Stuarts Session Ale SCOTCH IRISH

Belgian · Post by **Belgian** » Sat Jul 05, 2008 9:58 pm

Certainly is a session ale. Gawd this is nice. The malts have a hint of bite and bit of fruit in the taste, overall VERY smooth and tasty. Low bitterness but elegant signature of hops over it. I like the yeast aroma, and how the whole package ties together without too much of anything sticking out.

Props to the Heritage lads, this is very good on this particular bottling & the first time I tried it (was surprised the LCBO shelves had this new item to quench my summery thirst.)

velovampire · Post by **velovampire** » Sat Jul 05, 2008 10:53 pm

Which store did you find this at? I've been looking for it since mid-June, but the only locations where it is available are in the Ottawa-Kingston area (according to the not-always-reliable LCBO online inventory).

Belgian · Post by **Belgian** » Sun Jul 06, 2008 7:20 pm

There are two stores in Kingston, got it at Barrack Street (or wait no the other one out by WalMart, she said the brewer was in dropping off beer?!?!?

Delightful surprise, I rec drinking 2-3 of these at once cold on a hot sunny day. Has kind of a lemon overtone. Beaut.

Al of Kingston · Post by **Al of Kingston** » Sun Jul 06, 2008 8:44 pm

I had a few this weekend, too. A really great addition to the eastern Ontario beer menu.

Belgian · Post by **Belgian** » Tue Jul 08, 2008 11:05 am

Is Perry completely gone from Scotch Irish or was it he that dropped these off? It just seems MOL like something he would create!

I believe I really do like genuine, low-ABV unpasteurized session bitters like this one. I could drink this style in a pub all afternoon & still walk home.

Bobbyok · Post by **Bobbyok** » Tue Jul 08, 2008 11:20 am

Belgian wrote:Is Perry completely gone from Scotch Irish or was it he that dropped these off? It just seems MOL like something he would create!

Perry is no longer at Heritage Brewing. I'd be surprised if he didn't create the recipe, but quite unlikely he dropped them off.

Bytowner · Post by **Bytowner** » Tue Jul 08, 2008 2:11 pm

Last time I had the Stuarts I found it thin and bland, but it was at a wine show and I think it was served ice-cold. I'll have to pick one up soon. They have it at my local store, but they haven't put it out and I am so finished with asking them to bring stuff out for me. The dirty looks just aren't worth it.

JesseM · Post by **JesseM** » Tue Jul 08, 2008 4:25 pm

They have this one on tap at the Castle on a somewhat regular basis. I've only ever had it there, while Perry was still with Heritage. In fact, I posted a thread about this very beer a little while back in this same section. It really is a great one, I thought it had a very similar malt character to the Sgt. Major, just without the hops of course. You could drink boatloads of this stuff. I can't wait to get it here in KW in bottle-form from the LCBO.

Beer Geek · Post by **Beer Geek** » Wed Jul 09, 2008 7:30 am

The Castle has it on cask right now. I only had a sample, but it was very nice, kind of a sour wine taste that leaves as quickly as it comes. Very nice brew.

Belgian · Post by **Belgian** » Fri Jul 11, 2008 2:06 pm

I got through ten of these in a couple days, hoo boy...

Bytowner · Post by **Bytowner** » Fri Jul 11, 2008 6:25 pm

You're right Belgium, this is very... uh... sessionable. Although I think I'll stand by my original assessment, I could use some more fruit, it seems rather grainy for an English Bitter.

old faithful · Post by **old faithful** » Mon Aug 18, 2008 7:40 pm

An excellent English-style ordinary. Not as full in taste as the Brakspear but as English in its way. Two peas in a pod for quality (not similarity of flavour) at a modest ABV.

Reminded me of the bitter from an early microbrewery in Newmarket. (The label showed a red-clad colonial-style soldier). It should be great on cask.

Gary

Bobsy · Post by **Bobsy** » Tue Aug 19, 2008 8:59 am

Had one last night while watching Princess Mononoke. Awesome beer. It should dispel any myths that lower abv beer is less flavourful. Perfect for sessioning!

Bobsy · Post by **Bobsy** » Tue Aug 19, 2008 4:56 pm

Here's my review:

Pours a golden body with a compact white head that leaves a small amount of lacing. Grainy, slightly floral aroma along with some grass - like a roll in the hay with the farmer's daughter. Good floral malt body rounded off with grassy English hopping. Packs a good amount of flavour into its 3.7% form and should dispel notions that lighter beers are also light in flavour. Sole criticism is that every now and then I notice a split second metallic taste on taking a sip, but it quickly dissipates. Mouthfeel is medium-light, as is the carbonation. Drinkability is out of the park - absolutely perfect.

JesseM · Post by **JesseM** » Wed Aug 27, 2008 6:00 pm

Had this from a Cask today at the Castle. Weird, weird stuff. Almost like a sour ale, but not in a good way. It was still decent, but bore absolutely ZERO resemblance to the regular tapped version I've had before and greatly enjoyed. The bottled version still has yet to hit anywhere near KW-Cambridge.