Beer of the Week (Vol. CLXI)

Another better edition of Beer of the Week sponsored as always by the sharp folks at Glen Lake Wine & Spirits who can help you cut through the clutter and find the wine, whiskey, and beer you need.

Our featured beer this week is from Colorado’s Great Divide Brewing. Claymore Scotch Ale:

Named for a medieval Scottish sword, Claymore Scotch Ale is our tribute to the legendary “Wee Heavy” beers of Scotland. This malty, deep-ruby beauty features lots of caramel sweetness, a reserved hop profile, and a subtle warming character. Unlike its namesake, this beer only requires one hand, but it’ll still make you feel like nobility.

Six pack of 12oz bottles goes for $8.99. Standard Great Divide label with royal green color and a swordsman wielding impressive namesake weapon.

STYLE: Scotch Ale
ALCOHOL BY VOLUME: 7.7%

COLOR (0-2): Dark brown. 2

AROMA (0-2): Rich roasted caramel malts. 2

HEAD (0-2): Light volume, tan color, good lacing. 2

TASTE (0-5): Toasted malts with flavors of coffee, chocolate, toffee, raisins and nuts. Medium bodied with a slightly bitter yet smooth finish. Mouthfeel is creamy and a bit oily. The heat is mostly muted although you can pick up a bit at the finish. Not especially drinkable, more suited to sipping. 4

AFTERTASTE (0-2): A little syrupy and sweet, but tasty. 2

OVERALL (0-6): Many brewers like to use variants of “wee heavy” beers as their winter offerings and I’m quite fond of the style. Sometimes they can tend too much toward the sweet side and I was glad that Claymore Scotch Ale did not. It’s a good combination of flavors that strikes a the right balance. It’s a perfect choice for this time of year as the first chills of winter are upon us. 4

TOTAL SCORE (0-19): 16