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Piper Down

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Created for the Ballast Point Bagpipe Corps: a very low-hopped, malty ale built on UK Maris Otter malt, roasted barley and UK hops, fermented cool and given a three-hour boil to build sweet complexity. Malt-forward with rich roasted caramel at 5.8%. World Beer Cup silver in 2016, U.S. Open gold in 2017. Limited, draft only.

ABV
5.8%
Bitterness
Lightly bitter22 IBU
Roasted bitterness
SRM
amber12
PaceTwo or Three

AWARDS

Silver · 2016
World Beer Cup
Irish-Style Red Ale
Gold · 2017
U.S. Open Beer Championship
Irish Red Ale
★Silver — World Beer Cup (Irish-Style Red Ale)
★Gold — U.S. Open Beer Championship (Irish Red Ale)
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
Balance
malt-forwardhop-forward
What makes this beer itself
maltyroastedcaramel
malty
roasted
caramel
toasty
Aroma
The nose is dominated by rich roasted malt and caramel sweetness, with subtle toasted grain undertones.
not found:hoppy,bready,fruity,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Piper Down

◎ Appearance

Deep amber to copper-brown, clear and bright with excellent clarity. A dense, persistent head forms and clings to the glass with firm lacing. Carbonation is moderate and well-integrated, creating fine bubbles that rise steadily.

deep amberclearpersistent headfirm lacing

◌ Aroma

The nose is dominated by rich roasted malt and caramel sweetness, with subtle toasted grain undertones. UK Edelhopfen provide a restrained, earthy backdrop without aggressive florality or citrus. A touch of grain-derived sweetness rounds the profile, suggesting the extended boil's contribution to complexity.

roasted maltcaramel sweetnesstoasted grainearthy hops

◐ Taste

Entry is full-bodied and smooth, with immediate caramel and roasted character taking center stage. Mid-palate builds on this maltiness with deep, rich sweetness and subtle toasted notes. Bitterness remains low at 22 IBU, allowing the malt complexity to dominate; the finish is dry without harshness.

full-bodiedcaramelroasted barleylow bitterness

◑ Finish

The aftertaste is long and malty, with residual caramel sweetness and toasted grain lingering pleasantly on the palate. No astringency or sharp edges; the alcohol sits seamlessly beneath the malt framework.

long malty finishsweet aftertaste
84
hopIQ score
Aroma
82
Taste
86
Appearance
85
Finish
83
Serve at 8–11°C

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

Pint glass

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

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Food Pairing

What to eat with Piper Down

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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, roasted, caramel character as Piper Down will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

Compare with another beer →Explore all Scottish Ale beers in hopIQ →Browse United States beers →