Highland Gaelic Ale - Highland Brewing

Hopswagger

Oklahoma

3.61/5  rDev -5.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

P: Clear amber brewed tea appearance with minimal khaki head. A foamy halo rest on top leaving the occasional leg of lace behind.

S: Toasted italian herb and cheese Subway bread, toasted caramel and orange juice and bitter orange peel.

T/M: Toasted caramel, bready malt, orange peel and spicy pippali pepper. Finishes dry with lemon zest and toast. Prickly moderate body. Once the beer warns it starts to have a metallic aftertaste to it. It's not bad but does throw it off a bit.

O: Well balance and simple. An easy drinking ale to throw back after a long day of work. The spicy kick at the end really makes this. Without it I think it would be dull.

Serving type: bottle

05-09-2013 00:24:19 | More by Hopswagger

BucBasil

South Carolina

3.95/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Poured from the 12 oz bottle into a perfect pint glass.

A: The beer is a rusty deep orange and red color. Head is 2 fingers of off-white to really light tan and sticks around a while. Good looking beer.

S: Nice balanced character - sweet and matly for a quick second - bread and maybe some toast. Then comes a well proportioned hoppiness. Pine and light citrus. Well done.

T: Surprisingly hoppy at first then calms down to a nice balance. Has some light fruits throughout the middle there, but mostly citrus peel and some light piney notes. Bready malt holds it altogether. Nothing really stands out, just a solid beer with a good kick.

This is a super drinkable and flavorful beer with a great amount of balance. I could drink this all day in any season, but really reminds me of fall.

Well done Highland

Serving type: bottle

05-06-2013 22:25:17 | More by BucBasil

barczar

Kentucky

3.68/5  rDev -3.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5

Pours a clear light amber with a frothy one inch khaki head that slowly dissipates, leaving sheets of holy lacing.

Nutty, toasty, slightly sweet caramel malt and floral hops form the aroma.

Flavor reveals sweet, caramel malt at the base, becoming slightly toasty, dry, and a touch bitter at the finish. Floral hops are evident throughout. Nutty, toasted malt add complexity. There's a hint of citrus at the base.

Body is moderate to slightly watery, with moderate carbonation.

Malt is definitely dominant, with bready, roasted caramel notes surfacing throughout. Slight bitterness at the finish rounds out the flavor profile well. Malt complexity is somewhat lacking, though, as well as hops for an amber. There's a metallic tang that is offputting.

Serving type: bottle

04-28-2013 21:02:08 | More by barczar

Goukbeergals

Kentucky

3.75/5  rDev -1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Deep amber color I can barely see through. Not much head. Subdued malty nose. Bready caramel taste up front with a sharp hop kick in the middle with a malty finish. Pretty tasty and well balanced. Dry light mouthfeel highly carbonated. Overall a good beer.

Serving type: on-tap

04-21-2013 06:40:56 | More by Goukbeergals

drmystery

North Carolina

3/5  rDev -21.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

im starting to think highland brewing cant get their shi-stuff together.

their year round beers are, to be frank, underwhelming. especially this beer. to me it tastes like burnt hops...i do like the roasty characteristics of stouts and porters but in an ale im expecting it to taste, well, ale-y; i like those citrusy and hoppy smells and flavors from a good ale.

this beer looks good-it has a nice reddish/copperish/brown apperance. it smells good-nice hops and malts and all that.

but as soon as i taste it, it just tastes like burnt hops. that burnt taste is either from the amount of malts they use-this beer has 5 different types of grain and 3 types of hops., or from not enough hops. i am no "hophead" by any means, i just think this beer is too malty and not hoppy enough for what it is.

overall, i think this beer-and just about every other highland beer is underwhelming for the style it is. i think people tend to overhype this beer when its just an average beer. its not nasty, but its not great. i think this beer is like the guinness of asheville/nc because people come up to asheville and drink it because its one of the more popular beers here, just like how people go to ireland and drink guinness even though its an average beer. im not saying highland brewing are gimmicky, im just saying their beers are overhyped and just average.

