The first impression is quite malty, followed by a strong hoppy finish which is almost on the verge to bitter. The somewhat high alcohol content help to prolong the character - the hops seem to linger forever. Not a beer that ones takes to easily. It may even be an acquired taste as the character mightn't be everybody's cup of tea. Fiercely looking Scot on the bottle makes you wonder what to expect.
First palate leads nicely to the main palate which has hops written all over it.
The finish is almost bitter and lingers, it seems, almost forever. If there was a hint of smoke detectable on the main palate to round off the character, this ale would achieve full marks. But it's very good as it stands anyhow. The hops blend in well with the usual freshness of this type of beer. They are present, but don't dominate neither on the first palate nor in the finish.