Conquer Club

OK. I've been looking forward to reviewing some Scot Ales, as I believe they are some of (if not the) tastiest in the world.
Malt is to beer like grapes are to wine, and the Scots know how to emphasize malt character in their beer.
Now I know there are a few Scots here (flashleg?), I'd really love to hear from them as I am a real Scottish Beer geek.
So here we go....


Orkney Skullsplitter
Origin: Orkney Islands, Scotland
Style: Strong Scotch Ale / Wee Heavy
Alcohol: 8.5% ABV

This ale goes into my top 5 worldwide easily. I just can't get enough of it.
Many skulls were said to have been split by a Viking ruler of Orkney in the 9th century. During renovations of the island's cathedral in 1919, a split skull was found sealed into a pillar. This beer, if taken in excess, seems to promise eternal sleep. The Orkney Brewery's Skullsplitter is a Wee Heavy. It has a raisiny, sweet aroma, a very creamy taste, developing flavors like a fruitcake dunked in port; and a toasty finish. The brewery is in a former schoolhouse, in the wind swept hamlet of Quoyloo, on the largest of the Orkney Islands.


Alba Scots Pine Ale
Origin: Central Scotland
Style: Pine/Spruce Beer
Alcohol: 7.5% ABV

Bruce Williams used to run a homebrew supply business but then turned to commercial brewing. His first beer was Fraoch Heather Ale, and with his brother Scott, has gone on to produce other styles. Like their Heather Ale, the Alba uses flavoring that was employed before hops. This beer uses no hops at all, just pine sprigs & spruce shoots. The explorer Captain Cook made this type of beer when he landed in what is now New Zealand. Alba Scots Pine Ale is aromatic, oily, and peppery.


Gordon Highland Scotch Ale
Origin: Southern Scotland
Style: Strong Scotch Ale
Alcohol: 8.6% ABV

The Christmas beer under the Gordon name has this year-round counterpart with a marginally less hefty alcohol content but a big, fresh, rich maltiness and toasty balance. A similar beer, slightly less strong (7.3% ABV) but with all the richness of a fruit-filled chocolate praline, was launched in the British market in 1998 under the name McEwan's No. 1 Champion Ale.

No Scots here?
They make some of the finest ales in the world.
There must be a Brit around here somewhere who enjoys a fine Scotch Ale....

Iz you amaze me with your knowledge off beers from every where. now i been to Scotland a hell of a lot i usually drink lager(tennants) , but sometimes McEwans Export on draught is not a bad beer.

some off them you mentioned are quite strong for a beer, you would now if you had a few bottles of them.

DAZMCFC wrote:Iz you amaze me with your knowledge off beers from every where. now i been to Scotland a hell of a lot i usually drink lager(tennants) , but sometimes McEwans Export on draught is not a bad beer.

some off them you mentioned are quite strong for a beer, you would now if you had a few bottles of them.

Thanks. I admit I'm a beer geek. Thank God my wife puts up with it.
I'm real pumped now because I got her to agree to me spending another couple hundred bucks on some homebrew gear.
The beers I mentioned above are quite strong, yes. With the cool weather right around the corner it seemed appropriate.

Here's one that's a bit lighter:

Bridge of Allan Brewery - Stirling Brig
Origin: Scotland
Style: Scottish 80/-
Alcohol: 4.8% ABV

The battle of Stirling Brig is one of the most famous Scottish battles and was portrayed in the film ‘Braveheart’.
Brewed to commemorate the 700th anniversary of this battle, Stirling Brig is a classic, rich, dark ale with a creamy head and epitomises the traditional Scottish 80/-.

Bump

I go to scotland every year, I'll try it next time (I turn 18 this summer )

are you getting that info from a book, because all that looks really familiar...

Iz Man, if you're there, I have some country requests.

I don't drink expensive European beer. Pshaw.

I drink expensive (and inexpensive) beer from the American continents.

Can you start threads for US, Mexico, and Brazil? I'm also totally open to regionalized US threads, as I'm a conscientious traveling sampler of beers.

(Sorry, Scots et al, for the interruption. Do continue.)

