Scotch Ale vs. Scottish Ale

I’ve been trying to figure out the difference between the styles and get them confused many times, can anyone help here?

Originally posted by Beerman6686
I’ve been trying to figure out the difference between the styles and get them confused many times, can anyone help here?

Josh? Silktork? wanna answer this?

I consider Scotch ales have peaty and smoky overtone.
I consider Scottish ales mostly sweet malt with a HINT of peat or smoke.


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Scotch Ale
Though you won’t find too many examples of this style in Scotland, strong Scotch Ales have come into their own in the New World. The term denotes a strong, dark, malty ale typically ranging between 6.5-8.5%. The malt character has caramel and toffee leanings, but is most distinguished by the use of malt smoked over peat. The overall character is sweet, sometimes earthy, smoky or alcoholic as well. Yeast character is usually restrained.

Scottish Ale

Scottish ales are generally dark, malty, full-bodied brews. Many examples have a hint of smokiness derived from the use of peated malt. 60, 70, and 80 shilling examples are all session ales under 5% abv, but the stronger "wee heavies" can range closer to 8%, with the accompanying increase in alcohol flavour and esters. Works well as an accompaniment to hearty meat and game dishes, sharp cheddar, atholl brose and shortbread.

Scottish: A style.

Scotch: A nationality.

So an American Wee Heavy is a Scottish ale, but not a Scotch ale, and a Brewdog Paradox is a Scotch ale, but not a Scottish ale.

This is an interesting point. It was brought up in Plzen the fact that iv had about 600+ ales from scotland but never had a scottish ale. The definition on the site is 60, 70, 80, 90 shillings of which iv had many and probably of the examples avalible in scotland, but they are all catagorised as something else and not a scottish ale.

There ar other beers out there from scotland, such as Stewards Number 3, which is classified as a mild ale(a style pritty much confined to England) and says scotch ale on the badge(even though id agree its not a scotch ale, its a scottish ale in the style of a traditional 80/-).

Either way there are no and have never been any scottish ales ever made in scotland according to ratebeer, which is an interesting take on things indeed.

Originally posted by Magic_dave6
This is an interesting point. It was brought up in Plzen the fact that iv had about 600+ ales from scotland but never had a scottish ale. The definition on the site is 60, 70, 80, 90 shillings of which iv had many and probably of the examples avalible in scotland, but they are all catagorised as something else and not a scottish ale.

There ar other beers out there from scotland, such as Stewards Number 3, which is classified as a mild ale(a style pritty much confined to England) and says scotch ale on the badge(even though id agree its not a scotch ale, its a scottish ale in the style of a traditional 80/-).

Either way there are no and have never been any scottish ales ever made in scotland according to ratebeer, which is an interesting take on things indeed.

Originally posted by Oakes

Originally posted by Magic_dave6
This is an interesting point. It was brought up in Plzen the fact that iv had about 600+ ales from scotland but never had a scottish ale. The definition on the site is 60, 70, 80, 90 shillings of which iv had many and probably of the examples avalible in scotland, but they are all catagorised as something else and not a scottish ale.

There ar other beers out there from scotland, such as Stewards Number 3, which is classified as a mild ale(a style pritty much confined to England) and says scotch ale on the badge(even though id agree its not a scotch ale, its a scottish ale in the style of a traditional 80/-).

Either way there are no and have never been any scottish ales ever made in scotland according to ratebeer, which is an interesting take on things indeed.

It is, and I do not personally agree with that take but there is a good rationale behind it nonetheless. I addressed this in a thread while you were away. Sadly, that thread got hijacked after I answered the question.

The descriptions above are a starting point. Plus the (in need of updating) Beer Styles series I wrote are good places to start.

Originally posted by Magic_dave6

Originally posted by Oakes

Originally posted by Magic_dave6
This is an interesting point. It was brought up in Plzen the fact that iv had about 600+ ales from scotland but never had a scottish ale. The definition on the site is 60, 70, 80, 90 shillings of which iv had many and probably of the examples avalible in scotland, but they are all catagorised as something else and not a scottish ale.

There ar other beers out there from scotland, such as Stewards Number 3, which is classified as a mild ale(a style pritty much confined to England) and says scotch ale on the badge(even though id agree its not a scotch ale, its a scottish ale in the style of a traditional 80/-).

Either way there are no and have never been any scottish ales ever made in scotland according to ratebeer, which is an interesting take on things indeed.

It is, and I do not personally agree with that take but there is a good rationale behind it nonetheless. I addressed this in a thread while you were away. Sadly, that thread got hijacked after I answered the question.

The descriptions above are a starting point. Plus the (in need of updating) Beer Styles series I wrote are good places to start.

Link?

After reading that link and from what craig and myself have just said, it puts forth an even bigger shout for the style "scottish ale" to be deleted. As most of them are bitters, golden ale and ESB’s.

Originally posted by Magic_dave6
After reading that link and from what craig and myself have just said, it puts forth an even bigger shout for the style "scottish ale" to be deleted. As most of them are bitters, golden ale and ESB’s.

I read Silks article and found it very interesting, but i still think that the Scottish shilling series tend to differ from English ales.

I do think there more malty then most english ales, but like everything there cross overs