Laughing Lab Scottish-Style Ale
Appearance: Pours a dark slightly cloudy reddish brown color with a small 1/8" head of small off-white bubbles that faded really quickly to remain a lasting ring around the top of the beer sustained by some bubbles rising. Aroma: I initially get only a sweet malty presence with some supporting dark caramel. There is some toasty British malt qualities deep in the background. Some hops are starting to come out more as it warms. Taste: The beer is pretty dry and very well attenuated. The sweet malt is still the main factor in this beer. The caramel is very noticeable in the flavor as well as the aroma. There is some hops in here that is more noticeable as flavoring than from bittering. The beer is a little thin, so it is a good thing that there isn't a whole lot of hops. As the beer warms up, the flavoring hops are becoming more apparent. Opinion: This is a decent beer. It is not flawed in any way, but it is just really mild on the palate. The flavors are in balance, but the overall presentation of the beer left me wanting for something. I personally just think that they are either just using the wrong yeast strain, or their mash temp is just too low. The beer has a good flavor, but it leaves me thinking that something is missing.