McEwan's Scotch Ale

Review Date 8/13/2000 By John Staradumsky

  Style: Wee Heavy   Brewery: Scottish Newcastle   Country: England   State: N/A   $ Per OZ: N/A   ABV: 8%

Scotch your attention? Ok, bad play on words. But what's in a name?  Specifically, what's the difference between Scotchand Scottish, as far as adjectives go? This beer is called Scotch ale, but it's brewed by Scottish and Newcastle Breweries PLC. Furthermore, Belhaven makes a Scottish ale. The distinction comes straight from the source. The Scots (aaargghhh this is getting worse) have a beer style called wee heavy, which is closer to what we in America call Scotch ale. Except we also have American Scotch ale, which is brewed with peat smoked malt. Confused yet? I hope so.

With all the debate about Scottish vs. Scotch ale going on amongst the hard core ranks of beer geekdom, I was compelled to pick up a six of McEwan's not too long ago. I pour this old friend into my thistle-shaped Douglas Scotch Ale glass and watch the dark beer form a respectable head of foam. The nose is big and quite raisiny. The palate is very rich, packed with sweet dark malt flavors, more raisin, with subtle chocolate. The combination of raisin with the sweet malt and 8% by volume alcohol bite suggest to me a fine plum pudding. Wonderful stuff, complex, rich and satisfying.

Not too long ago I compared this beer to Samuel Adams Scotch Brand Ale. The McEwan's is a bit darker in color. Both beers form a good head, and both have raisin and chocolate in the nose (more so in the case of McEwan's), the Sam Adams having a touch of smoke to boot. More chocolate and raisin in the palate, with the Sam Adams being lighter and smokier. There are similar characteristics between the two, and the smoke in the Sam Adams really becomes apparent after a sip of the McEwan's. The latter is definitely heavier, but the Sam Adams holds it's own, but can't quite match the native Scotch beer. McEwan's is a classic example of an interesting style and should not be missed.

Glad I tried it?  T

Would I rebuy it??