Brew! – Traquair House Ale – Scottish Ale
Dear Coilers, New Brew! is here with the style which is the dearest to my heart, and one of the great expressions of the style will be tasted in Coil’s taproom for the subscribers. You could already learn about Scottish Ale in this series, but let me remind you...
SCOTTISH ALE vary depending on strength and flavor, but in general retain a malt-forward character with some degree of caramel-like malt flavors and a soft and chewy mouthfeel. Some examples feature a light smoked peat flavor. Hops do not play a huge role in this style. The numbers commonly associated with brands of this style (60/70/80 and others) reflect the Scottish tradition of listing the cost, in shillings, of a hogshead (large cask) of beer. Overly smoked versions would be considered specialty examples. Smoke or peat should be restrained.
Scottish Ales go through a longer boil in the kettle, allowing the wort to caramelize. The result of this process is a dark brown, full bodied ale, bursting with flavor and generally higher in alcohol. Roasted malty caramel flavors dominate in these boisterous brews, which usually have high content of alcohol, 5,5 to 10 percent ABV. A slight bitterness may be present, though the strong caramel flavors from the long boil tend to dominate over noticeable bitterness. Unsurprisingly, some Scotch Ales may have a slightly peaty flavor to them.
This brew is made to be enjoyed, not for session drinking. If you plan to have more than a couple, consider eating some cheese, dried meat and homemade bread with it.
TRAQUAIR HOUSE is Scotland’s Oldest Inhabited House. Visited by 27 Scottish Kings and Queens. Traquair dates back to 1107 and has been lived in by the Stuart family since 1491. Originally a royal hunting lodge, Traquair played host to Mary Queen of Scots and later as staunch Catholics they supported the Jacobite cause without counting the cost.
TRAQUAIR HOUSE ALE
The original ale first brewed in 1965 and now sold all over the world. Perhaps the most distinctive Scottish ale on the market and with its rich dark oakiness, this is a serious winter ale.
Awards:
Ratebeer Overall rating: 97
Beer Advocate: World Class Beer
Top 50 World Beers – International Beer Competition 2006 and 2007
“Serious alcohol and fruity malt on the nose and delicious plum pie and vanilla flavours with a little oak and amontillado sherry character”
So let’s taste it...