Friday Beer O'clock Selections

 

Belhaven Brewery - Wee Heavy Scotch Ale - Friday Beer O'Clock Selection 4-15-2011

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This week's Selection brings us back to the Wee Heavy Scotch Ale style of brews. If you've learned anything from these reviews, it's that if it's brewed in Scotland, It's probably a good bet that it going to be delicious. Can you tell I'm a fan?

Up to a couple weeks ago, I've had no personal opinions of the Wee heavy style brews. My first was the Sam Adams Wee Heavy. Not really a "true" Wee Heavy and they took som liberty with changing it up a little, but it was good. This week I wanted to get a taste of a true, classic Scottish Wee Heavy straight from the quilted lands and brought home a bottle Belheaven Wee Heavy.

ABV: 6.5%

Appearance: Poured with a dark copper color revealing lighter copper and red colors against the light. The pour formed a small one finger (or less) head that dissipated quickly leaving little evidence that one ever existed at all. Collar is broken and loose around the edge. Some lacing, but very spotty and no retention.

Aroma: Mostly barley and malts with some wood smokiness. Also getting some decent caramel but overall, a little flat on the nose. (Disclaimer: Sinuses are a bit backed today, so I am not likely getting all that is offered from this brew.)

Taste: Impressive first mouth. First on the tongue a smoky barley and malt, followed by great caramel and fruits. Most notable for me are plum, raisins, rum, and a general fruitness. Really nice all the way through with sweeter finish lingering with slight smoky rum raisin and very ever so slight hop that almost goes unnoticed.

Feel: Slightly carbonated, but still velvety smooth having some weight and body behind it with a wet finish. Like the Sam Adams Wee Heavy, the sweetness with the heavy smooth body lend it an almost syrup quality with out being syrupy. I'm guessing this is characteristic of the Wee Heavy style at this point. 

Drinkability: Drink it you got it... and if you don't got it. go get some. This is a delicious brew perfect for sipping and just relaxing - With friends, watching the game or lounging in the yard. That's what I'm talking about... Enjoy.

That's my opinion and I'm sticking to it. What do you think? Like it? Love it? or could live without it?

Filed under  //   Belhaven   Recommended   Scottland   Wee Heavy   scottish ale  
Posted April 15, 2011 by Ed Stafford 
 

Sam Adams, Wee Heavy Ale - Friday Beer O'clock Selection 4-1-2011

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This week while browsing the available stock at the local supplier, I noticed a new package from Sam Adams. On closer inspection, I realized that it was a Scotch Wee Heavy Ale, and figured, hey, I like Sam Adams, I really like Scottish Ales (so far) and haven't tried a Wee Heavy Style yet, so why not?

According to the label, Samuel Adams Wee Heavy was inspired by traditional Scotch ales with deep roasted flavors but adds an extra level of complexity by adding peat smoked malt usually used in Scotch whiskies giving it a unique Sam Adams touch.

Sounds good, right? So lets see how it stacks up.

ABV: 10%

Appearance: I was surprised to see how dark this poured filling the mug with with a deep and very dark brown color with barely visible red/copper accents when held up to the light. The pour formed an active cream colored head that exploded over the rim and had some decent retention before leaving a nice consistent thin layer across the top and a thick collar with frothy lacing that completely coated the side of the glass.

Aroma: A nice bready scent fills the surrounding area. Up close, the nose picks up sweet roasted malts and caramel notes with undertones of smokey bread and yeast. Very appealing. Wait, is that a chocolate cherry I'm getting in here too?

Taste: I don't know where to start. Definitely a lot of smoked flavor all the way through and actually very good I might add. Caught off guard by the first mouth, but pleasantly surprised once I got past the surprise complexity - this is complex for sure. Up front and into the middle, there is the sweet malts and hints of bread crust. Some alcohol is picked up somewhere in the middle and with the sweetness it *almost* crosses the line to a syrup like taste but doesn't quite get there (that's a good thing). The back and finish round things up with slight bitter but still sweet with roasted malts, some coffee and warm alcohol.

Feel: Even with a moderate carbonated feel, the brew comes off overall as being smooth with a bit of weight behind it. Some warmth from the high alcohol.

Drinkability: In the end, I'm pleasantly surprised. It's not what I was expecting, but then again, this is the first "Wee Heavy" styled Scotch Ale I've had. The evident alcohol is the point breaker in my opinion, but with that said, it's not over the top - but in terms of overall characters, the alcohol brings it down a bit for me. Other than that, I enjoyed this brew very much and would recommend you give it a try. The smoked aroma and flavors are nice and I think this would make a great cool evening warmer.

That's my story and I'm sticking to it. What do you think?

Filed under  //   Sam Adams   Wee Heavy   scottish ale  
Posted April 1, 2011 by Ed Stafford