Serving type: on-tap

04-11-2013 18:05:05 | More by drmystery

kangarooAdam59

Maine

3.51/5  rDev -8.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Thanx Damian74Shensky:

Into a nonic:

A: hazy yet somewhat clear amber body with a two finger head that rose a bit and died leaving some nice spotty spider web lacing in its wake

S: malts through bready/slightly caramel, subdued citrus/pine hops only coming through as the beer warms

T: mainly balanced through previously mentioned flavors but adds some slight bitterness

M: light to medium, sessionable, crisp clean aftertaste and finish

O: this is good for its style and good for me as I would have this again

Serving type: bottle

03-11-2013 01:28:41 | More by kangarooAdam59

craft_shannie

Indiana

3.44/5  rDev -9.9%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A: dark hazy amber; minimal head; no lacing.
S: mostly bready malts, some caramel; slight citrus pine hops.
T: good balance of malt and hops; follows nose - bread, some caramel sweetness, slight piney citrus. dry, balanced and minimal bitterness.
M: crisp, clean; medium carbonation
O: picked up a sixer in nashville as i have heard very positive things about highland brewing. i was a bit underwhelmed with this particular style. solid american amber, but nothing all that spectacular.

Serving type: bottle

02-26-2013 01:16:35 | More by craft_shannie

acsprouse

South Carolina

3.35/5  rDev -12.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

A: red amberish. Little cloudiness. white creamy head with a little lacing.

S: malts, bready, toasty, slightly sweet with a floral hop scent well in there (smells great)

T: malty, the taste follows the nose as far as maltiness. The hops fall short and so does the taste.

m: medium body yet slightly on the thinner side. Nicely carbonated. Very very drinkable.

o: highly drinkable. Well balanced blend of malts.the hops are lacking but ehh thats not always bad. Its not bad.. its good.. but its not great. I do urge you guys to try it.

Serving type: on-tap

02-15-2013 06:37:09 | More by acsprouse

FungusBrewer

Illinois

4.63/5  rDev +21.2%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75

Crisp and cool with a hop bite under the kilt. I'd sell my soul to the Blarney Stone to drink this brew above the fog--Spitting on Long-shanks while picking breakfast Haggis out of my dentures.

Smell: Sweet malt, nutty, clean.

Taste: Incredibly drinkable and well balanced. Light malt sweetness up front followed by an extremely pleasant hop aftertaste. Bright and clean flavors unadulterated by any heavy bread like notes, or unpleasant astringency. Stable from start to finish.

Appearance: Reddish-copper almost carnelian in color; clear with no haze. Medium head, medium carbonation.

It only took one Gaelic Ale before organizing a small militia amongst my neighbors to fight against big beer and praise craft brew FFRRREEEDDDOOOMMM!!!

Serving type: bottle

01-10-2013 05:06:52 | More by FungusBrewer

Flounder57

Massachusetts

3.75/5  rDev -1.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12 oz bottle was poured into a pint glass.

Appearance: This beer poured a small head that reduced to a thin layer. It is a copper color beer with great clarity and bubbles coming up through the glass.

Smell: Bready and caramel malts, tangerine, grapefruit, and other citrus aromas. Smells nice.

Taste: A lot of oat and bready malts, followed by some caramel malts, bitterness, and a bit of citrus hops.

Mouthfeel: Chewy, smooth, medium bodied, and medium to high carbonation.

Overall: A nice amber/red ale. I have hoppier versions from other breweries, but this one firs the suit. Top bad I can't get my hands on another bottle anytime soon.

Serving type: bottle

01-04-2013 05:19:34 | More by Flounder57

match1112

Illinois

3.2/5  rDev -16.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

a: slightly hazy reddish brown body. an inch of off white creamy foam settles leaving a small amount of lacing.

s: lightly toasted bready malts, touch of floral hops in the background.

t: sweet bread and toast. hops are almost not there. just a touch of spice on the finish.

m: medium body, creamy, carbonation is spot on.

o: very drinkable. very well balanced between the malts and hops. just nothing about it makes it stand out against the others in the same category.

Serving type: bottle

12-30-2012 21:40:08 | More by match1112

BeerDawgs

Georgia

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

A - An amber red with cloudiness and 1 finger of head. Slight lace left on the glass. Looks good!

S - Lots of sugar, molasses, and brown sugar. Huge maltiness in the nose.

T - Malts kick in up front. Like the smell, sweet, sugar and caramel. Nicely balanced with some bitterness at the end.

M - Light bodied and fairly well carbonated.

O - A very drinkable amber ale. Well balanced, and good.

