serving type: bottle

05-15-2012 03:23:03 | More by tisthesaisson

Knapp85

Pennsylvania

3.58/5  rDev -4.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

This beer poured out as a nice looking deep brown color with a tan head on top. The lacing was a little sticky and the retention was pretty good too. The smell of the beer had a lot of earthy smokey malts on the nose. The taste of the beer was a little smokier than I expected. I think that the smoke in this one is a little too heavy for this style. The sweetness of the beer is spot on though. The mouthfeel is oily and thick with a gentle carbonation to it. Overall I liked the beer, I can't see buying a lot of them but I didn't love it or hate. It's worth trying in my opinion.

Serving type: bottle

05-15-2012 03:21:47 | More by Knapp85

maximum12

Minnesota

3.35/5  rDev -10.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Picked up a four-pack of this recently in hopes that it reaches the goodness of the Big Eddy RIS. Nice to see an old staple branching out into unlikely territory.

Poured into my stylin' Captain Lawrence glass, this beer positively beams a deep, luscious red. Big & quiet, almost zero evident carbonation. Nose is low-voiced as well, with sweet malts & a whiff of smoke from a distant fire. Neither strong nor distinctive.

Big Eddy Wee Heavy is less of a piggy & more of a smoked bacon. Surprising amounts of smoke come through, so much that it's not only in front but suffuses the whole beer. Underneath the conflagration are toffee, caramel, what you'd expect, but with the mute button floored. Bitter roast crowns just at the finish. A little boozy & the flatness dings it a bit, & a touch thin to boot.

This isn't in the same league as the Big Eddy RIS. The smoke, while not bad, is a surprise, & everything else plays off of it. Pretty good, but seems a bit underdeveloped.

Serving type: bottle

05-10-2012 02:37:57 | More by maximum12

Darkmagus82

Montana

4.4/5  rDev +17.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured from bottle into snifter

Appearance – Pours a deep brown color with a small off white head. The head fades fast to leave a thin film on the top f the beer.

Smell –Big aromas of roasted malt are in this brew. These are mixed with some darker fruit aromas of cherry and figs as well as notes of some whiskey and a warming alcohol smell.

Taste – A sweet fruit and malt flavor meet the tongue. They are quite big and bold. The malt has a heavy dark fruit bread flavor. Almost like a fruit cake made of only dark fruits. These flavors are present throughout the taste, but more toward the middle other flavors begin joining them. Flavors of some lighter fruits, whiskey, and a light burning alcohol flavor develop more and more as the taste moves toward its finish. In the end a very satisfying scotch soaked sweet fruit cake taste is left in the mouth. It’s really quite nice.

Mouthfeel – The body of this beer is thick and chewy. It is very fitting for the sweet robust flavor. The carbonation while on the lower end is very fitting and allows the thick and chewiness of the beer coat the tongue with all its flavors.

Overall – This is a really nice tasting brew. A wonderful brew to sit back and relax with; very quite soothing and warming.

Serving type: bottle

05-08-2012 23:37:46 | More by Darkmagus82

1Nrwyscotch

Wisconsin

4.38/5  rDev +17.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured into a pint glass
Appearance- deep dark with alight head that fades quisckly.
Smell- caramel infused with whiskey
Taste- sweet smokey caramel with some hops on the finish
Mouthfeel-smooth medium bodied light carbonation with alcohol well hidden

Overall- very drinkable smooth well balanced sipping beer that tastes like its been aged in bourban barrels.

Not a huge Leinenkugel fan but this was delicious.

Serving type: bottle

05-08-2012 17:53:31 | More by 1Nrwyscotch

kawilliams81

Illinois

3.58/5  rDev -4.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a 12 oz bottle into a Alesmith Horny Devil snifter.

A- Pours a dark amber wotha 1 finger light tan head. Little to no lacing left on the glass.

S- Smoked malt, sweet toffee, and dark fruits.

T- sweet, slightly sour dark fruits. Toffee and nice amount of smoke. Slight bitterness at the finish.

M- medium body, and carbonation. Has a syrupy feel to it.

O- not a bad beer or wee heavy. If you like the style it's a good beer for your money.

Serving type: bottle

05-08-2012 01:16:33 | More by kawilliams81

jjanega08

Minnesota

3.73/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

2012 Vintage
bottle neck reads
01712
B21010945

A= Pours a very very very deep amber dark brown color with a thin half finger head on it that despite the size holds steady retention and the lacing is decent.

S= Smells like a solid scotch ale. A tad smokey and a nice sweet malt character that is almost a candy cherry sweetness.

T= The taste is much more smokey than the smell. Bacony smoke and again the cherry type sweetness to it. Actually tastes really nice. There is a bit of an alcohol taste to it but it is well hidden by the sweetness.

