Growler from Ballast Point Linda Vista. Poured a brownish-amber with a medium sized light brown head. Aroma wasn’t too great; earthy, caramel, wood and nuts. Flavor was better; earthy, peaty-smoked malt, caramel and fruit. A really nice and pretty soft palate. Pretty solid, but nothing in comparison to the barrel aged version which was delicious.

Had at San Diego Brewers Guild Festival 2008. Pours a cloudy brown. Licorice, cider on the nose. Cider and whiskey flavors with some nicely placed vanilla. Smooth mouth. Tasty.

Pours a light brown color, with a medium light brown head. Smells of some dark malts and dark fruits mixed. Overall mild aroma. Nice balance to the flavor. Some caramel malt and dark fruits, apples, and grapes mostly. A touch of some woodsyness in the finish to go along with the fruity sweetness left on the palate. Decent little scottish ale, but nothing to go nuts for.

On tap at Ballast Point during the RBSG Pub Crawl Tour on 08/01/2008. Clear copper amber body with a medium off-white head. Sweet nutty caramel aroma. Sweet caramel nutty flavor. Medium body with moderate carbonation.

Draft... <b>RBSG ‘08</b>... Beautiful, crystal clear, copper ale with a small, creamy, white head. Decent retention. The subtle aroma is of caramel; nothing more, nothing less. Medium-bodied and slightly creamy with subdued carbonation. Sways just a tad toward the bitter side of balance. Finishes caramelly, then bitter.