Sprecher Pipers Scotch Ale

16 oz bottle. Pours to a beautiful, bright, caramel color, with a thick, creamy, white head, and a good bit of carbonation. The nose on this beer is just awesome, with lots of good sweet/carmel malt aroma, fresh bread, and light hints of peat smoke. The palate is rich, and full on the tongue. Flavors of sweet malt, light toast, caramel, and butterscotch, and light peat smoked flavor coat the tongue. This beer finishes with more fantastic caramel malt, and light peat smoke up front, then ends with a light, peppery, alcohol burn that lingers. Outstanding, delicious beer. Stylistically, one of the best I have ever tasted. World class.

Wow, this is probably my new favorite Sprecher beer. Smoked flavor that’s not overpowering. Hoped to pick up a couple bottles on my way out of the brewery, but they sold the final three cases in the hour I was there. I can see why.

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!

Pours a transparent deep dark copper with hints of ruby and a thin, light tan head. Aroma is lightly peaty, smoked and sweet with a full deep caramel maltiness and a touch of earthy, piney hops. Body starts full and sweet with nice authenticity and lots of well-balanced malt. Light complexity is very enjoyable. I’m glad Sprecher is brewing this again.

12oz bottle. Clear reddish-brown body under a medium light tan head. Earthy, dry aroma: Butterscotchy caramel malt followed by earthy peat. The first thing I notice when sipping is the satisfyingly thick mouthfeel; it fits the rest of the flavor very well. Strong earthy notes, rye spice, and well-toasted carmael malt. Finishes with a malty tartness and dried leafiness. This beer is unique because it provides big flavors w/o resoritng to high hopping levels. The malt’s kilning really stands out. There might be some hops in here but they’re in a stricly supportive role here. What a treat!