M= A very light carbonation

O= Not bad. I like my scotch ales and this is a good smokey scotch. Check this out and enjoy it. I know I did. The Big Eddy series is solid so far.

Serving type: bottle

05-06-2012 01:03:29 | More by jjanega08

DrDemento456

Pennsylvania

3.9/5  rDev +4.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A - Well close as advertised (see picture!) I get a deep amber brown a touch dark with a 1/4 inch of opaque colored tannish head.

S - Mostly smells of bourbon soaked cherries but I get some mild caramel and toffee.

T - I get not cherry in the flavor but it is a balanced Wee Heavy with mild caramel, rum notes, and a toffee sweet finish. Mild hopping in the finish as well. Not bad.

M - Medium bodied and a heavy finish ABV is noticeable after the swallow.

Overall not a bad Wee Heavy by far. It's sweet and has a great body. Also packs a punch. Much better than the RIS by far!

Serving type: bottle

05-03-2012 02:25:26 | More by DrDemento456

Zachtheporter

Wisconsin

3.45/5  rDev -7.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Poured from a 12oz bottle into an oversized wine glass.

A- Pours a beautiful deep dark ruby color. Has a rather small off white head. Very dark with very little light penetration.

S- Very sweet smelling with a strong scent of sweet and toasted malts. Almost a bit fruity smelling with some hints of strawberries. Has a small alcoholic tinge to the last bit.

T- Very sweet, with hints of candy caramel, some dark fruits, toffee and toasted malts. Has a very nice sweet finish to it as well with a nice slightly bitter toasty tinge to it.

M- Very smooth and full bodied with little to no bite from the carbonation.

O- A very good beer, however it seems a bit overly sweet for the style. Not enough toasted flavor for my taste. While it definitely is good, here's definitely better choices for the style. With the hefty price tag I highly doubt I'll end up drinking this again. Worth the try if you're a Leinenkugal's fan though.

Serving type: bottle

04-30-2012 21:35:04 | More by Zachtheporter

BeerLover99

New Jersey

3.98/5  rDev +6.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: shiny mahogany body, trace khaki head,
ok lacing.

S: caramel, peat, malt, nutty, smokey

T: caramel, roasted malt, nutty, smokey,
light/boozy smooth finish

M: med body, smooth mouth

O: Nice to see Leinenkugel deliver a really
nice brew. They will always have place in my
heart, since they were the 1st "craft-like" beer
I have ever enjoyed. Still like Sunset Wheat
during hot summer months.

VERY NICE, GET IT A GO!

Serving type: bottle

04-29-2012 17:56:11 | More by BeerLover99

aasher

Indiana

3.95/5  rDev +5.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Tis beer pours a medium bodied cherry wood in color with a one finger beige colored head. The foamy head only lasted a couple minutes. It smells of plenty of sweet malts, toffee, light butterscotch, and caramelized sugar with an ever so slight bitterness in the finish. The flavors are nice and complex. It features an array of malt flavors such as toffee, caramel, cocoa, cherry, butterscotch, and cream. It's surprisingly well rounded. The cocoa comes around a bit more n the after taste. It's sweet without being overpowering and the lighter mouthfeel probably aids that. It drinks on the lighter side of medium in body but isn't sticky at all. The aftertaste is really nice. It's interesting. Overall I thought this was a fantastic scotch ale. The Big Eddy series mpressed once again!

Serving type: bottle

04-25-2012 02:54:45 | More by aasher

NuclearDolphin

Minnesota

3.6/5  rDev -3.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured into a Pint Glass

Appearance - Very clear but very dark crimson color. Pours a 1 finger width head with an agressive pour. Some rather mild carbonation going on here.

Smell - Peated Scotch, Butterscotch, Caramel, Yeasts, Malts and a very slight boozy scent.

Taste - Peated Scotch, Smoked Oak, Burnt Malts, Caramel, Figs, Yeasts, Plums and it's still got a slight boozy kick to it. It's got a fairly nice complex flavor and it's also surprisingly smokey, which I was not expecting from this style! Overall, it's an interesting flavor.

Mouthfeel - Light bodied but the carbonation is very strong here, not to the point where it's tearing your mouth apart but it's getting there. It's hard to really take in the flavor when the carbonation is this intense. This one is definitely a sipper.

Overall - This was certainly an interesting beer. It's got a complex but not quite perfect flavor and the overall feel of the beer makes it hard to appreciate the flavors this has to offer. It's nice to see Leinie's is trying to enter the craft beer market but I really was expecting something better out of this

Serving type: bottle

04-20-2012 02:55:09 | More by NuclearDolphin