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Back Country Scottish Ale

Lewis & Clark Brewing Company
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🌍 United States · Scottish Ale · One of 26 Scottish Ales in hopIQ

Lewis & Clark's most popular dark beer, named for the expedition's journey through Montana's backcountry. Rich, smooth and malty — toffee and light smoke character with a clean finish. Brewed at the historic brewery in Helena, the state capital, this is the definitive Montana dark ale.

ABV
5.8%
Bitterness
Lightly bitter
Roasted bitterness
SRM
dark30
See all Scottish Ale alternatives →
How it drinks· Its pace, balance and relationship to the style.
Pace
sessionsipper
Balance
malt-ledhop-led
Style expression
textbookdistinctive
Taste structure· The backbone of the beer, regardless of style.
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
hopIQ take

Balanced backbone, with every axis close to the middle.

Nothing dominates, and that is the craft — each element gets room to be tasted.

Wider bands mean we're less certain about the exact position.
Character· What makes this beer itself — not just another Scottish Ale.
Malt character
malty
caramel
roasted
bready
toasty
Fermentation & yeast
clean
Distinctive notes
smoky
dark fruit
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Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Back Country Scottish Ale

Appearance

Deep amber-brown color with a reddish tint, characteristic of the 30 SRM specification. The beer presents good clarity with a modest cream-colored head that settles to a thin ring, showing stable lacing along the glass. Carbonation is gentle and unobtrusive, appropriate for the style.

deep amber-brownclearcream headgentle carbonation

Aroma

The nose opens with pronounced malty sweetness, revealing toffee and caramel notes backed by subtle smoke. Light roasted grain character emerges beneath, with a faint suggestion of dark fruit. The overall impression is warm and inviting, without sharp or aggressive aromatics.

toffee, caramellight smokeroasted graindark fruit

Taste

Entry is smooth and full-bodied, with rich malty backbone dominating the mid-palate. Toffee and toasted grain flavors build naturally, complemented by restrained smoke that frames rather than overwhelms. Bitterness remains low and measured at 20 IBU, allowing the malt character to remain the focal point throughout.

malty, full-bodiedtoffee, toastbalanced bitternessclean, smooth

Finish

The finish is clean and medium in length, fading with lingering toffee and a whisper of smoke. No harshness or astringency interrupts the departure, leaving a pleasant malty residue.

clean finishlingering toffee
82
hopIQ score
Aroma
80
Taste
84
Appearance
80
Finish
82
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Serve & Enjoy

How to get the most out of Back Country Scottish Ale

Serve at 8–11°C
Refrigerate, then rest 2 min

Serve at 8–11°C for the best flavour balance and aroma expression.

Pint glass
Recommended for this style

The classic — versatile, comfortable to hold and keeps the beer cool. No frills, no distractions: just the beer.

Store in a cool, dark place. Check the best-before date on the label for guidance.

Food Pairing

What to eat with Back Country Scottish Ale

About Scottish Ale

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Scottish Ale?

Scottish Ale is a distinctive beer style with its own characteristic flavour, aroma and colour. Discover what makes it unique and find similar beers on hopIQ.

Finding a similar Scottish Ale

hopIQ matches by flavor profile — not just style label. A beer with the same malty, smooth, rich character as Back Country Scottish Ale will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

Other Scottish Ales in hopIQ

Explore all Scottish Ale beers in hopIQ →Browse United States beers →