Silver City Fat Bastard Scotch Style Ale

Aroma: 7 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 8 | Flavor: 7 | Overall: 6

Purchased at Bottleworks April 2007, Sampled November 2007
Pours with a frothy, fairly large bubbled, initially two-finger thick, amber tinged, tan colored head that sits atop a deep, amber / plum colored beer that shows a brilliantly clear, concentrated cranberry color when held up to the light. The aroma is quite sweet with notes of concentrated fruit, brandy, caramelized raisins, a touch of plums, and even a touch of cherry. Other malt notes also abound; hints of roast character (which get wrapped up in the caramelized aromatics), nutty malt notes, toffee, toasted bread crust, a touch of salty malt character and a touch of smokiness; this really has a nice satisfyingly rich malt character to it.

Definitely sweet tasting, which certainly accentuates a certain fruitiness. Fruit flavors of raisins, hints of cherries, a touch of prunes and in combination with some alcohol, flavors of brandy. This has a fullness to it that allows the beer to cling to the palate, leaving a deeply caramelized malt sugar layer as well as a nice toasty malt character lingering on in the mouth after the beer has passed down my throat. A touch of salt, a hint of smokiness and just a wisp of a roasted grain note are found in the finish. As the beer warms a bit the salty, smoky note becomes a bit more pronounced (enough so that I actually think they used some peat smoked malt in this brew), but I definitely like how subtle it is. It helps to pick up the malt complexity of this brew.

Somehow the beer is a little too sweet, not by much, but enough that I think the sweetness is a bit too noticeable. This really accentuates a deep fruitiness to this brew though. I would prefer that the malt sweetness here was a bit more complex and caramelized. The aroma definitely strikes a nice balance between malt driven fruit notes as well as the drier, more complex malt components. Somehow this does not quite transport to the flavor though and this beer is just not quite complex enough in the flavor department. Still for all my complaints it is really quite tasty and certainly enjoyable.

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 8 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 8

This is one of my favorite Scotch Ales. Thankfully, the brewery is nearby. Pours a mahogany color with a thin but nice head and some lacing. Aroma is very malty with a strong peat presence. Flavor is malt, peat, smoke, and some darker fruits. Well balanced. Palate is full with a nice mineral mouthfeel. Overall this is an exceptional beer and well worth seeking out.

Aroma: 7 | Appearance: 7 | Mouthfeel: 7 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 7

A bit pricey but well worth it.