Isle of Skye Cuillin Beast

Brewed by Isle of Skye
Style: Scotch Ale
Uig, Isle of Skye, Scotland

Pours a clear amber hue with a light-frothy creamy head. Very light aromas of caramel, nuts and little smokey. Flavors of a little tobbacco, a hint of oak, but not with the mouthfeel, and a little leather. A slight sourness hinders the finish, but isn’t as appearant as the brew warms. A nice hop bitterness accentuates the mellow flavors. I can only imagine how nice this would be on cask.

MacLeod’s Kitchen Dunvegan, Skye - Bottle. Hazy amber appearance with a short-liived off-white head. Very fruity malt nose. with hops balanced just right. Smooth finish with a mild alcohol feeling. One of my favorites from Skye.

Bottle. Amber body with a moderate foamy cream colored head. Nose is malty and sweet with big ripened fruits notes and some earthy and spicy aromas. Taste has more of the earthy notes, some lightly sweetened malts, spices (cinnamon among others), light peatiness and some herbal notes. Body is smooth and moderately carbonated. Finishes with spicy hops, more earthy notes, light maltiness and some light sweetness.

Amber colour with a fruity malty aroma and a hint of peat. Flavour is sweet and fruity. Full bodied with a dry moderately hopped finish.

Bottled (label has the beauty and the beast now) (BB 01/2006)
Hazy light amber-orange, good off-white, lace. Strong flowery hoppy aroma with orange and honey. Tar in the start - then good strong bitter hops with honey flavors and long bitter aftertaste. Alcohol really builds this ale up. Excellent brew from the small island.
I would put this to "A Scottish Ale" -style more thanto "A Scotch Ale".

Cask Conditioned at The Plough, Bodicote, Oxon (Winter Beer Fest 05). Amber colour with tight, magnificent head. Forget the bottles, straight from the cask is how this one should be drunk. Jim’s annual beer festival always brings out a cracker and this was it. Massive fresh hop hit right from the off, with a dry peppery green note and a tongue tingling acidity. Strong alcohol belt, though dangerously drinkable for a big beer. Background of cereal biscuit malt. Very enjoyable.

(Bottle) Amber coloured with a small head. Smooth toffee aroma. Mouth filling, more toffee and a long bitter finish.

Bottle. The colour is dark amber, liquid is clear; the foam is finger thick and pale brown.

The smell got some distinct tones of alcohol; there is also some soft malt, raisins, some bitter hops, marzipan and a bit chemical sweetness.

The carbonation is quite strong, more like dark lager than ale. Not bad at all.

The taste is loaded with lots of full-bodied malt, some burned malt with a touch of toffee (diacetyl). There are some notes of raisins and marzipan. The aftertaste is balanced with some bitterness, alcohol and dried fruits.

A well crafted strong ale, with a distinct Scottish touch.

This ale is sold as Wee Beast in some parts of the world.