Watneys Scotch Ale

[Nick]

When I was in Belgium, the beer flowed quite freely. We watched how much we drank (we did have responsibilities while we were there!), but our fridges were always well stocked. I usually kept myself to two or three beers a day, one at dinner, one during artifact cleaning, maybe another.

I found many favorites, most Belgian, some not. Chimay, Leffe, Morte Subite Frambuois (sp), Gordon's, Strongbow, along with some others. There was one on the beer list of the restaurant we had most of our dinners at listed as "Scotch Watneys", though doing a google search it seems like it's actually "Watney's Scotch Ale." I liked it, it had an unusual sweet flavor, not at all like other ales I've had. I wish I could find it here, but so far no luck.

I'm curious if anyone else has tried it, and what they think of it.

[MacMullen]

Have you checked over at White's on 3rd St? If they don't have it, they can quite often find it.

Have you tried other Scotch Ales? McEwan's is by far the best, IMO and Skullsplitter the worst. I've had a few others in between, but McEwan's is the standard by which I judge that style of ale.

How would Watney's compare to that?

[Nick]

Have you checked over at White's on 3rd St? If they don't have it, they can quite often find it.

Have you tried other Scotch Ales? McEwan's is by far the best, IMO and Skullsplitter the worst. I've had a few others in between, but McEwan's is the standard by which I judge that style of ale.

How would Watney's compare to that?

I just got home from White's I went to get that bottle of single malt I mentioned in the current scotch thread. I checked and they didn't have it, but they did have some of the other Belgian beers I like (including four kinds of Chimay )

The only other scotch ale I've tried is Gordon's while in Belgium, it was much more bitter than Watney's. I've been wanting to give McEwan's a try, but it's expensive (comparitavely). There's also Dirty Bastard, a couple places carry that, but I haven't tried that yet, either. I'll see if I can find Belhaven, too. I see I'll be busy over Christmas break! ;)

Davedove, there was a creperrie (sp?) near where I was staying, with 300 varieties on their menue. And they had all other manner of alcoholic drinks. Not to mention crepes, both meal and dessert. Their menue was a book! And, of course, every beer has its own glass. I want to get a proper goblet so I can drink beer the proper way, I got so used to it. Chimay labels even have a little picture with a goblet and pilsner, with the pilsner crossed out

[davedove]

And, of course, every beer has its own glass. I want to get a proper goblet so I can drink beer the proper way, I got so used to it.

Belgium is real big on the different glasses for each type of beer. I'm told that some establishments will not sell a type of beer if there is no clean glass of the proper type.

[MacMullen]

The only other scotch ale I've tried is Gordon's while in Belgium, it was much more bitter than Watney's. I've been wanting to give McEwan's a try, but it's expensive (comparitavely). There's also Dirty Bastard, a couple places carry that, but I haven't tried that yet, either. I'll see if I can find Belhaven, too. I see I'll be busy over Christmas break! ;)

Sam Adams makes a good Scotch Ale too. White's has Dirty Bastard for about $7/6 pack. It's pretty good, and the label is an amusing read.

Auch! Yeh've nary had such a bonnie taste of heav'n since pullin' yer mouth off yer mammy's teet. With more highland bitties and flavours than yer grandmammy's haggis, Dirty Bastard Ale ain't fer the wee lads. And if it's too strong fer yer silk-wearin', poodle-walkin' ****, then it's back to the loch with you, nessy!" -- Dirty Bastard Ale label

My next beer brewing project is going to be either a Scottish Ale or a Wee Heavy Ale. It should be ready after Christmas. When it's finished, I'll let you know, if you want to sample it. Anyone who stops by in a kilt gets a free Scotch Ale.

[KiltedCodeWarrior]

Macmullen,

That sounds like a heck of an offer! But do you also have a spare room for me to crash in after I start paying for the subsequent drinks and can't drive the 6 hours back home? :grin:

[MacMullen]

Absolutely! C'mon up!

I'm true to the promise on my labels - "Return the empty bottle and receive another full bottle."

Oh yeah, and I almost forgot - I bought thistle glasses this summer too, so we can drink our Scotch Ale out of the proper glass.

I just racked my Irish Stout to the secondary this afternoon too, so if I can get some homebrew overlap, I should have some of that too. Plus, I think my wife is planning to buy me another one of the Brewer's Gold kits as one of my Christmas presents. I told her to buy me something that I've never brewed before.

Although, after I brew my Wee Heavy, I'll be just over the 100 gallon homebrewing limit for the year. Don't tell the Feds! ;)

[Andrew Breecher]

it had an unusual sweet flavor, not at all like other ales I've had.

Scottish ales are typified by their malty body, resulting in a sweet flavour untempered by a lot of bittering hops. Any Scottish ale will have this characteristic, though they will differ in flavour depending on which brand you purchase. I'm a fan of Belhaven, which has a faint smoky peat flavour reminiscent of scotch whisky. My own homebrewed Scottish 70/ ale has peat-roasted barley and heather to flavour it, with very little hop character, resulting in a nice malty brew.

Andrew (the beer expert).

[cormacmacguardhe]

I posted in another thread about some scottish ale I tried recently, it was Traquair Jacobite Ale, flavored with coriander. It is brewed in what was Traquair castle Innerleithen, Peeblesshire. I am not really an ale fan, but it was rather tasty.

[davedove]

When I was in Belgium, the beer flowed quite freely. We watched how much we drank (we did have responsibilities while we were there!), but our fridges were always well stocked. I usually kept myself to two or three beers a day, one at dinner, one during artifact cleaning, maybe another.

I found many favorites, most Belgian, some not. Chimay, Leffe, Morte Subite Frambuois (sp), Gordon's, Strongbow, along with some others. There was one on the beer list of the restaurant we had most of our dinners at listed as "Scotch Watneys", though doing a google search it seems like it's actually "Watney's Scotch Ale." I liked it, it had an unusual sweet flavor, not at all like other ales I've had. I wish I could find it here, but so far no luck.

I'm curious if anyone else has tried it, and what they think of it.

I was in Brussels last year. Coming back into the city while on a bus tour, the guide suggested we try some of their over 300 types of beer. I think I might have tried 4 when I was there!

A set of beers I found interesting were those at the Cantillon Brewery, right in Brussels. They still make them in the historical way using the wild yeasts in the air. In fact, because of this historical method, they are exempted from the standards of plant cleanliness so that the yeasts can survive. The beer was very interesting, with a very sour taste. It's not something that I would just sit and drink, but it was definitely something to experience. I recommend anyone going to Brussels to stop by there and try it. They make lambics and gueuze beers.