New England Wet Willy Scotch Ale

Brewed by New England Brewing Co.
Style: Scotch Ale
Woodbridge, Connecticut USA

Serve in Thistle

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murky brown .. . low med foam .. . very smooth, abv is set right .. . toffee and honey choc flavors .. . quite fried out refined with crazy drink down the throatness .. . those are dog years .. . pretty good.

12 oz bottle, thanks to Summer Secret Santa ’09. Pours a cloudy dark rust orange with small offwhite head. The aroma is burnt caramel, wood, some interesting red wine notes, some mild fruity and citrus hints, dates, and some sweet alcohol like a cordial. The flavor is dates, port, toasted wood, grapes, caramel. Toward the finish it takes on a brine and smoke character that I typically associate with Islay style Scotch. Alcohol is well masked... the aftertaste is very, very whisky-like. Pretty good stuff.

Bottle from Knightly Spirits. Alan, you were right this is damn good! Pours a nice cloudy amber color. Aroma is delicious. Raisins, figs, dates, caramel, brown sugar, and roasted marshmallows. Flavor is full and wonderful. Sweet and fruity...toffee, dried dark frutis, brown sugar and some very light salty peat flavors. HELL YES!

gives a strong taste of fruity goodness with some flavors of figs and dates. slightly carbonated which could take away from some flavor. the palate is full yet lacking. still despite all of the flaws, this a beer that you must have

The aroma is incredibly fruity and malty with figs, raisins, butterscotch, caramel, toffee, cream, and some oak. The appearance is deep amber with a nice head. The flavor is like the aroma which is fantastic. The palate is smooth but not thick. Overall this has to be my favorite beer so far!

12oz bottle. Pours out a clear, brassy, copper color with a small, fleeting head of off-white foam. The thin ring that is left behind on the surface leaves thick, drippy legging on the glass, indicating substantial viscosity. The nose is a boozy-sweet mixture of toffee, marshmallow, and a bit of almost mead-like honey character. A floral bouquet emerges, followed by heaps of vanilla-rich oak and hints of nuts. The flavor is a bit more muddled, still rich with caramel and toffee notes, but less floral and more oak dominant. Honey and maple glazed pecans still come through, which is nice. If ever there was a brew to let sit in the glass for a good 20 minutes before drinking, this one is it, as it really opens up near room temperature. The palate is thick and warm with alcohol, sweet but surprisingly not cloying. It’s an odd one, for sure, but a fairly enjoyable one nonetheless.

Bottle. Dark amber color, thin loose white head. Burnt caramel aroma, has an earthy toffee-like character to it that is nice. The taste is sweet and fruity but stays short of cloying. The finish is nice and earthy with a hint of hops. No peat or smoke character, just a well done malt show. I enjoyed this one.

Name: Wet Willy
Date: May 15, 2009
Mode: Bottle
Source: Tasting
Appearance: muddy burnt orange, wispy off white head, drippy lace
Aroma: sweet caramel aroma, touch of caramel candy, light earthyness
Flavor: sweet caramel flavor, nice fruityness, light balancing earthyness
Aroma: 7/10; Appearance: 7/10; Flavor: 7/10; Palate: 6/10; Overall: 15/20
Rating: 3.6/5.0
Drinkability: 8/10
Score: **4

12oz bottle shared by a generous soul at the Brick Store. Pours a hazy caramel orange with a short-lived tan head that leaves almost no lacing. Whoa, I could smell the booze from a couple feet away. Outside of that, there are plenty of sweet smells that dominate, including caramel malts and vanilla. And the smoked peat aromas are certainly more than just subtle. The taste brings the whiskey back in a big way, with a big kick up front and a lasting burn through the finish. In between, again, lots of sweetness balanced by the smoky character of the peat as well. The barrel presence is very evident. The mouthfeel is very slick with minimal carbonation and almost feels like an old ale on the palate. Very smooth. This is a big ole boozy beer that doesn’t mess around. It’s about the wood and booze with the sweetness trying its best to balance things out. I haven’t decided if it succeeded or not...

Bottle… Murky caramel-colored ale with burnt orange highlights and a small, fizzy, off-white head. The aroma is a rich, hearty swirl of caramel, wood, whiskey and light smoke. Medium to full-bodied with an oily mouthfeel and ticklish carbonation. The flavor is sweet, caramely, nutty, lightly woody and bourbony – smooth; no edges. The finish is sweet-brown sugar and mildly warming. Thanks to Cletus for providing the bottle!