 Gusler (2656), Tucson, Arizona, USA
Jun 22, 2002 Updated: Mar 13, 2004
The beer disgorges from the 750ml green bottle a limpid deep ruby to almost brown color; the head is gargantuan in size, semi-creamy in texture and a toothsome light tan in color with the residual lace a velvet curtain to drape the glass. Nose is sweet malt, caramel and molasses, fresh and crisp, a pleasant sniff to be sure, start is demonstrative in its sweetness, thick malt presence, and the top is moderate to full in its feel to the palate. Finish has a fairish acidity, the hops relatively benign in their spiciness, the aftertaste droughty and a definite alcohol bitterness forms as the beer warms to the glass and room and it sticks to the palate till the very end. Alesmith has been since I sampled my first beer from them several years ago a favorite and I look forward to their vintages each year and keep a ton in my stash
mfaulke (79), clemson, South Carolina, USA
Nov 28, 2008 I cellared it for a year, and don’t know how old it was before I got it. The flavors had meshed perfectly with age, and it was hard to pick out one flavor on its own. Smoky butterscotch is probably what I would say. Couldn’t detect much of the hops, and it was less sweet than other scotch ales that I have had. Great beer. I wish I had another to lay down for another year.
17thfloor (807), Chicago, Illinois, USA
Nov 28, 2008 [Spring 08 Bottle] Pours clear but thick very dark near black brown with a lovely gray frothy foam. Rich aroma, caramel malt, peat, some woodiness. First taste of sweet rich cotton-candy, butterscotch candy, lightly peaty, some faded pacific NW hops, rich burnt caramel, touch of smoke. Finishes with light chocolate and peated malted barley. Fantastic mouthful, medium/full but so soft and fluffy! Great aftertaste, leaves the checks puckered in from the bitter dry woodiness. Definitely a fan. [Ha! for my 800th rating I was played BagPipe music... fitting for my Scotch Ale!]
Hophead22 (365), Redlands, California, USA
Nov 19, 2008 750ml bottle. Nice dark red pour, really nice with a tan head. Very dark and rich aroma, hint of anise maybe, very nice. Big and bold flavor, dark fruits,v ery rich and complex. Awesome!
CaryTheDude (489), Ripon, Wisconsin, USA
Nov 2, 2008 Crushed with Honkeybra. One hell of a profile with wonderful warmth. Fruity and scotchy on the nose, which leads into awesomeness. Finish is bitter and dry, but the fruits are the real dominant party in this sexy bitch of a brew. Intimidating.
HonkeyBra (517), Lemont, Illinois, USA
Nov 2, 2008 Crushed with theDude. Pours a dark brownish color with a big old rocky, off whit head. Aroma is sweet, with caramel and brown sugar, a bit of smoke. Flavor has a bit of scotch in the beginning, with lots of dark fruits coming through. Finish is a bit of hops and caramelized sugar. Awesome beer.;
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