Lake Louie Warped Speed Scotch Ale - Lake Louie Brewery Company

beagle75

Iowa

3.78/5  rDev -6.7%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Draft pour into a shaker pint glass at Quivey's Grove in Madison.

A: Clear, dark reddish-amber color with no head. No lacing remains on the glass.

S: Heavy toasted grain is centrally-positioned in the smell, with lesser caramel, estery fruit, and vanilla also present.

T: Begins off-dry, with caramel that is deep, dark, and dominant over mild acidity. Fruit qualities are dynamic in the middle, with hints of the esters from the smell as well as additional layers that stretch from dark cherry to bright and lively plum. The finish is earthy and mildly bitter, with a late whiff of carbonic acid causing other flavors to dissipate.

M: Medium viscosity, mostly creamy but also slightly acidic on the palate, with moderate carbonation.

D/O: This is a solid scotch ale that takes a traditional approach to the style. The flavors in the middle were nearly perfect, and overall it stayed appealing from start to finish. Pair with lighter braised meats, but don't look for this beer to be a reliable source of acidity in the pairing.

Serving type: on-tap

10-07-2011 23:00:13 | More by beagle75

CudahyGuy

Wisconsin

4.83/5  rDev +19.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

I had this on tap at The Shed in Spring Green, WI on Feb 26, 2011 and purchased 2 6 packs of bottles at the Piggly Wiggly in Dodgeville to bring home. This is my favorite destination beer. The full mouth feel is very satisfying with big malts. Some of the recent BA reviews make me think some bad (or badly mistreated) beer has been making the rounds because I have found this brew to be fully satisfying every time I have had it. Very drinkable any time of year.

Serving type: on-tap

03-01-2011 02:59:29 | More by CudahyGuy

TMoney2591

Illinois

3.43/5  rDev -15.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Served in a pint glass at the Brickhouse.

My first Lake Louie beer, and the first beer of the pre-interview extravaganza in Madison. It pours a slightly hazed ruby-garnet topped by a half-finger of off-white micro-foam. The nose comprises dank moss, caramel, drier greens, and a small pile of roasted malts in the background. The taste holds notes of toasted caramel, toffee, and walnuts. The body is medium, with a light moderate carbonation and a finish that borders on the sorta sticky. Overall, a nice Scotch, nothing too amazing, but a fairly tasty offering nonetheless.

Serving type: on-tap

10-27-2010 21:25:49 | More by TMoney2591

Florida9

Illinois

4.22/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap at the Cooper's Tavern

A: Dark mahogany brown. Clear. Served with a very light surface coating of tannish colored head.

S: Deep aroma of caramel malt. Notes of vanilla, oak, and some earthy hops.

T: There is a bit of a peppery bite on the front end. Fades to the more dominant flavor of sweet caramel malt, some faint peat, and a little vanilla. Peppery hop finish

M: On the heavier side of medium. Mouthfeel is sweet, a bit cloying, but not necessarily syrupy.

D: A fine Scotch ale that offers a bit more complexity than most Scotch ales. Very good. Very food friendly.

Serving type: on-tap

09-10-2010 02:50:27 | More by Florida9

AmberMan22

Minnesota

4.18/5  rDev +3.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

I've been looking to try another scotch ale since the Sam Adams I tried recently, and I'm in luck.

Pours a dark and rich brown, with a creamy....cream colored head. Decent amount of lacing trails down the glass as I go.

The thing that I loved so much about the Sam Adams Scotch Ale was the use of the peat smoked malt, and that is missing here. The beer has a fantastic foundation, but the use of that heavenly malty taste would've been perfection.

As is, I still very much enjoyed my trip to Warp Speed. That's about how quickly I drank it because it's so damn smooth and tasty.
The scotch is present, but plays more of a supporting role beneath the canopy of roasted and slightly smoky malted barley. Delicious. Absolutely recommend this -- especially on tap.

