Scottish-American Ale?

[wvpiper]

I received a subscription to the magazine 'All About Beer' from my father in law.
First issue had an article on the 'Americanization' of European brews, ie Euro brewers turning it up a notch, so to speak.
Link to the article is here if you'd like to read it
http://allaboutbeer.com/live-beer/ap...01/ameri-brew/

[T.C.McRae V]

If you need a taster, i will nominate myselfint:int:

[beloitpiper]

I've never gotten into the "really super American" brews because they were so hoppy. I seem to only like American ales when they copy European styles. When I tastes too much hops, I feel like they're hiding a flaw in the beer.

Seriously, cut back on the hops. Let me taste the brew!

[Tony]

Many American micro-brews taste to me like soap. Is that because of the 'hop forward" which, I admit, I had not heard of until this thread.

Some ales - such as many fine Troegs brews - manage to avoid it.

[NewEnglander]

I used to be a fan of darker, less hoppy beers (especially Guinness), but lately I've been enjoying the different aromas and flavors hops can bring to a brew. I know that super hoppy beers are very popular in American craft beers, but don't give up on those brewers. Find a local brewery and get in for some free samples. They very often have a selection of beers and you might just find one that suits your palate.

[McMathTX]

I don't know a thing about the subject other than how to drink it. A local brewery (Rahr) here in Fort Worth makes a very good Scotch Ale named "Iron Thistle."

[macwilkin]

I've never gotten into the "really super American" brews because they were so hoppy. I seem to only like American ales when they copy European styles. When I tastes too much hops, I feel like they're hiding a flaw in the beer.

Seriously, cut back on the hops. Let me taste the brew!

Amen! I can't stand over-hopped beer. The local purveyor of spirits has a beer manager that loves it, and has scrapped anything besides 62 varities of APA.

T.

[wvpiper]

I've never gotten into the "really super American" brews because they were so hoppy. I seem to only like American ales when they copy European styles. When I tastes too much hops, I feel like they're hiding a flaw in the beer.

Seriously, cut back on the hops. Let me taste the brew!

'Hoppy' beers, such as IPAs, aren't an American invention, or even a recent one. They've been around for a couple hundred years, at least. The extra hoppiness and higher alcohol content act as preservatives for the beer, hence, could be shipped to troops and UK citizens over-seas, ie, India.

I prefer hoppy beers, but I also like stouts, some lagers, not sure yet about Scotch Ales, and so on.

The great thing about beer is the variety.

[Old Hippie]

What I'm talking about is taking a Scottish Ale and adding an American twist, not just by brewing it here in the States, but my somehow adding more hops to it. I don't think I'd want to lose the malty character or make it too bitter, but rather but more aroma hops in it.
Any of the other kilted homebrewers see what I'm talking about or have any suggestions?

Sounds like you'd want a moderately floral aroma hop in small amounts to spice up the attack just enough to be noticeable, while letting that warm sweet maltiness shine through to the finish. Just enough to make the drinker say, "What? Lemme try another sip of that..."

Some one of the traditional British ale hops. You want it to fit the beer. Or you could go totally Left Coast and just toss in a few cones of Cascade before you chill it into your fermenter. Maybe go with a "gruit" or herb mixture other than hops, such as a few sprigs of heather?

Depends on how "true to style" you want to be. Nothing wrong with "fusion" and innovation, of course.

[NewEnglander]

Sounds like you'd want a moderately floral aroma hop in small amounts to spice up the attack just enough to be noticeable, while letting that warm sweet maltiness shine through to the finish. Just enough to make the drinker say, "What? Lemme try another sip of that..."

Some one of the traditional British ale hops. You want it to fit the beer. Or you could go totally Left Coast and just toss in a few cones of Cascade before you chill it into your fermenter. Maybe go with a "gruit" or herb mixture other than hops, such as a few sprigs of heather?

Depends on how "true to style" you want to be. Nothing wrong with "fusion" and innovation, of course.

Thank you, sir! That's the kind of input I was hoping for. I tried a heather beer once and really enjoyed it. Hmmm. Now you've got me thinking!