Serving type: bottle

11-30-2012 01:30:51 | More by BeerDawgs

SLeffler27

New York

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

A three-inch, gold tinted head is frothy as it slowly turns to pancake batter consistency while dropping spotty lace on a fisheye pint glass. Ample carbonation clings to the glass beneath a clear, copper brown beer.

The aroma is biscuity with malt, toffee, tea, and a dash of lime in the background.

This is well balanced with a malt backbone and some brown sugar. Whole wheat bread with light hop flavors and light hop bitterness are followed by toasted grains, some nuts and a modest, lingering finish.

The watery texture and medium body contain modest carbonation and no sense of alcohol, with a light astringency in the finish.

This is a good everyday beer, perhaps best with a sandwish. I suggest roast beef on rye.

Serving type: bottle

11-25-2012 21:28:46 | More by SLeffler27

TheSSG

Illinois

4.13/5  rDev +8.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours a nice, soft, light head. Sweet malt dominates the nose. Lovely, almost ruby, red. Starts with an unexpected hop bitterness (didn't smell that) which bright and citric. Moves up into a medium bitterness, then becomes more like citrus rind as the malt comes through. The finish is a stupendous blend of malt and hop, though.

A nice blend of the two dominate takes on ambers; malty and hoppy.

Swirling the bottom bits in the bottle gave it a much nice hop aroma and flavor.
As it warmed, the malt just became more pronounced, so it just gets better.

Serving type: bottle

11-20-2012 03:40:46 | More by TheSSG

jjanega08

Minnesota

4.1/5  rDev +7.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

No freshness dating

A= Pours a nice slightly hazy deep amber color with a nice off white sort of tannish head on it that holds steady at a half finger high and leaves some steady lacing.

S= The smell is a sort of nutty deep almost caramelly sweetness... No hop aroma and not much deep roast. The smell is sort of unique and not unpleasant. It has a sort of grainy raw mash smell to it.

T= The taste is again a very nice sweetness. Little to no hop flavor in it but there is a nice sort of grainy mash taste to it that leaves you wanting more. This is a nice tasting amber that isn't overly hopped.

M= A near perfect carbonation.

O= This beer is avery well done red ale that isn't the overly hopped variety. This beer has a nice grain flavor and a solid mouth. This is a solid beer that you should seek.

Serving type: bottle

11-07-2012 05:12:16 | More by jjanega08

cruzbay

Ohio

3.9/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from bottle, and has a surprising red color, with little head.
The initial taste was sweet and malty, not overpowering or overly bold. The finish was a light grapefruit taste but did not last too long. Overall it had both the malt and hop flavors associated with an ale, but they were light, which makes this beer enjoyable for the taste, and drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

11-03-2012 12:35:58 | More by cruzbay

maki88

3.85/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

+

12oz bottle poured into a tumbler. Enjoyed at home.

A: Rich amber color with a thick, off-white head. The head lingered and laced well. This definitely looks like an ale, and the bold appearance suggests some of the strong scents and distinguished taste of this brew.

S: Sweet and malty, while also somewhat toasty, with hints of caramel.

T: A rich flavor. Smooth at the start -- lighter than expected, actually. The taste lingers pleasantly in the mouth. I'd say that this ale has a distinct flavor, but not an over-powering one. Compared with other ales, this one's taste is notable for its bold but drinkable character.

M: Medium-bodied, but perhaps on the lighter side of "medium." Certainly not too light for an ale, but there seems to be room for it to be a bit more robust here.

O: A solid ale, above average but not incredible. It is definitely drinkable and enjoyable, without some of the overpowering flavors of other ales. I'd enjoy it again, but I wouldn't go out of my way to seek it out.

Serving type: bottle

10-06-2012 01:30:52 | More by maki88

lewzer99

Georgia

3.98/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A- pours a light copper color with a nice finger width head. Head lasts a pretty good while, leaving lacing.
S- alot of floral hippiness. A little bit of grape fruity citrus, and malty sweetness.
T- starts with a balance of hoppy bitterness and malty sweetness, then citrus. Finishes with a hoppy bite.
M- nice medium body. Very drinkable.
O- tasty. I would get it again

Serving type: on-tap

10-01-2012 22:09:09 | More by lewzer99

marlinsfan4

Maryland

4.23/5  rDev +10.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Part of the mixed 12 pack, one of the overall best ones in their IMHO. Beautiful amber color, nice frothy head. Hoppy aroma. Taste smacks you with caramel upfront, a nice sweetness balanced with hops and a good malt backbone. Finishes smooth and clean, just a great beer all around. A very common style but this is one of the better interpretations I've had, worth seeking out.

