Chicagoist's "Beer of the Week": Belhaven Scottish Ale

By Chuck Sudo in Food on Feb 20, 2009 9:40PM

Normally, we would eschew Scottish ales in favor of their harder-hitting Scotch or Orkney cousins, like Skullsplitter. But we've been on a session beer jag lately. Not good for the liver, very good for tasting notes.

At 5.2% ABV, Belhaven Scottish Ale doesn't really qualify as a session beer. But a couple of them go down very quick. Scottish ales are characterized by their malts. These are ales where the hops take a back seat to the sweetness. The roasted malts used in the brewing impart a bright caramel character to the beer, perfectly complemented by a near-frizzante style carbonation. The ale yeasts emit some serious esters and breadiness to the brew, while the malts give Belhaven a deep ruby in color.

Buy Belhaven at, say, Binny's, and you'll have the option of 6-pack bottles ($11.99) or 4-pack cans ($9.99). Opt for the latter. Two reasons; the brew isn't exposed to light and the nitrous widget gives you a pub draught pour. Belhaven Scottish Ale is Chicagoist's "Beer of the Week."

Blurred, retro-"BotW" image Courtesy of Drunken Polack.