Isle of Skye Cuillin Beast

Brewed by Isle of Skye
Style: English Strong Ale
Portree, Scotland

Serve in English pint, Trappist glass

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This is a wonderful wee heavy. It’s reddish brown with a thin, off-white head quickly shrinking to a thin ring. The aroma is sweet grapes and wine with brown bread, leaves, and fruit. The taste was a lot of grapes and fruit, with wine, leaves, some bread and hint of pepper with an earthy-leafy hoppiness and bitterness with even a hint of lemon. It’s very tasty and interesting, and highly drinkable.

The aroma may not be as mild and indistinguishable as it appeared to me, as I have a slight head cold. It was pleasant but beyond my condition to identify. It has a lively pour and was very frothy. “Energetic” describes it best. The head was thick and creamy. Lighter in color than I expected, but not pale or sickly. It was like smooth Ivory. The lacing was good. It’s appearance in the glass is a caramel copper with a slight haze, like a good pub. It doesn’t seem content to sit in the glass. Flavor was robust, and full. It was very satisfyingly smoky without being overpowering. Smoky but crisp. Well balanced and very satisfying. I’ll have a second before I finish writing this. Palate is excellent, brilliant even. Brewed on Skye but there’s no empty sky taste, you know full well you’re got a mouth full of grain and hops. The fruit of the earth. I haven’t a clue why they call it “Wee Beast”, this is no beast. It’s a lovely lady and I’m going to get to know her real well.

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 from Green Welly Stop, Tyndrum. Good strong Scottish ale. Nice golden colour, unusual for the style. Vinous aroma. Good Body. Fruity finish. Doesn’t taste its strength. Very pleasant.

Bottle. Muddy orange amber with a nice creamy head. Spicy aroma with tones of coriander, oranges, flowery hops. Smooth mouthfeel and slightly vinious. Flavours include an initial malty sweetness then roasted malt, then nuts and then a mix of alle the above spices and many more.

UPDATED: OCT 11, 2007 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.

Cloudy light amber color with a small beige head. Sweet malty caramel/toffee aroma. Flavor also of caramel and toffee with pretty good amount of hops to balance it out. Pretty good.

Pours a nice orange amber, small beige head. Caramel nose, with juicy floral hops. Caramel malts, toffee backbone supports a medium bodied, earthen herbal hopped up finish. Woody, sooty, smoke, peat flavors. Rather bitter, lingering hop oils. This is very nice.

Habersham Beverages, Savannah, Ga. - big sturdy 1pt. .9 fl oz bottle. Pours a dark crimson-copper with a sticky off-white head with creamy lacing. Arom is earthy, with hints of smoked meats and fresh garden dirt. Flavor has hints of smoked meat, caramel, and a touch of mint. Very delectable to say the least. Mouthfeel is thick and creamy. Best of this style I have had to date. Could become one of my favorite styles.

Bottle... Brewtopia 2004... This beer rocks... Cloudy, amber ale with a small, fizzy, white head. The aroma is all about milk chocolate and caramel. Maybe a touch of balsamic vinegar. The flavor matches the aroma sans the vinegar. Fairly well-balanced. Medium-bodied with an oily mouthfeel. Lengthy, sweet and then dry, finish. World class Scotch Ale