Isle of Skye MacNabs

Brewed by Isle of Skye
Style: Bitter
Portree, Scotland

Serve in English pint

Bottle at some hotel- pours cola-esque dark brown, hazy, dark orange, grayish head. nose is cola cubes. sea air like uig, seaweed, roasted malt, taste is light, strong saltyness light roast flavour. Like a lighter version of the oyster stout.

Any first impressions?
-Great foam lingers atop the reddish brown.
-Fruit jam and caramel are invitingly spread on toast.
-The aroma had said it all apparently, as the flavor profile repeats everything announced.
-Quite full-bodied due to rich maltiness and comfy carbonation.

What if you dig deeper?
-Subtle supporting hoppiness almost balances the flavor profile.
-Strawberries and cherries make up fun fruit flavors.
-The bready character is sustaining.
-This is purportedly a blend of Red Cuillin and Black Cuillin, and I wouldn’t be surprised this were true after having a pint of each over a few days in Portree. Whatever it is, it remains a complex and flavorful pint of scottish ale.

On cask at MacNab’s Inn, part of the Royal Hotel, in Portree.

Sampled cask conditioned at The Royal Hotel, Portree, Isle of Skye. Dark ruby/mahogany. Creamy and lightly roasty. Medium bodied, fruity and softly malty. Salty finish. Solid, but unexceptional.