Considering going to Scotland next term, and while this will obviously have little to no import on where I go - ( )

What are the prices like? I've heard Aussie's have some pretty strict taxes on alcohol, as well as the obvious cost of flying the stuff in, one of the other choices being my Scots. Cheap stuff, then, aye? Compared to Europe?

From a cask, my favourite Scottish beer has to be Deuchars IPA. It has started to make an appearance in a few London pubs too, thankfully.



Light, not too strong alcoholically but a wonderfulyl smooth and fruity flavour.

From a bottle - Innis & Gunn. No question. if anyone comes across this beer, buy it immediately. It is matured in oak casks and the result is a zingy and robust beer that leaves a lingering taste of toffee. And at 6.6% it slips down all too easily. Honestly, it's amazing. For the Brits, it's on sale in big sainsbury's and some morrison's, although tesco does not stock it because they suck.

heavycola wrote:From a cask, my favourite Scottish beer has to be Deuchars IPA. It has started to make an appearance in a few London pubs too, thankfully.



Light, not too strong alcoholically but a wonderfulyl smooth and fruity flavour.

From a bottle - Innis & Gunn. No question. if anyone comes across this beer, buy it immediately. It is matured in oak casks and the result is a zingy and robust beer that leaves a lingering taste of toffee. And at 6.6% it slips down all too easily. Honestly, it's amazing. For the Brits, it's on sale in big sainsbury's and some morrison's, although tesco does not stock it because they suck.

I'll look for these. Its hard to go wrong with the Scots and the ale they brew.

btownmeggy wrote:I don't drink expensive European beer.

Not all European beer is expensive here in the States.
The way I usually describe it is that I don't drink expensive beer, its just that your average American lager/pilsner is cheap...

btownmeggy wrote:Can you start threads for US, Mexico, and Brazil? I'm also totally open to regionalized US threads, as I'm a conscientious traveling sampler of beers.

Absolutely, albeit I must confess that i don't believe I've sampled a Brazilian ale, or a South American one for that matter. I have tried one from Belize, though.
The U.S. thread will be interesting as I just can't find myself to limit it to a couple. I like the idea you pose of a regional review of the U.S.
There are over 2000 microbreweries in the U.S. now, plus all the brewpubs that make their own that don't distribute.
Does "btown" stand for beantown? Boston Beer Works would definitely be on my list for a New England region.

spurgistan wrote:Considering going to Scotland next term, and while this will obviously have little to no import on where I go - ( )

What are the prices like? I've heard Aussie's have some pretty strict taxes on alcohol, as well as the obvious cost of flying the stuff in, one of the other choices being my Scots. Cheap stuff, then, aye? Compared to Europe?

Where in Scotland do you plan to travel?
Unfortunately I have not had the privilege of visiting Scotland, even though I've circumnavigated the globe. Its on my wish list of places to go before I die.
I don't believe its considered a "tourist" area (any Scots, please chime in), but I'd love to check out the Orkney area. If for no other reason than to visit the Orkney Brewery, one of my worldwide favorites.

Was considering going to Stirling for a school, term, but apparently I don't have the grades yet (Conquer Club definitely has no role in that) and it doesn't really have the hippie-friendly programs I'd be looking for anyways. Got friends going, though, so if any Scots have any booze advice re Stirling, it would be appreciated.

Iz Man wrote:

spurgistan wrote:Considering going to Scotland next term, and while this will obviously have little to no import on where I go - ( )

What are the prices like? I've heard Aussie's have some pretty strict taxes on alcohol, as well as the obvious cost of flying the stuff in, one of the other choices being my Scots. Cheap stuff, then, aye? Compared to Europe?

Where in Scotland do you plan to travel?
Unfortunately I have not had the privilege of visiting Scotland, even though I've circumnavigated the globe. Its on my wish list of places to go before I die.
I don't believe its considered a "tourist" area (any Scots, please chime in), but I'd love to check out the Orkney area. If for no other reason than to visit the Orkney Brewery, one of my worldwide favorites.

Orkney is fairly touristy, the scenery is very rugged and wild and there is a huge amount of wildlife, from whales, otters and dolphins to eagles and owls. Take 2 jackets and wear them both.