Beer is an agricultural product therefore it is a seasonal product. Many craft beer drinkers including myself like to drink beers seasonally. The most traditional spring beer is the German Bock, which includes many versions including Maibock, Eisenbock and the famous style the kept the Monks nourished during the lent season Dopplebock. If interested in Bock history see my Spring 2022 issue Bock History. In this issue I am going to feature Scotch or Scottish Ales.
SCOTTISH ALES
Craft brewers in America took their lead from Traditional Scottish Ales. Scottish ales were usually fermented at cooler temperatures than English ales which emphasizes the malt flavors more than warmer fermented ales. They are also very lightly hopped and as the story goes the feisty Scotsmen did not like the English tax on hops so they used very little for purely economic reasons, Adam Smith must have been proud. Scottish ales strength was designated in shillings, so from weakest to strongest you had 60 shilling (60/-), 70 shilling (70/-), 80 shilling (80/-), and the strongest of all 120 shilling (120/-) also called “Wee Heavy.” Many craft brewers have retained these designations as they are kind of fun. Here is a short description of each one:
Scottish Light Ale (60/-) 2 to 3% ABV - dry light maltiness with hints of caramel, very mild hops. As the name implies this is Scotch Ale light.
Scottish Heavy (70/-) 3 to 4% ABV - clean soft maltiness, hints of caramel and toast and very mild hops
Scottish Export (80/-) 4 to 5% ABV - stronger malts with hints of toffee, and mild toast, with a balance of hop and the end. Most Scottish Ales produced in the United States are this strength.
Scotch Ale - Wee Heavy (120/-) 6 to 8% ABV - very malt forward with richer toffee flavor coming through, heavy mouthfeel with some port wine like flavor.
We will be reviewing four beers. Three of the Four are American Craft Ales and one is the defining style of Scottish Ales - Belhavens from Scotland. American Craft brewers only make Wee Heavy’s (over 6% ABV) so to make the comparison fair we will use Belhavens Wee Heavy in the review. Starting in this issue our reviews will be in video form. Let us know how you like them compared to text reviews.
Cheers!
ROBERT THE BRUCE
Brewery: 3 Floyds Brewing
Location: 9750 Indiana Parkway Munster, IN 46321
Style: Scottish Ale Wee Heavy ABV: 6,5%
Review:
WEE HEAVY
Brewery: Belhaven Brewery
Location: Brewery Lane Dunbar, East Lothian, Scotland EH421PE
Style: 90 shilling Scotch Ale Wee Heavy ABV: 7.4%
Review:
DIRTY BASTARD
Brewery: Founders Brewing Company
Location: 235 Cesar Chavez Ave SW Grand Rapids, MI 49503
Style: Scottish Ale Wee Heavy ABV: 8.5%
Review:
BIG CHUNGUS
Brewery: Confluence Brewing Co
Location: 1235 Thomas Beck Rd Des Moines. IA 50315
Style: Wee Heavy Scottish Ale ABV: 11.5%
Review:
SUMMARY OF REVIEWS