Orkney Red MacGregor (Bottle)

The Red MacGregor is a delicious, malty, mild tasting Scottish ale, with lots of flavor and character. The draught form of this beer is only 4% abv, making it a great session beer. They have boosted the abv up to 5% for the bottled product, and that is the sample I am reviewing here. The Red MacGregor Ale pours to a beautiful, bright, deep, ruby red color with a tight off white head, and a soft to moderate amount of carbonation. The nose on this beer is wonderful, with lots of sweet malty, slightly peat smoky aroma, and some flowery hop aroma. The palate is soft, with some nice chewy malt texture. Flavors of sweet malt, toffee, a hint of raisin, and a touch of peat coat the tongue. Red MacGregor finishes with more good malty flavors up front, then ends with a mild flowery hop bitterness that takes the cloying edge off this beer.

Peaty, Malty and downright heavenly. Great deep amber color like a fresh died Tartan. Many of my buddies don't like their beers smoky but then again, what do they know? Not as thick as I would like, can tend be mildly watery on the palate.

A standout beer, like the others from the Orkney Brewery. Everything they make is good, and this Red MacGregor is my favorite of the entire lot! Clear bottle, filled with cloudy brown, malty nectar. Hints of smoke, even! Terrific!

The color of cherry wood, with a big, boiling sticky, sticky head. It has a very nice, crisp woodsy hoppy sting in the aroma. I’d hoped for more of that in the drink, but it’s a bit more subdued. But it’s still a very nice easy drinker with an overtly citrusy body for a British beer. I really like this exceptionally drinkable brew. (#3201, 11/13/2007)

This here is a solid and fine ESB. Malt forward aroma, caramel, slightly buttery, but it works like buttered biscuits. Hints of herbal and grassy hops. Flavor very balanced, and earthy, with a soft smooth carbonation. This is just a great drinkable beer. Appealing reddish tint with a large foaming khaki head.