Friday, January 13, 2012

Old Chub Scotch Ale

Tasted Friday evening while we were cooking up a large dinner of Organic Indian food, and enjoying company. We were hosting  a big tasting event at the house. Many beers to try, so I figured I'd get a review in before I lose my palate. Thanks to Kat Langford for giving me this earlier this week.

Appearance: Chestnut brown while still retaining a clarity. Head is dense and frothy and beige in color. Well sustained. Carbonation visible in the glass as single bubbles race to the surface.
Aroma: Caramel and a touch of roast. I get some present smokiness and an underlying earthiness. As the nose becomes more involved, the roast becomes a sweetened chocolate. I find some charred wood in this too along with licorice.
Taste: Big upfront sweetness of caramel and toffee. The second half presents more of the summary of flavor with peated malt and oak chips. Semi-chocolaty but with a molasses twist. I find the licorice present, but subdued by some element of smokiness. The back of the mouth reveals the most of the flavor. This beer incorporates one of those old English style flavors but with a big malt backbone and a twisted milk chocolate flavor. Alcohol gives a fruity raisin undertone near the finish.
Mouthfeel: Mouth coating and smooth. The texture is relatively soft and creamy. Carbonation is extremely light, but still prominent enough to ensure a valuable component to the overall beer.
Overall Impression: Extremely flavorful and rich! The complexity is endless revolving around the malt backbone, but with a dose of peat, licorice, cocoa, and European Yeast. My ideal of a perfect style!


90/100

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