East End Old Hickory

I loved that this beer was brewed for the 2007 US open. Very good scottish ale

Sampled on draft at the Map Room at Regent Square this beer poured a chestnut color with a large dark tan head. The aroma was roasty, bitter and had faint elements of fruit, smoke, caramel and toffee. The finish was dry, smoky and roasty. Very complex yet something just did not work for me with this one. Interesting though.

Growler. Pours dark hazy caramel, off white head. Aroma is caramel, malt, grass, molasses. Flavor is caramel, vanilla, wheat, grass, slight molasses, and earthiness. Lighter in body than I would have preferred.

From growler. Nice bit of grainy maltiness to this one, with caramel and toasted malt. Mild neutral fruitiness and just a bit of tang. Mild neutral hoppiness and some apple skins. Cloudy medium brown with thin off-white lacing head. Medium bodied with medium carbonation, very easy drinking. Starts with nice bit of toasted malt, light caramel, and some apple essence. A little bit of chocolate and dry nuttiness and some dull acidity. Finish is smooth, with just a bit of fruity hops bitterness. Clean smooth after and makes for a very easy, enjoyable quaff. One of Scott’s milder beers in terms of hops. Very nice ale!

Growler from brewery. Hazy copper/amber body with small tan head. Aroma is quite mild... mostly earthy malt with a slight sweetness of dark fruits. Flavor has a nice toasty/earthy malt character and a little sweetness like the aroma. There is a small hop presence right as the beer slides down your throat, but it vanishes quickly under the dry toasted malt. Apparently this is my first Scottish ale rating, but from memory I would say this was better than other Scottish ales I’ve had (but not rated).