Beer of the Week: Traquair House Ale

Beer score: 7.5

Company: Traquair House Brewery

ABV: 7.2
IBU: 26

Since 1965 this fine ale has been brewed at what's known as the oldest inhabited house in Scotland. Us Yanks might call it a castle, but technically I don't think that fits the bill. Either way, they make and serve some great drinks, including their house ale which can occasionally be found for sale outside of Scotland.

As is usually the case with Scottish ales, this one takes a little getting used to though it goes down smoothly. This is some pricey stuff, however, so if you're not a true beer connoisseur then you might want to plop down the money it takes to buy a bottle.

That being said, this is truly a nice ale. It pours a dark brown with touches of red and a little foam at the top of the glass. The aroma and flavors are quite complex with mixtures of oak, caramel, raisin, earth, fruits, and maybe a touch of brown sugar. Goes down smooth, almost watery, but on the tongue it has a slightly heavy feel to it.

This is worth drinking.