Isle of Skye Cuillin Beast

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

Pours with a frothy, initially two-finger thick, light tan colored head that sits atop an amber colored brew, which shows a lightly hazy, pinkish tinged, red colored beer when held up to the light. Strong aromas of diacetyl contribute a definitely distinct aroma of butterscotch & butter, though it is not at the rancid butter stage. Underneath the dominant butterscotch aromatics is perhaps a hint of fruitiness and a touch of toasted malt aromatics; both of these are probably substantial, but I have a really hard time detecting them under all of the diacetyl.

Soft, slightly creamy textured, yet it has a light prickle of carbonation to it. Toasty malt notes reminiscent of lightly browned biscuits, toasted bread, a touch of roast grain and lots of dark bread flavors are all noticeable. The malt character tends to especially linger on in the mouth. The diacetyl flavor contribution is much reduced, when compared to the nose, but does add some definite butterscotch notes here as well. Up front the notes of butterscotch, caramel and toffee mix, but this then slowly yields to the dry, toasty malt notes previously mentioned.

While the aroma is not so bad, it is certainly almost exclusively one-dimensional in its butterscotch focus. The flavor actually sort of works; I had written this beer off after smelling it, but it is actually fairly enjoyable in the flavor department.

Hazy ruddy brown with a bit white head, diminishing over time. Big sweet malt. More vinous than malty. Raisins! No real hop presence. A small amount of chocolate mal, some bit of soap. Low carbonation. A bit thicker than water. Smooth and subtle. Sweet light malt sweetness. A small vinous toasty aspect. A bit tannic with a woody dry finish. Not bad!

rated 10/14/07 16.9 oz bottle: Lightly hazy amber/orange w/a lasting but thin off white head. Toffee up front, some green apple and bready malt! Clean malt flavor, lightly bitter finish with caramel throughout. Rather boring actually! Lightly toasted malt as well, and aftertates is light caramel and herbal hops. Low CO2, dry m/f, well hidden ABV. Boring but well made and seems aged a bit!

10/29/07: Bottle.
Sweet caramel malt aroma with notes of alcohol. Carmel brown body. Flavors of citrus, caramel and some pepper. Nicely balanced. (Wee Beast)

The aroma is nice with caramel, hops, and yeast. The appearance is orange with a tiny head. The flavor is like the aroma. The palate is thin. Overall this is a little disappointing but not bad.

Pours amber with a ruby glow in the light and a white head. Aroma is malty, bread, and caramel. Decent body. Flavor is bread and malts. Maybe a slight sweet caramel.

500 ml, Wee Beast version. Clear copper with a small but lasting head that leaves some nice lacing. Spicy-sweet, earthy molasses and oatmeal aroma. Sweet earthy-smoked molasses, malted cereal goodness, slight lactic acid sourness, and bittered maple flavors make for the perfect autumn beer. Lingering, sweet and earthy smoke aftertaste is nice. Near medium bodied, slightly watery, smooth, and dry on the finish. This is a dangerously sessionable brew, and a fine example of the style.

500 ml bottle from Holiday wine Cellar. Hazy brown with a fizzy white head. Faint malty and grainy aroma. Sweet malty taste with hints of toffe and a dry herbal hoppy finish.