Blog Tracker
02-12-2020, 09:40
Visit The Beer Nut site (https://thebeernut.blogspot.com/2020/12/century-city.html)
https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eK7-jr84LIs/X7poGhY0B3I/AAAAAAAATbQ/nGvprGGu0rkJkzWUV46FbZlQWtM0qy1lQCLcBGAsYHQ/w221-h320/brussels_beer_project_sctch_1920_scotch_strong_ale .jpg (https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eK7-jr84LIs/X7poGhY0B3I/AAAAAAAATbQ/nGvprGGu0rkJkzWUV46FbZlQWtM0qy1lQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/brussels_beer_project_sctch_1920_scotch_strong_ale .jpg)Today's beer came courtesy of Eoghan Walsh (https://twitter.com/eoghanwalsh), author of the Brussels Beer City blog (https://www.beercity.brussels/) and was created to accompany his book (https://www.beercity.brussels/book) of the same name, on the history of brewing in the Belgian capital. It's that most Belgian of styles, a Scotch ale, created at Brussels Beer Project in the heart of the city, following the best estimation of what these were like a century ago. Sctch 1920 is the appointed name.
As a 21st century sort of bloke I expect Scotch ale to be darkish, but this is quite a pale amber, mostly clear with just the faintest haze. No immediate esters feature in the aroma: it smells quite plain, just slightly sweet, and that's backed up in the syrupy texture. Par for the course at 8.8% ABV. Surprise number one is the bitterness: a serious waxy kick, somewhere in the same zone as a north-German bock or a north-English bitter. This doesn't hang around, however, giving way presently to floral honey (an ingredient) and a little of that hard orange-flavoured travel sweet found in tripel, a beer style which is arguably a descendent of this one. A slightly oily herbal note -- marjoram and dill -- finishes it with a bonus balancing bitterness.
I can see the relationship between this and modern Belgian tramp-brews like Gordon Finest, but there's definitely an extra nuance, which I'm taking as hop-derived. Interestingly, they went with Belgian Groene Bel hops rather than a more typical English variety. This is a solid, old-fashioned, heavy-bodied sipper. Unlike with many a candy-infused modern Belgian beer, you know when you've had a drink when you've had one of these. Thanks to Eoghan for letting me try it.
More... (https://thebeernut.blogspot.com/2020/12/century-city.html)
https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eK7-jr84LIs/X7poGhY0B3I/AAAAAAAATbQ/nGvprGGu0rkJkzWUV46FbZlQWtM0qy1lQCLcBGAsYHQ/w221-h320/brussels_beer_project_sctch_1920_scotch_strong_ale .jpg (https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eK7-jr84LIs/X7poGhY0B3I/AAAAAAAATbQ/nGvprGGu0rkJkzWUV46FbZlQWtM0qy1lQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/brussels_beer_project_sctch_1920_scotch_strong_ale .jpg)Today's beer came courtesy of Eoghan Walsh (https://twitter.com/eoghanwalsh), author of the Brussels Beer City blog (https://www.beercity.brussels/) and was created to accompany his book (https://www.beercity.brussels/book) of the same name, on the history of brewing in the Belgian capital. It's that most Belgian of styles, a Scotch ale, created at Brussels Beer Project in the heart of the city, following the best estimation of what these were like a century ago. Sctch 1920 is the appointed name.
As a 21st century sort of bloke I expect Scotch ale to be darkish, but this is quite a pale amber, mostly clear with just the faintest haze. No immediate esters feature in the aroma: it smells quite plain, just slightly sweet, and that's backed up in the syrupy texture. Par for the course at 8.8% ABV. Surprise number one is the bitterness: a serious waxy kick, somewhere in the same zone as a north-German bock or a north-English bitter. This doesn't hang around, however, giving way presently to floral honey (an ingredient) and a little of that hard orange-flavoured travel sweet found in tripel, a beer style which is arguably a descendent of this one. A slightly oily herbal note -- marjoram and dill -- finishes it with a bonus balancing bitterness.
I can see the relationship between this and modern Belgian tramp-brews like Gordon Finest, but there's definitely an extra nuance, which I'm taking as hop-derived. Interestingly, they went with Belgian Groene Bel hops rather than a more typical English variety. This is a solid, old-fashioned, heavy-bodied sipper. Unlike with many a candy-infused modern Belgian beer, you know when you've had a drink when you've had one of these. Thanks to Eoghan for letting me try it.
More... (https://thebeernut.blogspot.com/2020/12/century-city.html)