Ölbeat 182: Traquair 50th Anniversary Ale

Brewery: Traquair House
Country: Scotland
Style: Old Ale
Abv: 9 %
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What about the beer?

Colour is nut brown with a small tan head. Aroma has sweet berries, caramel malts, dark fruits and sweet spice. Taste starts with strong and sweet wooden bitterness. Oaky and spicy caramel malts take over with dark fruits and sweet berries. Towards the end caramel and fruits get gently bitter and on top. Aftertaste has sweet malts, bitter fruits and dry alcohol.

Rich and delicious like a superb Old Ale can be. Caramel malts, oak, fruit and berry flavours with bitter and boozy finish make this one a really great experience. Truly a brew for celebrating a half century of brewing excellent beer.

Ölbeat

Since Traquair House Brewery has specialized in old ales and has been around for 50 years, one might think that the brewery has become old and dusty. The anniversary ale shows that the beers are doing great. Matching song from a Scottish band is here.

Simple Minds: Alive and Kicking (YouTube)

From the 1985 album Once Upon a Time, the song was written by Jim Kerr, Charlie Burchill and Mick MacNeil.

Ölbeat 094: Traquair Jacobite Ale

Brewery: Traquair House
Country: Scotland
Style: Traditional Ale
Abv: 8 %
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What about the beer?

Colour is dark reddish brown with small natural white head. Aroma has caramel malts, syrup and sweet spices. Taste lifts off with sweet syrupy malts. Sweet malts continue in the lead with a caramel hoppy bite  and some sweet spices added. Towards the end we get some sugary alcohol and berry flavour. Aftertaste has malty sweet and gentle bitterness.

Magnificent traditional ale. The union of  caramel malts, gentle hops and sweet spiciness really makes this spectacular. While and after enjoying you have a really warm and comfortable feeling.

Ölbeat

Although tempted to attach this traditional ale to a traditional Scottish song like "Ye Jacobites by Name", I finally chose a modern rock ballad by a Scottish band. The song just echoes the same kind of simple beauty I tasted in the brew:

Biffy Clyro: Skylight (YouTube)

From the 2013 album Opposites/The Sand at the Core of Our Bones, the song was written by Simon Neil.