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.

Brewworks Black Friday

On a recent visit to the Brewworks in Bethlehem, I ordered a glass of Black Friday, a bourbon barrel aged Scotch Ale. The pours a black color with a thin bubbly tan head. The aroma consists of caramel, toasted malts, bourbon, vanilla, cherry, and grass. The taste is bold and sweet with caramel and toasted malts but very well balanced by the bourbon alcohol bite. Vanilla, oak, and cherry come out on the finish while bubbles tickle the tongue. The alcohol content is 8.4% ABV. I was more than impressed with this beer, and it had a nice sweet start but allowed the bourbon to balance and shine at the same time.

Cigar City Big Sound Scotch Ale

My buddy Adam brought over a bottle Cigar City Big Sound Scotch Ale to share. The beer pours a dark brown color with an extremely lofty and frothy beige head that leaves some lacing on the glass. The aroma consists of caramel, toasted malts, toffee, and leather. The taste is sweet and lightly toasted with plenty of caramel and toffee. The finish has a certain dryness to it, akin to how leather smells, and hints of some chocolate in the background. The alcohol content is 8.5% ABV. This was a very likable beer with a good sweetness to it, but not overly sweet at all.

Monday Night Brewing Drafty Kilt Scotch Ale

My buddy Ed grabbed a growler Monday Night Brewing Drafty Kilt Scotch Ale while he was in Atlanta and brought it back for me to try. The beer pours a dark brown color with red hues with a frothy tan head. The aroma consists of toasted malts, toffee, caramel, pepper, and grass. The taste is smooth and sweet with plenty of caramel and toffee right up front before a toasted malt flavors comes through strong. The finish brings out a nice peppery flavor with some hop spice. The alcohol content is 7.2% ABV. I enjoyed the sweetness in this beer, but the real treasure was in the finish with the warming spiciness.