Kilt Lifter Scottish-Style Ale

Four Peaks Brewing Company
Tempe, Arizona

APPEARANCE: 2/3
Very little head, thin. Brown, clear.

AROMA: 2.25/4
Clean, sweet—apple notes? All malt, no hop.

TASTE: 6.5/10
Hop/Malt Balance: 2.25/4: Very malty, lots of caramel. Some grassy hop.
Aftertaste: 2/3: Very subtle smoke, subtle bitter, drops out fast.
Mouth-Feel: 2.25/3: Finishes clean, okay body, appropriately carbonated. Maybe a tad thin.


OVERALL: 1.75/3: Tastes like an amber, really. Scottish Ale for the masses—sweet caramel, crystal malt, not the Scottish Ale we'd hoped for.


TOTAL: 12.5/20–I'll Try A Pint


NOTES:
Matt: Not an awful beer, but more like an amber than a Scottish—I'd take a 90 Shilling over this in a heartbeat.
Ben: Crystal malt makes it really caramelly-sweet. A bunch of peat-smoked malt would make it more true to style.

Odell 90 Shilling Ale

Odell Brewing Company

Fort Collins, Colorado

APPEARANCE: 2.5/3

Nice copper-brown. White head, fades fast. Slight haze.

AROMA: 3.25/4

Subtle smoky nose, sweet. Very little, subtle hop aroma.

TASTE: 7.5/10
Hop/Malt Balance: 3.25/4: Very malty - sweet and smooth. Hop at middle to the end. Sweet up front fades to a bitter finish.
Aftertaste: 2/3: Fades to a lasting bitterness. Sweet up-front with subtle smokiness. Caramel, nutty, and woody flavors Caramel malts are dominate.
Mouth-Feel: 2.25/3: Full, malty, smooth. Some earthiness. Not too heavy.

OVERALL: 2/3

Surprising sweet up=front. Could use more smoked malt per style. Overall a good offering. A good session beer.

TOTAL: 15.25/20–Pour Me Another

NOTES:
Matt: Sentimental for me - my first craft beer. A bit sweet but rich and smooth. A nice Scottish.

Ben: One of my first forays into the world of craft beers. Haven't looked back since. A good solid offering by Odell.