When it comes to craft beer in Montana, the first name almost anybody can think of is Big Sky. They're known for their Moose Drool Brown Ale, but it was their IPA that got me hooked on this brewery back at the Portland Spring Beer & Wine Festival a couple of years ago. I'm always curious to try their seasonal stuff, and I never hesitate to try something new from them.
It pours a very dark amber, which is almost starting to look slightly brownish. Definitely a lot lighter than most of the scotch ales I've had. There's almost no head/retention/lacing here and the final product is as clear as it gets. The first thing I pick up from from the aroma it is fruit notes. It's a very dark fruit character that reminds me of a lot of bocks I've had. There's some strong sweet malt with some toasty hints to it. There are some minor spice hops in there as well. Very minor. The aroma all around is very clean and again reminds me of a very malty lager.
Upon tasting, it's definitely a malt bomb with some strong esters shining through. The malt here is a little biscuity, roasty, and definitely has some tannins. The caramel character is very dark and heavy. The fruitiness of it is quite evident and is similar to a plum. The whole thing is very rich and syrupy.
Overall, I'm not crazy about this one. It's quite good, but I've never been a huge fan of scotch ales to begin with. It does become very pleasant to drink after several ounces, and I actually found myself enjoying it much more than I thought I would.
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