Serving type: on-tap

05-08-2010 17:04:09 | More by AmberMan22

wheatyweiss

Wisconsin

4.08/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

Poured into an icy pint at Quaker Steak and Lube in Middleton, WI. I did get a warm glass, with no growling.

Stands a medium dirty murky brown, with a rich head that settles to a thick whipped cream cap. Looks like a nitro can when decanted into the warm glass. Cream colored active carbonation rises the sides of the pint.

Nose is light peat, subtle earthy mossy aromas with a lightly smokey undertone.

Taste is an explosion of sweet malt on the front, slightly bitter from the roast. Middle is boozy and earthy with coffee and black rich fruit flavors. Smallish smokey bitterness in the finish.

Mouthfeel is creamy and lush, full and chewy the malt is awesome for the mouthfeel in this beer.

Serving type: on-tap

04-02-2009 22:22:49 | More by wheatyweiss

beveragecaptain

New Jersey

4.97/5  rDev +22.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

64 ounce growler. This beer has a dark reddish brown color with a creamy tan head. The aroma is sweet, slightly burnt, creamy, chocolatey, buttery caramel. Huge malty flavor with chocolate and caramel, but not too sweet. Malt flavor turns to smokiness, like smoked salmon. Very complex, and a great combination of flavors. Perfect medium to full mouthfeel. I'm not sure what the abv of this beers is, but it is dangerously drinkable. I finished a growler in one evening. I would highly recommend this beer to anyone, especially fans of Scotch style ales.

Serving type: on-tap

03-20-2005 22:29:15 | More by beveragecaptain

BeerFMAndy

Wisconsin

4.53/5  rDev +11.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

12 oz bottle poured into a nonic.
7.2% ABV, 01513 Julian date.

A - Warped Speed has a gorgeous rich mahogany color to it that's nice and clear and pours with a firm khaki head. The bubbles subside to a ring of foam and dot the nonic pint with specks of lace.

S - A beautiful bouquet of maltiness oozes from this beer with smooth unfermented sweetness. Caramel and toffee overlap notes of chocolate-covered espresso bean and a dusting of mocha while fruity yeast ester nuances of dried candied plum surface as the beer warms.

T - Like the aroma, this beer is malt forward and smooth as can be. Kettle caramelization imparts a lovely sweetness of caramel and toffee while including some slightly more roasted notes like mocha and traces of coffee.

M - Warped Speed is a medium bodied Scotch ale that pleasantly crosses the palate with smoothness and grace, gently finishing with a touch of smoky dryness and thinning alcohol warmth.

O - A malt-lover's dream, Warped Speed Scotch Ale manages, quite well in fact, to usher sweetness forward while remaining balanced and drinkable. Toffee and caramel get along well with the beer's coffee and chocolate roasted malt notes for an almost dessert-like quality to this smooth brew.

Serving type: bottle

03-15-2013 23:40:06 | More by BeerFMAndy

BrownAleMale

Wisconsin

3.38/5  rDev -16.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

12oz bottle poured into a Horny Goat pint glass.

Appearance- Dark brown to copper in color. Almost like an old penny color. Mocha 1 finger head that lightly layers the liquid penny.

Smell- Lots going on. I get carmel and plums and bready malts. Faint sweet alcohol also lingers in the nostrils.

Taste- Very sweet up front before warming. I was getting carmel and a lot of alcohol. As it warmed the bitter hops took over.

Mouthfeel- Pretty average medium body. Would prefer a bit less carbonation and a little heavier mouthfeel.

Overall- I was kind of disappointed. When cold the sweet malts really were present but as it warmed the bitter hops over shadowed the malty goodness.

Serving type: bottle

09-07-2012 21:25:37 | More by BrownAleMale

DavoleBomb

Ohio

4.1/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured into a snifter.

4.0 A: Faintly hazed (I think) deep plum/mahogany color. Two fingers of frothy/creamy beige head. Retention is pretty good and a short ring of lacing is left.

4.5 S: Tons of caramel with a good bit of toffee behind it. Sweet, like it should be. A little bit of toastiness. Raisiny fruitiness with sugary candied cherries. Very nice.