Serving type: bottle

09-27-2012 23:27:18 | More by marlinsfan4

patpbr

Ohio

3.75/5  rDev -1.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A- deep color, looking amber with a little head.
S- malt and carmel.
T- up front malt, it has some sweetness. Hops and some fruit.
M- full flavor that leaves a nice malt linger. this is coming from someone that likes hops
O- Friend brought some back from Ashville. Its a good brew

Serving type: bottle

09-19-2012 03:55:33 | More by patpbr

Mojo

Alabama

3.93/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

There are beers that just get your attention because they are strong and powerful and there are beers that get your attention because their qualities are a little more understated. This beer is the latter. It pours a beautiful copper with a large taupe head and substanstial lacing left over. The smell is pine, citrus, grasses and bread. Mouthfeel is good with just the right amount of carbonation. Taste is very sweet on the front seamlessly giving way to some subtle hoppiness on the finish. This was my first beer from this brewery and if this one is any indication of the overall quality, then I will certainly want to try more.

Serving type: bottle

09-04-2012 02:55:18 | More by Mojo

DaveBlack

Virginia

3.88/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Rich copper color, maybe a 1/2 finger of head with moderate retention

S: A good smelling beer. Upfront the beer smells slightly toasty, and a little grainy, followed by floral hops. The overall smell is that of a well balanced brew.

T: Much like the smell, the first taste is that of the malts. Grainy, fairly sweet and toasty. It would be too sweet but for the heavy kick of hops at the finish that bring a slightly piney bitterness to the table.

M: Moderate body and a fair amount of carbonation.

O:Definitely a good beer, a nice balance of the malt and hops characteristics. The body makes this a very drinkable beer. True, there's nothing outstanding or special about it, but it's a good, solid drinking beer.

Serving type: bottle

08-27-2012 03:27:34 | More by DaveBlack

neenerzig

Ohio

4.1/5  rDev +7.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Got a 12 oz bottle of this at a Publix in Sarasota, FL on my vacation that I am still currently on there. I have never seen this beer in Cleveland, OH. Poured into my pint glass, this beer is a clear, medium amber color with a bit of a copper hue and ruby highlights when held up to the light. has a nice white fluffy head about 2/3 inch thick when poured, before settling to a nice thick ring lining the inside of the glass. Not too much lacing unfortunately. Has a toasty bready, caramel malt aroma with some fruit such as cherry and figs. Has a good toasted bready caramel malt sweetness flavor upfront, followed by hints of honey and vanilla, then with some fruit such as cherry and figs, and rounded out with a hint of suble hops. The hops aren't really noticeable, your palate has to search for them or it would never know the hop presence was there at all. Overall a more complex beer flavorwise than most other amber ales I have had. Nicely done! Has a crisp, smooth, slightly chewy, medium to full bodied mouthfeel with moderate carbonation. Quite easy to drink in the good way beers like this ought to be. A very good beer here!

Eric

Serving type: bottle

08-10-2012 03:40:35 | More by neenerzig

Dope

Massachusetts

3.9/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Hazy ruby pour with a good sized and dense off-white head. Fades away slowly leaving a nice thin patchwork of lacing on the glass.

S: Raisins and figs with some herbal tea hoppiness. Some caramel in there too.

T: Tea and herbal hops abound. Caramel kicks in and sweetens it up. Fades out with more tea in the aftertaste. Hints of toffee throughout. I get some nice cocoa in the aftertaste.

M: Light-to-medium bodied.

O: Very drinkable take on the style. Very well balanced and mild enough without being watery. I enjoyed it.

Serving type: bottle

08-06-2012 04:16:59 | More by Dope

ThePopper

4.23/5  rDev +10.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A: Beautiful, dark copper color; nice foamy head.

S: Malt notes, with a whiff of pine.

T: An amber-style ale with nice caramel and malt notes, very subtle hops, and tones of vanilla and sassafras.

M: Rich and smooth.

O: A very drinkable, high-quality ale, with more malt complexity and full flavors than a pale ale. On par with the very best ambers – highly recommended.

Serving type: on-tap

07-20-2012 21:07:21 | More by ThePopper