Sprecher Pipers Scotch Ale

Brewed by Sprecher Brewing Company
Style: Scotch Ale
Glendale, Wisconsin USA

Bottle: Dark amber with a white head. Aroma, caramel, some smoke, and leather. Flavor, brown sugar, too much carbonation, some alcohol. Just didn’t work for me, it tasted off.

16oz bottle. Aroma: Strong grainy maltiness. Equally strong caramel aroma. Slight dark fruit. Earthiness is just that...earthy. Smells like rich soil. Appearance: Dark reddish brown in color. Light khaki head was full and frothy but didn’t last long. Fair lacing. Flavor: Rich and sweet maltiness with strong caramel overtones. Toasted nuts and a nice smokiness. Some light raisiny notes, as well. Palate: Medium-full bodied. Medium carbonation seemed a little high and prickly. Nice alcohol warming in back of mouth. Overall: A nice representation of the style, and tasty to boot. A little fuller mouthfeel and a little less carbonation would make it even better.

Ruby brownish color. Modest head. This is a pretty good Scottish style ale with mild peat and smoke in the middle/finish. Only drawback is that it’s a bit thin. Needs more sweet malt and a thicker mouthfeel like a Wee Heavy. Great value tho at about $1.70 a pint. Will have to buy more.

(Bottle, Stockholm Beer Festival, 7 Oct) Dark brown colour with ruby notes, off-white creamy head. Malty nose with hints of smoke (wet birch-wood?) and dark fruit. Malty taste with dried fruit (raisins, prunes) and hints of smoke. Medium to full body, sweetish and warming. Nice balance. Would be lovely on a chilling winter afternoon.

[Bottled. Stockholm Beer Festival] Hazy brown colour, white creamy head. Bit ashy in aroma with notes of caramel and milk chocolate. Thick and malty, sweetish, with notes of almonds and prune. Smooth mouthfeel, medium to big body.

Pours a deep brown with ruby red when held to the light. Smaller off with creamy head that left light lacing. Aroma of prunes, raison caramel and light hops. Flavor of dark fruits, some wood, light smoke, caramel, sweet malts...if this had a touch more smoke in the flavor and especially the aroma I would have loved it. Still a good brew though.

Bottle at Stockholm Beerfestival. Hazy brown coloured with an off white head. Aroma of malts, caramel and whisky. Flavour of malts and caramel with notes of whisky.

Thanks to Degarth for this one. First of all, this is a very rauchy scotch ale, let’s get that out of the way right off the bat, and I didn’t get any green apples out of this. Pours turbid brown with 1-finger khaki head. Aroma of caramel malt, brown sugar, hops, black pepper. Tastes caramel malty, with some brown sugar, rauchy mid-palate flavors, and finishing vinous fruit, like grapes over a campfire. The palate is complex and dense. This one stays rauchy through the finish, and acquires a pruney element, with more finishing hops. I’d love another one (or 6) of these! Rauchbier fans, let’s line up and get ya some, and get some for your smokin’ sister, too!