Traquair House Ale

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 9 | Mouthfeel: 8 | Flavor: 9 | Overall: 9

330 ml capped bottle. Poured an unfiltered slight hazy oak-burgundy coloured Ale with a one finger tan foamy head that had a long retention and tons of micro bubbles. Soft carbonation. Good lacing. The aroma is rich, toasted malts, notes of caramel, some brown sugar, candied red fruits, heavy ripe fruits, plums, black cherries, raisins. The flavour is complex, sweety malts, notes of wood, spicy, licorice and a touch of pepper, fruit cake, dried fruits, nuts, fruity, plums, raisins and mulled wine. The mouthfeel is slight crispy, light syrupy and smooth. This medium to full bodied Ale has a lingering fruity and light peppery finish combined with an emotional warming effect. A perfect Winter Ale for the long evenings at the fireside.

Aroma: 7 | Appearance: 7 | Mouthfeel: 7 | Flavor: 9 | Overall: 8

Probably the best Scotch ale I can think of. It has that genuine scotch ale flavor without any cloying sweetness or over the top type flavors that american versions put in. Not that spectacular from a smell or apperance standpoint but the flavor is everything I want a scotch to be. Well done, nice balance and one to look for.

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

Dark dark dark brown with a surprisingly bright white head. Really smooth drinking, more sweet than bitter, some malts that seem vaguely anise. Some caramel that seems to be slightly sour. Smells a bit of tea and cut wood. Very nice.

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 9 | Flavor: 9 | Overall: 8

Ironic that the #1 ranked Scottish Ale is not from Scotland. So, I will proclaim this the King of true Scottish ales. My drunken notes say: smells like Innis & Gunn, very Scottish." I'd like to rephrase that by saying it's a very good representation of the style. Smells like a Scottish Ale, aka Innis & Gunn, but the sweetness isn't as over the top. Highly recommended.

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 9 | Flavor: 9 | Overall: 9

Very nice. Pours clear opaque brown with a lilty tan head. Aroma is malty, flavor is malt and smoke with a bit of pepper hop, very refined, very smooth, very nice.

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 8 | Flavor: 10 | Overall: 9

Smells of sweet, sticky malt and roasted grain. Murky body with a thin foam cap. Thinner mouthfeel than I expected. A little like a porter. Lots of malt. Sweet and sour taste. This is like a good porter with a warming scotch kick. Bittersweet finish. This stuff is great.

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

It pours a very dark-brown with thick light-tan head and thick lacing. I'm getting the aroma of coffee, rum?, toffee, and vanilla. The mouthfeel is smooth and well-bodied. Flavors of coffee, unsweetened chocolate, citrus, and light spices. Very good!

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

A dark mahogany colored beer with a small ligt beige soapy textured head. There is some hang time. Not overly impressive. Settles into a lacing of spotty light film and thin ringlet. Nose is sweet caramel as one finds in the tasting. In the tasting dark, slightly tart fruit is thrown in. Well carbonated, mediumbodied and smooth, the beer is not overpowering and in that really enjoyable.

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 9 | Flavor: 9 | Overall: 9

I was excited to find this brew. I am a huge fan of traditional Scottish ale. Needless to say that this didn't disapoint. From opening i was met with the fragrance of figs and nicely malted goodness. The moputhful was very crunchy and robust. A little bit on the swallow but oh so good. There was very minimal lacing. Overall, a very traditional take this rare brew style.

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

Boozy plum aroma with a nice pastry quality soon followed by a woody tobacco scent. Opaque, rich brown colored body. A bubbly and filmy tan head with spots of lacing. Medium bodied brew, chewy and smooth with a malty sweet finish. Roasted, sweet and nutty malts with a touch of smoke. Lots of dark fruit flavors with a pleasant earthy aftertaste. Very good ale.