Smuttynose Scotch Red Wine Barrel

Another beer I ordered at Max's in Baltimore was the Smuttynose Scotch Red Wine Barrel. The beer pours a brown color with a thin filmy white head. The aroma consists of caramel, oak, and red wine. The taste is dry with a light caramel background that is overshadowed by red wine. An oak finish with toffee surfaces with some earth tones and a touch of vanilla. The alcohol content is 7.8% ABV. The wine and oak flavors in this beer were very prevalent, but also quite enjoyable. The scotch ale gave the beer enough of a base to not be overpowered while providing a good backbone.