Belhaven 80 Shilling

Today's offering is another Scottish Beer

 

 

Appearance:

Light bronze with large head which lasts

Aroma:

Meant to be gooseberry, but I don't get that aroma, I smell a lightly toasted with a light touch of hops.

Taste:

Rich light malt and tangy fruit with fades to a hoppy bitterness. The finish is dry and bitter with a nuttiness and some tangy fruit.

Overall:

I like this beer due to it's fruitiness and I always like a pint when north of the boarder. A pleasant change to a bitter or mild.

8.5/10

Westvleteren 8 or Extra

Today's offering is the last of the Westvleteren

 

 

Appearance:

The book says russet and other beer have been thus described but this is the first one that is russet a deep brown with a tan good lasting head.

Aroma:

Tart damsons with malt and a touch of hops.

Taste:

Taste in full of different flavours tart damsons, silky large malt and with an underpinning of dry bitter hops and a cane sugar taste without the sugar. The finish is warming bitter hops and soft fruit tartness and rich malt.

Overall:

A lovely beer I was not expecting such a dark beer and such a bitter beer, like a good dark chocolate. I will have to do a side by side with the blonde which I liked better than the Abt. Not a beer to drink a lot of but definitely one to savour.

9.5/10

Traquair House Ale

Today's offering is another Scottish beer this time with is made to receipt found in Traquair house

 

 

Appearance:

Dark red with good off white head with small bubbles

Aroma:

Home made marmalade with a touch of dark chocolate and some peppery hops in the background

Taste:

Bitter roast grain with a peppery hops which fades to orange fruit coming later which itself fades to a lime flavour and coca powder. The finish is warming due to the highish abv the taste is mainly peppery hops and coca powder.

Overall:

Again a nice autumn or winter beer defiantly a heavy beer. One to enjoy one or two only off in a nice comfortable chair next to a fire (preferably a peat fire) on a stormy night.

8.5/10

Orkney Dark Island

Today's offering is another Scottish beer this time from the Orkney

 

 

Appearance:

Dark dark red brown with good off white head with small bubbles

Aroma:

Black Treacle, black currents and an earthiness in the background

Taste:

Dark robust grain with a slight pepperiness bitter hops and a touch of tartness. The finish is bitter and roasted grain balanced with a fruitiness and leaves the mouth dry.

Overall:

A nice autumn beer which is quite apt given the summer weather today. Sit heavy in the stomach so not as quaffable as thought on first taste. It bitterness and flavour reminds me of the old can Guinness before the widget and nitrogen gas

7.5/10

Broughton Old Jock Ale

Today's offering is a Scottish beer this time from a different brewery

 

 

Appearance:

Dark amber with a good slightly off white head

Aroma:

Toasted malt with some grape smell as well and hops lurking in the background

Taste:

Bitter roasted grain, and a very ripe grape fruitiness and just a little hops in the background. The finish is bitter hops vinous fruit and a warmth from the alcohol percentage.

Overall:

Reminds me of a nice Belgium dubbel beer for nice on a cold rainy day, unfortunately today in Scotland is was quite warm and not raining.

8.0/10

Belhaven St Andrews

Today offering is a Scottish beer Belhaven

 

 

Appearance:

Mid amber with a good slight off white head

Aroma:

Toasted  nutty malt with slight peppery hops

Taste:

The taste is like the aroma with a nutty toasted malt with a fruit like tartness and slight peppery hops in the background. The finish is bitter sweet with a grain like flavour and some grapefruit sweetness that dries leaving a bitter taste.

Overall:

Not bad  a nice enough Scottish ale but not really specially

7.0/10

Kirin Ichiban

Yesterday's offering is a Japanese lager

 

 

Appearance:

Pale gold with good head

Aroma:

Little aroma hint of citrus and light malt.

Taste:

Smooth taste well balanced between the malt and the hops with a hint of vinous fruit,. The finish is a little weak just slightly bitter hops balanced with the malt.

Overall:

Overall nothing special I would not buy again unless only bad beer imo were available

6.5/10