4.0 T: Again lots of caramel, toffee, and sweetness. This isn't cloying in the least though. It's sweet, but well balanced. Raisin, plum, and cherry fruitiness. Only mildly sugary in the taste. Toasty with the slightest touch of smoke. Again, very nice.

4.0 M: Medium body. Good moderate carbonation. Lightly creamy. Good here, but I'd prefer a bit more creaminess.

4.0 D: Supremely drinkable and a damn good scotch ale. I had the bourbon barrel version of this and it sucked, so I guess it was the barreling that was fucked up and not the base beer.

Serving type: bottle

07-31-2012 22:05:57 | More by DavoleBomb

Reaper16

Alabama

4.03/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12oz. bottle served into a cup in the hotel

Pours a ruddy, caramely brown color. Style appropriate. Around a finger or more of head the color of the crema on a cup of coffee.

The aroma is nearly entirely butterscotch. I worry about diacety because of it. If you search hard then you will get breadcrusts and ghosts of raisins. But that butterscotch is too heavy; makes this beer mostly one-note.

No diacety-bomb, thankfully. In fact, it's one of the best tasting scotch ales I've ever had. Bready, rich malt flavors abound. The butterscotch is a supporting flavor, not the show-stealer. There's a bit of a hop flavor, which I never expect in the style, but it works in the sense of a slight, minty balancing. Some dark fruits on the midpalate before yielding to more bread. Really good stuff for the style.

The beer is medium-bodied, I suppose. I never really noticed the mouthfeel (which is oftentimes a good sign). Overall, this is a darn good example of the style. I don't love this style, to be honest, but I can certainly appreciate this beer.

Serving type: bottle

03-03-2012 14:40:51 | More by Reaper16

WastingFreetime

Wisconsin

4/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Reviewed from notes.

Dark clotted blood color, foam collar for a head, medium body with light carbonation levels, smells of sweet malts (mostly caramel), dark fruits and also that hint of peat smoke that I wasn't able to find in the Louie's Reserve. Taste includes all these elements and some strong earthy hopping on top of a bowl of grape nuts cereal. Body is medium thick and slightly undercarbonated. It really does come across as a smaller Louie's Reserve, but with the inclusion of peatiness.

Serving type: bottle

02-10-2012 07:23:55 | More by WastingFreetime

mjpolzin

Wisconsin

3.88/5  rDev -4.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

I loved the Louie's Reserve Scotch Ale so I had been meaning to try the "light version" so to speak. Lately I had been reading that not only was Warped Speed a great beer but the abv was a lot higher than I thought it would be. I know it isn't officially posted but I saw one thread that someone heard from the brewmaster himself that it was in the 7.3 range. A potentially great tasting 7.3 abv beer at $7.99 for a six pack? Sign me up!

Appearance-I forgot how dark and copper-looking a scotch ale is. Excellent.

Smell- Bread, malty, fruity.

Taste-Initially I got bread and malts with a lot less sweetness than the Louie's Reserve version. I saw someone else in their review mention a sourness. I would agree. Almost a sour kind of fruit taste. I noticed different tastes in the initial taste and then the aftertaste which made it fun to drink.

Mouthfeel-some carbonation. A little stickiness.

Overall-Very, very good. Right on par with the Brewer's reserve version of this beer and an excellent bargain for $7.99 a six pack. Maybe one of the best beers for your buck.

Serving type: bottle

12-03-2011 04:32:01 | More by mjpolzin

drtacks37

Illinois

2.83/5  rDev -30.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Ap - Dark, carmelly brown. Thin head. Little lacing.

Ar - STRONG! Malty, sour, alcoholy. (What's the ABV on this stuff?)

T - Malty, sweet, full, hints of raisin. Leaves an unpleasant aftertaste. I'll let it warm a bit, then try.
(30 Min. later)
Flavors have mellowed a bit. Less of the nasty aftertaste. Heavy malt, sweet at the front, sour at the end.

