Watneys Scotch Ale

[Nick]

When I was in Belgium, the beer flowed quite freely. We watched how much we drank (we did have responsibilities while we were there!), but our fridges were always well stocked. I usually kept myself to two or three beers a day, one at dinner, one during artifact cleaning, maybe another.

I found many favorites, most Belgian, some not. Chimay, Leffe, Morte Subite Frambuois (sp), Gordon's, Strongbow, along with some others. There was one on the beer list of the restaurant we had most of our dinners at listed as "Scotch Watneys", though doing a google search it seems like it's actually "Watney's Scotch Ale." I liked it, it had an unusual sweet flavor, not at all like other ales I've had. I wish I could find it here, but so far no luck.

I'm curious if anyone else has tried it, and what they think of it.

[MacMullen]

Have you checked over at White's on 3rd St? If they don't have it, they can quite often find it.

Have you tried other Scotch Ales? McEwan's is by far the best, IMO and Skullsplitter the worst. I've had a few others in between, but McEwan's is the standard by which I judge that style of ale.

How would Watney's compare to that?

[Andrew Breecher]

it had an unusual sweet flavor, not at all like other ales I've had.

Scottish ales are typified by their malty body, resulting in a sweet flavour untempered by a lot of bittering hops. Any Scottish ale will have this characteristic, though they will differ in flavour depending on which brand you purchase. I'm a fan of Belhaven, which has a faint smoky peat flavour reminiscent of scotch whisky. My own homebrewed Scottish 70/ ale has peat-roasted barley and heather to flavour it, with very little hop character, resulting in a nice malty brew.

Andrew (the beer expert).

[cormacmacguardhe]

I posted in another thread about some scottish ale I tried recently, it was Traquair Jacobite Ale, flavored with coriander. It is brewed in what was Traquair castle Innerleithen, Peeblesshire. I am not really an ale fan, but it was rather tasty.

[davedove]

When I was in Belgium, the beer flowed quite freely. We watched how much we drank (we did have responsibilities while we were there!), but our fridges were always well stocked. I usually kept myself to two or three beers a day, one at dinner, one during artifact cleaning, maybe another.

I found many favorites, most Belgian, some not. Chimay, Leffe, Morte Subite Frambuois (sp), Gordon's, Strongbow, along with some others. There was one on the beer list of the restaurant we had most of our dinners at listed as "Scotch Watneys", though doing a google search it seems like it's actually "Watney's Scotch Ale." I liked it, it had an unusual sweet flavor, not at all like other ales I've had. I wish I could find it here, but so far no luck.

I'm curious if anyone else has tried it, and what they think of it.

I was in Brussels last year. Coming back into the city while on a bus tour, the guide suggested we try some of their over 300 types of beer. I think I might have tried 4 when I was there!

A set of beers I found interesting were those at the Cantillon Brewery, right in Brussels. They still make them in the historical way using the wild yeasts in the air. In fact, because of this historical method, they are exempted from the standards of plant cleanliness so that the yeasts can survive. The beer was very interesting, with a very sour taste. It's not something that I would just sit and drink, but it was definitely something to experience. I recommend anyone going to Brussels to stop by there and try it. They make lambics and gueuze beers.

[wgority]

You couldn't pay me to touch Watney's *anything*. I think of any brew from Watney's as being like unto low-grade Budweiser Lite.

I'll stick with Belhaven and McEwan's Scotch Ales, thank you very much.

[Nick]

Have you checked over at White's on 3rd St? If they don't have it, they can quite often find it.

Have you tried other Scotch Ales? McEwan's is by far the best, IMO and Skullsplitter the worst. I've had a few others in between, but McEwan's is the standard by which I judge that style of ale.

How would Watney's compare to that?

I just got home from White's I went to get that bottle of single malt I mentioned in the current scotch thread. I checked and they didn't have it, but they did have some of the other Belgian beers I like (including four kinds of Chimay )

The only other scotch ale I've tried is Gordon's while in Belgium, it was much more bitter than Watney's. I've been wanting to give McEwan's a try, but it's expensive (comparitavely). There's also Dirty Bastard, a couple places carry that, but I haven't tried that yet, either. I'll see if I can find Belhaven, too. I see I'll be busy over Christmas break! ;)

Davedove, there was a creperrie (sp?) near where I was staying, with 300 varieties on their menue. And they had all other manner of alcoholic drinks. Not to mention crepes, both meal and dessert. Their menue was a book! And, of course, every beer has its own glass. I want to get a proper goblet so I can drink beer the proper way, I got so used to it. Chimay labels even have a little picture with a goblet and pilsner, with the pilsner crossed out

[Andrew Breecher]

A set of beers I found interesting were those at the Cantillon Brewery, right in Brussels. They still make them in the historical way using the wild yeasts in the air. In fact, because of this historical method, they are exempted from the standards of plant cleanliness so that the yeasts can survive. The beer was very interesting, with a very sour taste. It's not something that I would just sit and drink, but it was definitely something to experience. I recommend anyone going to Brussels to stop by there and try it. They make lambics and gueuze beers.

My bar had, until recently, Cantillon Iris on tap, a blended and dry-hopped lambic (no fruit). It was amazing! I loved watching people try it, because they'd sip and get this revolted look on their face. Some people just aren't ready for real sour Belgian beers!

Andrew.

[Nick]

More for the rest of us, then!

[davedove]

And, of course, every beer has its own glass. I want to get a proper goblet so I can drink beer the proper way, I got so used to it.

Belgium is real big on the different glasses for each type of beer. I'm told that some establishments will not sell a type of beer if there is no clean glass of the proper type.