Robert Burns was born on this day, 25th January, in 1759. The national poet of Scotland’s birthday is marked around the world with readings of his poems, singing of his 300 Scottish songs, and, yes, drinking Scotch whisky alongside a traditional Burns Supper. Burns died at the young age of 37, but not before producing hundreds of songs and poems. Four elements comprise a Burns supper: pipes, poems, potables, and pudding — specifically the “Great Chieftain o’ the Puddin’ race,” the haggis. The Ploughman Poet famously wrote “Auld Lang Syne” but more importantly, Address to a Haggis. More than just an ode to sheep guts, it was a proud affirmation of Scottish identity in the face of the British crown. Burns left a legacy of Scottish verse and significantly added to the country’s population, supposedly siring 13 children, the last of which was born on the day of his funeral. In celebration, Peaks & Pints presents a flight of Scottish and Scotch ales in our Peaks and Pints Robert Burns Day Beer Flight. European distributor Merchant du Vin gave us Robert Burns poetry books to hand out while supply lasts.
Scottish-style beers can be a malt lover’s dream beer because of their smooth sweetness and body. The epitome of malty, scotch ales is boiled twice as long as ordinary beer, caramelizing the sugars to build these deep flavors of maple and molasses. Recipes may include peat-smoked malt, which can lend smoky, earthy tones to the aroma and flavor. Scottish ales commonly fall into four general types: Light, Heavy, Export, and the Scotch Ale. Historically, these distinctions carried labels of the shilling currency, which reflected the price charged per barrel of beer in the 19th century. For example, 60 shillings were used for light Scottish ales, 70 shillings for heavy, 80 for export, and above 90 for Scotch ale or wee heavy. Compared to other Scottish ales, Scotch ale offers richer color, more malty sweetness, and higher alcohol content, ranging from 6-8 percent ABV. Wait, what? There’s a difference between Scottish and Scotch ales? There certainly is. Mainly, Scottish ales are brewed in Scotland or the Scottish style. Scotch ales are US and Belgian interpretations of the Scottish style strong dark ale.
Enjoy these five Scottish and Scotch ales from our bar stools, or grab them to go. Don a kilt (if you’ve got one handy) and raise your voice in lyric or verse to celebrate the life of one of Scotland’s favorite sons, Robert Burns!
Peaks and Pints Robert Burns Day Beer Flight
Belhaven Scottish Ale
5.2% ABV
In 1719, John Johnstone founded Belhaven Brewery in Dunbar, a town on the North Sea coast in the south-east of Scotland. Belhaven means “beautiful bay,” named after the stunning coastal location in East Lothian, where it resides. The home of Scottish brewing, Belhaven brews with local Scottish barley, water from its brewery well, its own unique Belhaven yeast, and the choicest of hops from around the world. Belhaven’s Scottish Ale is a solid beer with a nutty, sweet flavor and a touch of oak in the aroma. Because the can has a nitrogen widget, this Scottish ale has an extraordinarily long-lasting head, giving it a smooth and rounded mouthfeel.
Traquair House Jacobite Ale
8% ABV
Traquair House Brewery, located within Scotland’s oldest inhabited house, uses 1738 copper kettle and oak fermenters to produce their Jacobite Scotch Ale. They also brew it with an ancient ingredient, coriander, for rich, deep flavors accented by the exotic coriander aroma. The malt profile is diverse with toasty, nutty, bready, grainy, slight cocoa, light roast, caramel, molasses, and a touch of smoky notes. Plums are bright and are joined by notes of raisin and prune.
Boundary Bay Scotch Ale
6.4% ABV
Boundary Bay Brewery & Bistro is the oldest craft brewery in Bellingham. It is the creation of Ed Bennett, a University of Washington alum who earned his master’s degree in winemaking from UC Davis before landing in another small college town, Bellingham, to begin exploring his new love, beer. In 1994, he signed the lease for the Thomas Burns building at 1107 Railroad Ave. to begin building Boundary Bay Brewery. His Scotch Ale became a Northwest classic with the inaugural brew in 1995. The long boil in the kettle caramelizes the wort, producing deep-copper tones. Scotch Ale hits the nose with caramel and biscuit, the flavor profile with added light spiciness, oak notes, and a touch of fruit.
Silver City Magnificent Scotch Ale
9.2% ABV
Silver City Brewery’s Magnificent Scotch Ale takes Northwest Pale, Munich, Black, Caramel, and Peated malt. It adds Nugget and Cascade hops for its captivating aroma with hints of sweet caramel and fruit. Revel in its subtle yet harmonious blend of peat smoke, plum, black cherry, raisins, and figs. With a full-bodied profile and a pleasing malt sweetness, it’s no wonder this Scotch ale grabbed gold at the 2024 Washington Beer Awards.
Black Raven Splinters Strong Scotch Ale
10.8% ABV
Black Raven’s Second Sight Strong Scotch Ale was transformed after resting in bourbon barrels, emerging as the delicious Splinters Strong Scotch Ale. Aged for many months in various bourbon barrels, Splinters picks up the best of the barrel for added flavor complexity. All the barrels are combined, and the beer is aged for another month in a stainless-steel tank to meld and mature into a sweet ale with bourbon, vanilla, caramel, and a scotch ale finish.
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