Not great, but not horrible. Not my style, but someone who likes lots of malt flavor would probably enjoy it.

I'll stick by my theory that Wisconsin is incapable of producing a good beer.

Serving type: bottle

11-11-2011 04:06:54 | More by drtacks37

cdkrenz

Wisconsin

4.13/5  rDev +2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - A deep brown body with a half inch of light tan head and good stamina. The lacing from this beer is also very well done.

S - Molasses and nut with a very inviting aroma. This scent makes you want to try it.

T - A good mild nut and raisin taste with a quite pungent fruit flavor.

M - Thick body with a mildly abrasive texture and a nice sticky finish.

~ I'm not a big scotch ale fan but I have to admit this is a good beer. If you're interested in starting out and finishing with a good beer in this style category, this is the one with which you should go.

Serving type: bottle

11-11-2011 01:17:34 | More by cdkrenz

manitouman84

Wisconsin

3.7/5  rDev -8.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours a chocolate brown amber with a 1 finger head. Caramel, yeasty, banana, spicy and phenolic on the nose. Modest bitter bite on the tongue, more than I expected. Strong molasses, bready, caramel, toffee, with a spicy boozyness about it, and raisin, fig and faint banana esters. Medium to light body, chewy, boozy spice in the finish. Very good, characteristics don't seem to meld perfectly in my book, the reserve is bigger and seems to bring everything together a little better.

Serving type: bottle

10-08-2011 23:10:27 | More by manitouman84

GDBEERMAN

Colorado

3.68/5  rDev -9.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 4

12oz bottle into Bruges Tulip.
A: Beer pours a murky brown body, with a two finger off white head that sinks slowly. The carbonation levels are slow. Lacing is left in large swaths.

S: Medium intensity of aroma which shows a nice raisin and currant character.

TM: Rich and warm on the raisin and fig aspect. Mouthfeel is on the lighter side, which is not to style, but does make for a nice drinkablity.

O: Good Scotch ale, but a light mouthfeel and a overall character is what I feel defines the style. Very nice blend of malts add to a classic Wee Heavy taste, but a bit light.

Serving type: bottle

09-25-2011 21:37:47 | More by GDBEERMAN

cosmicevan

New York

4.18/5  rDev +3.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

big thanks to seeswo for helping me out with the good people farm system BIF and sending me this rock n roll extra!

A - poured into duvel taster tulip. Brew poured a bubbly reddish brown with a thin off white head. Has a nice scotch/old ale look.

S - as soon as I popped the top I smelled a nice purple grape plum smell. Upon closer inspection a mix of barley and malt that give an earthy grape smell.

T - really nice subtle and earthy scotch. Very unique.

M - soft and light for the style. Earthy finish.

O - overall, impressive. I like my scotch ales to be heavier, but this was really enjoyable.

Serving type: bottle

09-02-2011 02:38:48 | More by cosmicevan

SykDoc

Wisconsin

3.53/5  rDev -12.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a bottle into a tulip. It pours with a 1/4 inch light tan head that reduces to an over-the-top lacing. It is clear amber/ruby colored with visible carbonation.

The aroma has a caramel malt sweetness and an almost tea-like backbone.

The taste again has the caramel malt sweetness with a light earthy hopping and a light booziness.

The mouthfeel is medium bodied with a low carbonation and an interesting bite. It finishes with a minimal dryness.

Overall, this beer is a bit too light. The scotch ale components are there, but not prominent enough.

Serving type: bottle

08-10-2011 02:36:48 | More by SykDoc

BruChef

New York

4.2/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Thanks to Wade for picking this up for me in Wisconsin. Poured into my sam adams boston lager glass, the appearance of this beer is a brilliantly clear reddish brown with a nice creamy, tan, finger and a half head. Aroma is toffee and caramel up front with some slightly toasted, bready, biscuity, notes.

