Iron Hill Wee Heavy

Brewed by Iron Hill Newark
Style: Scotch Ale
Newark, Delaware USA

Serve in Thistle

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In short: Typical Scotch Ale. Nicely malted and hopped. Above average for the style.
How: Tasting session with Montreal crew
The look: Cloudy amber body with a medium off-white head
In long: Lots if tasty caramel although not thick or decadent. Light fruity notes of dried fruits. Some earthy notes. Nicely hopped and with the type of balance I like to see in a Scotch Ale (too many are just too malt focussed). Nothing out of the ordinary but still an above average Scotch Ale. Wee Heavy, the John Smith of Scotch Ales name.

Draft...Phoenxville location...Copper body with a beige head...Sweet sugary malt nose....a medium sweet body....some vanilla, toffee and a warm caramel presence throughout...a sweet and malty finish that gives a zing on the tongue...as it settles the alcohol aroma becomes more apparent....malts and sweet...simple and a little bland...alcohol well disguised in the flavor, no lacing

Bouteille de 750 ml, avec bouchon de liège, partagée avec MartinT, Rastacouere, Cathschlag et Beerbuzzmontreal. Arôme: Odeur de caramel fruité avec une pointe chocolatée. Apparence: La couleur est ambrée foncée. Présence d’un mince col mousseux et d’une large dentelle sur le verre. Saveur: Goût de caramel et de noix grillées. Durée moyenne de l’arrière goût. Palette: Le corps est moyen avec une texture légèrement pétillante. Moyenne effervescence en bouche. Présence de caramel en arrière goût. (Rating #1457)

Bottle, blind scotch ale tasting thanks to beastiefan2k. Aroma is rich fruity malt, lightly smoked / peaty. Flavor is malty, vanilla, brown sugar, slightly fizzy palate. Sweet beer overall, and enjoyable.

Bottle @ Blind Scotch ale tasting. Deep brown in color with a nice off white head. Smokey, peaty toasted malty aroma. Light hoppy caramel flavor. Roasty fruity notes. Full bodied.Sweet tasting. Light fruity bitterness. Finish is smokey. Very nice beer. Well balanced. Very drinkable.

My Bottom Line:
Smoky cocoa and toasted caramel elegantly lead the tastebuds to a classy and effervescent Scotch Ale experience.

Further Personal Perceptions:
-A veil of excited foam surfs the brownish red.
-Alcohol presence is really low in the flavor profile.
-It would have to do a lot better in the caramelization department for it to reach the star status of the Alesmith Wee Heavies or the former Corne de Brumes, for example.
-Carbonation might be a little too exuberant my liking in this style. I’d like to be able to perceive more of the malts’ prowess.
-Light fruitiness accompanies the caramel.

Bottle.

Date: 01/12/2008
Mode: Bottle
Source: Tasting, Cellar Party
Words: newark

hazy dark red, fine dirty white head, bits of lace, sweet dark caramel malt aroma with a big smoky peat character, rich malt flavor, lots of dark caramel but any sweetness is balanced by the earthy character, nice peat, light biterness considering all of the smoke and peat, swetness slowly grows, yeast swirl adds a deep bready character and a touch of tartness,

Aroma: 6/10; Appearance: 7/10; Flavor: 7/10; Palate: 6/10; Overall: 13/20
Rating: 3.3/5.0
Drinkability: 7/10
Score: **+/4

Appearance: Pours a clearish, medium brown body with a fizzy, off-white head. Smell: Rich aroma of caramelized kettle sugars, fruit, smokey peat, and a dash of cocoa. Taste: Sweet, malty caramel with a ripe fruitiness. Distinct smoked peat flavor. Hint of cocoa. Quite warming on the peaty finish. Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied. Moderate carbonation. Sticky mouthfeel. Drinkability: Nice! A very solid example of a scotch ale.

Bottle thanks to eaglefan538: Pours a transparent dark copper amber with a thin froth of light tan head. Rich peaty smoky nose of dark caramel malt with nice earthy complexity. Body starts rich and caramely malty with a great authentic peaty character. Lingering oaky peaty flavor toward the finish makes for a very authentic Scotch ale. Very enjoyable and true to style.

Pours a hazy light brown color with a white head. Aroma is malty, caramel, peat, and some hops. Flavor is malty, peaty, smoky, and light bitter finish.