The journey to Nashville was a treacherous one, and fraught with peril. It was late in February when we got the call, on a quiet Sunday afternoon. Our latest grandchild (8 now if you’re counting) was about to be born, and we were on the way to watch two of them while the parents were at the hospital with the new addition to the family.
First, though, we had to get there. Winter 2014/2015 has been a tough one for Tennessee, and as we climbed over the winding mountain roads between Chattanooga and our destination, we hit a blinding patch of fog in the already dark night at the summit. Worse yet, the precipitation and freezing temperatures had lodged gaping potholes in the road, potholes that we could not see but that we certainly felt as they jolted the car even at the low speed we had been reduced to. We had feared that we might disappear into one of them completely, never to be heard from again, but luckily we got past them and eventually arrived in Nashville.
Far be it from me to ever go anywhere without checking out the local beer, and so we had planned at some point to make it to Turtle Anarchy Brewing, a brewpub a scant 11 miles from the kids house. Sadly, winter had it in for me again, and a fast approaching storm had us skedaddling for home before it stranded us. No time for the brewpub stop, sadly.
Winter must have had a conscience, however, since it seemed to think it ought to make some small act of contrition for its misdeeds. Before leaving town, we stopped at the local Kroger where I did manage to pick up a number of local beers from the Yazoo Brewing Company, among them Yazoo Winter Ale. Finally, something good related to winter.
I first ran across Yazoo beers in 2008 while in Nashville, and 7 years later they still are not sold in Georgia. I have tried a number of their beers on tap at the Flying Saucer (think Nashville’s Taco Mac), but this is the first time I’ve seen their beer in bottles. Yazoo Winter Ale is described on the label as a Scotch Ale. Yazoo only says this about the beer on their website and label:
For all you Beer Hunters out there, we present the perfect companion to all the cold, gray days of winter. Our Scotch Ale, with its joyful maltiness from Maris Otter, Crystal, and Aromatic malts will put a smile on your face and a warmth in your belly. Enjoy!
No mention as to hops used, ABV or IBUs, though if I had to venture a guess I’d put this one on the 5% to 6% range. My bottle has a “Bottled On Date” field, though its blank, but still being winter this can’t be too old. One thing I can tell you is that it was very nicely priced at $7.99 for the six-pack.
Yazoo Winter Ale pours to a bright coppery mahogany color with a thick creamy head and a really unbelievable nose of brown sugar, molasses and toffee. Taking a sip, the beer has a delicious fresh toasty nutty maltiness up front with notes of chocolate, brown sugar and toffee, and a handful of fresh malt taste. A hint of butterscotch is here too. All that delicious maltiness is balanced off with a light herbal grassy hoppiness in the finish.
To me this is more of a Scottish Ale than a Scotch Ale (Wee Heavy) and it reminds me of the wonderful Gritty McDuffs Scottish Ale from Portland Maine. One of the best examples of the style (Scottish Ale) I’ve ever had, folks, and a beer not to be missed, especially if you’re a malthead like me.
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