First thing i thought when i tasted this beer is that this is a solid, approachable, and fine example of a scotch ale. Initial caramel malt and slight honey sweetness, slightly peaty, with a nutty finish. As it warms the peat makes a stronger encore putting the scotch in this scotch ale. Hops are pretty well subdued but the earthiness of the bittering British hop varieties used in this beer is a little more than i like for this style but it could be the peat. Alcohol is slightly more detectable towards the end of the glass but by no means offensive.

Body is medium, almost medium-heavy. Carbonation is just about spot on in conjunction with the body. I thoroughly enjoyed this beer and wish i lived closer to Wisconsin so i could have access to it whenever i please.

Serving type: bottle

08-07-2011 02:46:38 | More by BruChef

hreb

Washington

3.7/5  rDev -8.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Cold 12oz bottle pours into pint glass, red-brown in color with a thin chestnut head. Aroma is simultaneously fruity, roasty, and astringent. Initial fizz gives way to incredibly smooth, almost creamy mouthfeel with a mild, nutty flavor and en edge of grainy bitterness. Just a hint of sweetness -- the flavor of caramel with none of the cloying, syrupy stuff.

There's some caramel and butterscotch flavors here, but none of the diacetyl and buttery mouthfeel that I really want in a Scotch ale. Then again there's none of the unfortunately chalky malt flavor, either. Overall, it's relative mildness (read: blandness) and perfect level of carbonation makes it supremely drinkable and probably a fine session beer, but not a great beer. Pitty I only picked up one in a mixed 6-pack while traveling through Janesville, WI.

Serving type: bottle

06-01-2011 06:26:10 | More by hreb

jpmclaug

South Carolina

2.7/5  rDev -33.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 3

Poured from the bottle into a pint glass. Thanks to BarrytheBear for this one!

A - Brown - reddish body with an off white head resting on top

S - Sweet malts, caramel notes, toasty malted notes, brown sugar

T - Some caramel, malty sweetness that then gives way to a light sourness. Dark fruit like flavors. Really wasn't what I was expecting from a Scotch Ale at all

M - medium bodied, slightly on the thin side, fair amount of carbonation

D - Not sure if this is the intended flavor or not but it tastes kind of sour and not too much like what I would expect from a Scotch Ale. It isn't overly so which has saved it from the drain. I'd like to revisit this one sometime to tell if I got a bad bottle or not.

Serving type: bottle

12-17-2010 01:38:09 | More by jpmclaug

bishopdc0

Maine

3.55/5  rDev -12.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Pours an amber to to dark brown color with a genrous head.

The aroma is mostly caramel and roasted malts a slight smokiness presents itself aside from the roasted malt.

Starts with sweet caramel malts and becomes smoky with a roasted finish

The mouth-feel is smooth with the carbonation accentuating the flavors

Serving type: growler

11-18-2010 20:38:47 | More by bishopdc0

Thorpe429

Illinois

2.2/5  rDev -45.7%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2

Reviewed from notes.

Served in a tulip glass. Pours a moderate brown-red color with a slight head and no lacing. The nose is some light dark fruits, caramel, toffee, and a slight sour scent. The taste is definitely of an infected batch, though it hasn't set in too much yet. Slight acetic character plus some toffee. Sourness pops up in the feel with a bit of sweetness. This is a problem I've encountered with several of their beers, unfortunately.

Serving type: bottle

11-14-2010 00:59:25 | More by Thorpe429

mariposafan

Wisconsin

2.35/5  rDev -42%
look: 4 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 2

Pours a dark amber, almost garnet, color with a half-finger of head that lasts reasonably well.

The smell is a letdown. Some smokiness and toffee but way too much fruity hoppiness.

Unfortunately the taste follows through the smell - a sharp taste and bitterness of hops with a slightly resinous aftertaste. Some malty sweetness and smokiness as well, but the other taste is overbearing.

The mouthfeel is very nice: slightly viscous, smooth and creamy with some carbonation, but not too much.

It's really a shame that there's that misplaced sharp smell/taste - otherwise this would be a very nice wee heavy. As it stands, I won't be buying it again.

Serving type: bottle

10-30-2010 00:45:23 | More by mariposafan