Draft at Rock Bottom Minneapolis. Listed at the brewpub as a "red ale" rather than a scotch ale. Poured a clear medium orange color with an off white head. The aroma was of fleshy fruit, noble hops, and a hint of chocolate. Dry on the tongue with grassy hop, biscuity malt, and subdued toffee flavors. Eh.

I’ve been told that this year’s Fire Chief is an Irish Ale, not Scotch. I’ve cracked my growler and am ready to find out. clear, coppery crimson color, adequate 1/4" slab of creamy-tan foam. Herbal nose, a little spicy, pale fruit...nice... Taste: smooth, malty, herbal/vegetal, medium bodied, slick texture, nicely hopped...good integration, excellent balance. Truly fits the Irish Ale style. Hail to the Chief!

Pours a clear cola-brown, thin tan head but well carbonated after patiently waiting for me a week or so in the growler bottle. No residual lace. Sweet malty aroma, with a hint of smoky peat. Not musty like some Scottish brewpub offerings can be. Also a faint trace of butterscotch. Full Scottish malty flavor, with just a hair of that smoked-peat taste. Actually that particular taste is more in the aftertaste. Very malty and sweet with a slight spiciness and a very very slight alcohol twist. I don’t detect the hops at all, which is good for this style, right? Wait a minute - they are there just a little bit in the aftertaste too. The robust sweetness remains for a while in your mouth after the glass is gone.