Samuel Adams Scotch Ale

Review Date 2/20/2005  Last Updated  1/14/2016  By John Staradumsky

  Style: Scottish Ale   Brewery: Boston Beer   Country: USA   State: Massachusetts   $ Per OZ: $.10 (B)   ABV: 5.5%

Sam Adams was from Scotland? You just might think so after a sip of this beer. Widely regarded as one of the best beers made by Boston Beer, it's a wonderful interpretation of the style, although in latter years of its production it did seem to be a bit more restrained. It's also brewed using peat-smoked malt, a characteristic of American Scotch ales but not Scottish ones. Methinks they’re after Scotch Whiskey character there.

The Boston Beer Company is the largest craft brewer in the country, and as usual the biggest usually receives the most criticism. The company and its founder, Jim Koch, have been criticized by some within the industry for contract brewing and marketing promotions. I find such criticism to be rather pointless; it is hard to deny that Boston Beer produces excellent beers. That should be the true measure of their worth.

And in fact, today they operate a huge brewery in Cincinnati anyway, so one can’t call them a contract brewer, at least not entirely. Now for the bad news. Some years ago, Samuel Adams Scotch Ale was discontinued. For a while, it was no longer listed on the company's website. The last time I saw the beer was in January of 2000, with a best by of July 2000 (indicating it couldn't have been too old at the time. I don't think BBC goes further than an 8 month shelf life and then only on the bigger beers like this one).

Shortly after the beer’s demise, I wrote the company in hopes of having it restored, thinking perhaps if enough beer enthusiasts did the same it would be re-instated, though I was doubtful. It never happened, which I thought a shame. This has always been one of my favorite Samuel Adams beers.

But now Scotch Ale is back, if only briefly in 12-pack assortments this spring. But how does it compare to its former self?

In July of 1997 I took the following notes on this beer:

This dark brown brew is loaded with malt; the nose gives a preview of this with a good hint of smoke tossed in as well. No surprise, as peat smoked malt is used for the brew, and it permeates the palate as does a rich, sticky molasses character. The hops in this beer struggle to make themselves known; they succeed only as a lingering afterthought in the finish. Outstanding.

Here's what I thought in February of 1999:

Samuel Adams Scotch Ale is a dark reddish brown in color with good carbonation and a sweet malty nose. I don't get as much smoke as I seem to remember in past samples, but there is definitely some there along with a very rich, chewy malt sweetness that gradually fades into a gentle bit of alcohol warmth and a grassy, surprisingly bitter hop bite in the finish. Good enough to give many an imported Scotch Ale a run for it's money.

On 1/16/2000 I wrote:

I have been hearing reports that this beer has become increasingly difficult to find in some areas, and in fact that it is no longer produced. The head guy at my local liquor store here in RI told me that the beer was discontinued by Boston Beer (which he was told by his distributors). I took a ride to Massachusetts today however and found plenty of it, with a best by of July 2000 (indicating it can't be too old, I don't think BBC goes further than an 8 month shelf life and then only on the bigger beers like this one). So I'm not sure if reports of the beer's demise have been premature, but I do know that it's a fine Scotch ale, very similar to the Macewan's but just a tad lighter bodied, the smoke is subtle but noticeable, and there is good malt sweetness and raisiny, chocolatey character. This has always been one of my favorite same Adams brews.

And now?

The latest incarnation of Samuel Adams Scotch Ale pours to a tawny reddish amber color with a generous creamy head formation and a sweet, sticky malt nose. The palate is chewy malty, slightly smokey, with hints of butterscotch and caramel and hints of fruit. In the finish, there’s more of that peat-smoked malt and a generous dose of hops bitterness.

I think the beer could do with a little more alcohol, but it’s still a decent beer indeed. I seem to remember it having a bit more dark malt flavor, now it seems to lean more towards Belhaven than McEwans or McAndrews. Still a good solid brew in my opinion, but perhaps not quite as good as it used to be.

Update 1/14/2016: Samuel Adams Scotch Ale is much as I noted it in 2005. Less malty than in the 90s, soft peat smoke in the nose with sweet malts, firm thick maltiness up front though more in line with a Scottish Ale than a Scotch Ale/Wee Heavy. The malt thins slightly as the beer progresses and the peat smoked malt emerges, not overpowering but enough to make the beer interesting. Finishes balanced with a gentle grassy hop bitterness. This is actually a very enjoyable beer, very nicely malty and smoky. I wish they would sell this in six-packs.

I remember it from the 90s when they first released it. To be fair, I think the ABV was probably the same then, I just recall it (and have notated it) as maltier then and with more peat too. It's still delicious though. I am really enjoying it, it's the main reason I bought the Cabin Pack.

As it warms it has a soft sticky sweetness to it with notes of treacle and spice cake. This is very good indeed, if it had more body it would be world class.

Samuel Adams Scotch Ale was revived after winning the top vote in the Brewer's Vault poll that Boston Beer conducted in 2015, asking drinkers to bring back their favorite brew not currently in production. Scotch Ale beat out 15 other beers to win this honor.

Boston Beer says of their current release of Scotch Ale:

We use a peat-smoked malt, only found in Scotland, that’s a signature ingredient in their legendary whiskies. This special smoked malt evokes the smells and flavors of Scotland, and complements the sweet and roasty malt character of the brew. The earthy hop character and distinctive smoky and roasted malts create a  rich, robust, and complex brew.

Ingredients from the website:

HOP VARIETIES East Kent Goldings and Fuggles

MALT VARIETIES Samuel Adams two-row pale malt blend, Munich 10, Caramel 60, chocolate malt, and peated malt

YEAST STRAIN Top-fermenting Ale

Samuel Adams Scotch Ale still has an alcohol content of 5.5% by volume with 35 IBUs. It's a bargain as part of the Cabin Fever 12-pack that cost me $13.99. At that price and quality level, I'm kicking this one up a half star to 4 1/2. I think it's better than it was 10 years ago, if not quite so good as I once remember it.

Glad I tried it?  T

Would I rebuy it??