Here’s hoisting a mug to welcome Strawn Brewing, the newest microbrewery in Georgia! At least, I think they’re the newest at any rate, as breweries keep popping up left and right these days. Strawn wasn’t even on my radar to be honest, unlike Alpharetta’s Jekyll brewing and Woodstock’s Reformation Brewery. Strawn celebrated their grand opening in December of 2012 in Fairburn, Georgia, just south of Atlanta. For now, their beer is draft only, and I made a beeline to my Canton Taco Mac when I saw that Strawn 80 Shilling Scottish Ale was on the menu. This was my first taste of a Strawn beer.

You can go to the brewery for a tour, if you like, on Saturdays from 2 to 6 PM. Tours will cost you $8, but for that you get a logo pint glass and six sample pours, although the brewery website only lists four different beers: the 80 Shilling, an Amber, an American Wheat, and an IPA.

Scottish Ales such as Strawn’s 80 Shillings should not be mistaken for Scotch Ale or Wee Heavy, though they often are. Scottish Ales are lighter in body than Scotch Ales, and are more drinkable with a lower alcohol content. Think Belhaven Scottish Ale and you’ll have the model for the style.

Strawn 80 Shilling Scottish Ale has an alcohol content of 5.5% by volume with 25 IBUs. The brewery describes the beer as having: “Malty caramel taste but finishes fairly dry with hints of smokey, earthy notes.”

And here’s what I thought:

Strawn 80 Shilling Scottish Ale pours to a murky dark brown color (darker than is usual for the style) with a light wispy head formation and a soft dark malty nose. Taking a sip, I like the light chocolate and cookie-like maltiness of the beer, with just a hint of apple fruit and a nicely balanced finish. What this beer needs, though, is some treacle-caramel flavor to really fit the style for me. I found this to be more of a brown ale than an 80 Shilling in truth, and the absence of the caramel and the smoke the brewery promised was disappointing.

A bit rough around the edges, but still a beer that I enjoyed, and a fair effort overall. I would certainly try it again to see if subsequent batches fit the style more closely. Reasonably priced as well at $5.75 for a full mug.

And remember, try a new beer today, and drink outside the box.

*Pricing data accurate at time of review or latest update. For reference only, based on actual price paid by reviewer.

(B)=Bottled

(D)=Draft



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