Dominion Scottish Ale

Date: 01/04/1997
Mode: Draft
Source: Brewpub

amber, scant head, strong carmel malt aroma, good malt flavor with just a hint of hops, very slight bitter finish

Aroma: 7/10; Appearance: 5/10; Flavor: 5/10; Palate: 5/10; Overall: 10/20
Rating: 2.8/5.0
Score: **/4
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The score was calculated based upon the notes and an old scoring system.

Draught at Old Dominion Brewpub 3/1/2006: Almost clear deep amber with touches of brown - I say almost clear because the color makes it difficult to determine if it’s clear and dark or medium and every so slightly hazy - with a medium, creamy, frothy, thick tan head that lasts with excellent retention. The aroma is chocked full of full malt notes - caramel, earth, bread, honey, light roast, and what I can only describe as reminding me of the full, clean & crisp German malts used in a fresh Marzen though it smells very different than an Marzen for sure. The taste really goes beyond my expectations for a scottish ale (which I happen to love), there’s just a variety of excellent malt flavors that all take their turn on your tongue: dry caramel, sweet grains, round earth, light roasted grains, with very light hints of bread, but the dry, light sweet full range of caramel flavors dominate this one. Wow it never gets too sweet even with repeated sips. Finishes with a bit more roast and leaves a lingering dry caramel flavor in your mouth. Medium bodied, medium carbonation, very well rounded & creamy mouthfeel, finishing clean and dry while managing to leave extended malt notes on the palate. This really is a superb example of how to showcase simple malt flavors in a smiple beer that really has the most range of "caramel" I’ve tasted. It’s a crappy descriptor I know, but if you could break it into 7 types of caramel, this would have them all while remaining clean, dry, and creamy.

Growler... Clear, orange ale with a mid-sized, frothy, off-white head. Great retention. Malty nose with notes of clover honey, caramel and a hint of milk chocolate. The well-balanced flavor is rich with lots of caramel malt. Hopped nicely to blunt any cloying sweetness while still allowing the rich, malty character to shine through. Medium to full-bodied with a creamy mouthfeel and lively carbonation. Finishes malty, but clean and fairly crisp. Great brew!

Rich frothy off-white head. Clear copper body. Medium sweet caramel aroma. Light peat. Picking up some soap (my hunch is that this glass was not rinsed so well). Sweet caramel malts up front, then some roasted assertiveness followed by a light smoky waft of peat. Tingly medium palate, maybe a tad thin and watery. Pleasant and solid from beginning to end.

Dominion Scottish Ale pours to a beautiful, deep caramel/brown color with a creamy tan head, and a moderate amount of carbonation. The nose is packed with lots of good sweet malty aromas with a touch of roasty aroma, and a hint of smoke. The palate is firm with great caramel and sweet malt flavors that glide over the tongue. Dominion Scottish Ale finishes with a more caramel and sweet malt flavors up front, then ends with a touch of roast, and a slightly soothing burn. This is a hearty and delicious Scottish ale with great malt character. This is the perfect beer to sip on during the winter months at the brewpub.