Written by: Beer Doctor |  Print this post and share it with your buddies!

People often ask me, “Jon, what’s your favorite beer?”

I politely smile and respond, “Whatever I’m drinking at the moment.”

What better way to grease the wheels of barbecue than with a pint of deliciously rich Scotch Ale. People have been talking about beer and food pairings for years now, though certain styles tend to be neglected like the red-headed stepchild. Scotch Ale is one of those styles, as it is not readily available in your local grocery store. Its history obviously dates back to Scotland, in roughly the 18th century. At this time, hops were not readily available, as they wouldn’t grow in Scotland’s harsh climate and rocky soil. The British occupation led to malt taxes, which resulted in some creative thinking from the Scots. They realized that by roasting the malt for different lengths of time, different flavors and colors could be represented in their ales.

Similar in appearance to the more well-known Brown Ale or Stout, Scotch Ales are typically dark brown in color, often featuring ruby highlights as the light permeates the liquid. The look may be deceiving, as it is relatively medium-bodied and easy to drink. Hops are used sparingly, so don’t look for any in the aroma or the taste. The bouquet is all malt, with an emphasis on caramelization of roasted malts, as well as aromas of ripe fruit and often peat, or smoke. The flavor is similar, with an explosion of dried plum-like fruit, roasted nuts, baker’s chocolate, and rich malt. Stronger versions show evidence of alcohol in the aroma and taste, as this beer can weigh in anywhere between 6.5% and 10% ABV, though this is often balanced nicely by the other rich flavors on offer.

Often referred to as a Wee Heavy, the Scotch Ale is a brilliant match to roasted and barbecued meats. When kilned, barley undergoes a process called the Maillard Reaction, resulting in caramel flavors. This same caramelization occurs in meat when roasted or cooked under certain conditions. Basically, what you have is a perfect marriage of flavors, in every sense of the idea.

Thirsty yet? Yeah, so am I! In fact, I’m enjoying a fantastic Scotch Ale as I write this. Arcadia Brewing Company in Battle Creek, Michigan brews a deliciously inviting Scotch Ale that would stand up to any grilled meat you can think of. The rich, coffee-chocolate flavors with a hint of dried fruit and peat would be a brilliant match for anything from a grilled sirloin with caramelized Michigan apples, to braised buffalo, to French Onion soup!

A truly outstanding beer, the most readily available Scotch Ale is McEwan’s Scotch Ale, brewed in Scotland and owned by Scottish and Newcastle, Ltd. I encourage you to look deeper into the coolers of your favorite Better Beer store to locate some of the best examples of this style available today, from American Craft Brewers! Constantly pushing the envelope on every style imaginable, US breweries are producing some of the finest Scotch Ales out there. Here are some of my personal recommendations, along with websites for further information?

Under the Kilt Wee Heavy, Dragonmead Microbrewery, Warren, MI
www.dragonmead.com

Arcadia Scotch Ale, Arcadia Brewing Company, Battle Creek, MI
www.arcadiabrewingcompany.com

Dirty Bastard, Founders Brewing Company, Grand Rapids, MI
www.foundersbrewing.com

AleSmith Wee Heavy, AleSmith Brewing Company, San Diego, CA
www.alesmith.com

A Few Shillings Too Many, Kuhnhenn Brewing Company, Warren, MI
www.kbrewery.com

Samuel Adams Scotch Ale, Boston Beer Company, Boston, MA
www.samueladams.com

Be sure to also check out these great links for more information about Scotch Ale. Happy drinking, happy grilling, and, as always, Drink Better Beer!

Beer Judge Certification Program official style guidelines for Scotch Ale
www.bjcp.org/styles04/Category9.html

History and recipes for Scotch Ale from Ray Daniels, of the Brewers’ Association
www.allaboutbeer.com/style/scottish.html