Scotland

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Beers 61 - 65 of 65:

Sulwath, Galloway Gold Lager (Scotland) Made with whole saaz hops, wheat and barley, this lager pours quite a deep golden colour with a thinnish white head. The nose it pretty non-descript, with a suggestion of sweet malt, and a disappointing lack of hops. There is some fruitiness and a creamy quality, but it is not very distinctive. On the palate it is an unusual lager, with a rich, malty, nutty flavour and quite a thick texture. There's some orangey acidity and sweetning malt in the finish, as well as a hint of spice. Not a great beer this, but unusual and I quite liked it in the end. 5.0% ABV, 50cl, brewery website.

Sulwath, Knockendoch (Scotland) Brewed with "whole Hereford hops" this beer is a dark golden colour, and pours with a thick creamy head that laces heavily around the glass. The nose is fairly subdued, with a little burnt, slightly sulphury note, and some plummy fruit. There's a touch of malt, in a rather non-descript character. On the palate there's some woody, malty flavour but in a surprisingly light-bodied format. It dies away quite quickly too, with some bittersweet notes just in the finish. 5.0% ABV, 50cl, �2.00, brewery website.

Traquair, House Ale (Scotland) The House Ale is a dramatically dark, almost black beer with a hint of caramel at the core. The dense head is creamy and cappuccino-coloured. On the nose it is very serious, deep and intense, with some plummy fruit, charred toast and a black chocolate note. There's a herbal or vegetal note too, in a very complex profile. On the palate it is densely textured and smooth, with a fabulous depth of bittersweet flavours that are toasty and smoky, with aspects of exotic spices, Pedro Ximinez sherry and a Port-like, slightly firey finish. This is a beer to sip (at room temperature) and contemplate rather than to quaff, and is another terrific effort from Traquair. 7.2% ABV, 33cl, �1.89, Peckhams, independents.

Traquair, The Lairds Liquor (Scotland) This fantastically aromatic beer from Traquair, with 500 years of brewing history, is the perfect answer to anyone who thinks all beers smell and taste the same. It is a singular beer, that pours a nut brown colour with a thick, cream-coloured head. The nose has sweet malt and biscuit notes, but also vegetal, pungent notes, gingerbread and plummy fruit. On the palate it is very smooth and mouth-filling, with again a real vegetal streak along with chewy malt and a bitter back-stop of burnt orange and hops. Great character and length here too. 6.0% ABV, 33cl, �1.89, Luvians, Peckhams.

Williams Bros, Williams Gold (Scotland) Williams Bros is the new name for the former Alloa brewery, and this golden beer is brewed with seven different malts according to the label. It also appears to be live, or certainly has a fine, hazy sediment though it. The nose is immediately honeyed, with toasted oats and a golden syrup quality, and a rich, juicy maltiness. On the palate it is full and creamy textured, with summery flavours of honey and oatmeal biscuits, and a very nice grassy hop bitterness into the finish. Satisfying and easy to drink, with an orangy twist of acidity keeping it fresh. 3.9% ABV, 50cl, �1.69, 1516 Beer Co, Beersofeurope.