Traquair House Brewery ‘House Ale’

Traquair House Brewery 'House Ale' Fermented in Oak Barrels. 7.2% abv. Dark ruby color, finger of ivory creamy head. Good retention, moderate lace. Head recedes to a thick sustaining collar. Nose of soft white bread, nutty malt, with floral hops and faint stone fruit as the temp changes. 

Front taste of toffee, candy sugar, light bitter fruit, oak expression on the back end. Aftertaste is caramel, vanilla, earthy, wood sustain. Medium body. Mouthfeel is warm, soft, creamy, carby.

This is an excellent Scotch ale. There are plenty of malt and light fruit notes, along with mild bitter hop notes, all atop an oak expression that just barely emerges as the temp rises to room. The feel is very soft, with a creamy nearly foamy presence. I would have liked a little more carb and lace, but these are nitpicks for an otherwise wonderful and well-crafted old world ale. Highly recommended.

From the brewery:

"The original ale first brewed in 1965 and now sold all over the world. Perhaps the most distinctive Scottish ale on the market, and with its rich dark oakiness, this is a serious winter ale… Serious alcohol and fruity malt on the nose and delicious plum pie and vanilla flavours with a little oak and amontillado sherry character."

[source: traquair.co.uk]

"A handmade ale brewed in the ancient brew house of the oldest inhabited house in Scotland…  Traquair House Ale is a traditional Scotch ale or ‘Wee Heavy’ produced at the tiny Traquair House Brewery, located in the oldest inhabited house in Scotland. Brewed in a 1738 copper kettle and fermented in oak vessels, it is rich, complex and deep with firm but elegant flavor."

[source: bottle]