City of Stirling 80/-

[Cask at GBBF, 2004] I’m not 100% sure I’m rating the right beer, since the info I can gather is a little contradictory. I had a beer that according to the programme is named City of Stirling with an ABV of 4.1% - which makes me believe, that it is a different beer than this, but at the same time the beer is an 80/- Scottish Ale - which makes me think, that this was the beer I had. I can’t find any definate evidence for either case on the Internet A brown beer with a small brown head. The aroma is very light with notes of caramel. The flavor is sweet, very malty and with notes of brown sugar.

(Bottle 50 cl) Chestnut brown, bordering black, with an underlying reddish glow. Creamy, off-white head. Lightly roasted malt aroma. Very soft mouthfeel with notes of roasted malt and lightly sweet caramel. 301005

Bottle. Clear red brown coloured with an off white head. Aroma of malts, caramel and fruits and spices. Flavour of malts, caramel and fruits with a hoppy finish.

Bottle. Dark amber colour with a beige head. Light roasted, caramel malty, fruity aroma and taste. Medium body with a dry finish.

I must say I was quite impressed with this, even though it is in a style, and a presentation (pasteurised bottle) that I don’t often enjoy. Deepish chestnut colour. Toffee and malt aroma. Fruit and more toffee in the flavour, but more hop and bitterness than is normal in a Scottish ale which, in my view, can only improve it. Finishes dry and clean. Nicely brewed and nicely balanced. I would like to try this on cask. A good effort from a new brewery (although it seems to have some connection with Bridge of Allan). 500 ml bottle from Tesco. BBE 20 July 2005.