Belhaven Wee Heavy / 90 Shilling (Bottle)

Brewed by Belhaven (Greene King)
Style: English Strong Ale
Dunbar, East Lothian, Scotland

Bottle. Deep mahogany colour, moderate carbonation, little head. Wonderfully fruity malt aroma, molasses, dried fruits. Very complex aroma. Taste is sweet, licorice, full-bodied. Hides the alcohol very well. Very little hops. A bit heavy (duh..)

Bottled. Sweet, darkly malty aroma with caramel and smoke. Dark ruby pour with a creamy, rich and lacing beige head. Taste is smokey, peaty, caramelly. Sweetish with a dry smokey end, soft. Full-bodied, though, and a good swisher. Light fruitiness (red berry). Alcohol is well-hidden save for the slight and pleasant terminal warming. Good one.

Cola colored- small white head -nose vanilla, white chocolate, roasted- roasted, malt, dried fruit, brown sugar taste- medium slightly oily – aftertaste coffee/mocha

nice dark mahogany colour, slight frothy head but doesn’t last. smokey with nice chocolate notes on the aroma. licorice, chocolate and hops fill your mouth, smooth aftertaste and a very light taste of alcohol notas noticible as others this strong.

Bottle @ D’s 6 packs, PGH, PA. Pours clearish mahogany with tan head. Aroma is malty, musty, molasses sour dough. Flavor is smoky, caramel, and molasses. Nice body.

Now, this is how hops should be used!!! Poured a nice chocolate, mostly clear color (reminded me of my dog’s coat, as the carbonation bubbles rose immediately after the pour). The head was only a finger thick and dissipated in minutes, but laced quite nicely. The aroma was chocolatey and smokey. The flavor was smokey (light peat moss in there) over licorice, chocolate, spices, and some hops. Higher alcohol was invisible in the aroma and flavor. The mouthfeel was grainy, moderately bodied, and carbonated. The hoppy finish (not too bitter, very nicely balanced) added to the graininess, lingering on the tongue well after each sip. This drink was super drinkable / sessionable, and exceeds the Traquair House #1 for that reason alone. One of my favorite Scottish ales.

[Bottled] (BB 05/2007). Dark ruby red color, small creamy tan head, some lace. Bready roasted malty nose. Toffeish palate, roasted malty, burnt brown sugar flavors. Not very alcoholic.

Bottled. Ruby colour, small beige head. Aroma of alcohol, raisins and fruits. Flavour is leather, malts and hops, along with some roasted and spicy hints. Hides ABV well in the flavour, otherwise quite similar to Skullsplitter.