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Black Isle Scotch Ale

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A strong, malt-led ale in the classic Scottish manner, which the brewery sums up as big, bold and sweet. Its notes list fruit cake and light spice in the flavour and herbal hop over dark roast malt in the aroma; an older description from the brewery speaks of liquid fruit cake on a malty foundation with a rich, spicy finish. Oats are part of the grist and round out the body. Unfiltered.

ABV
6.8%
Bitterness
Lightly bitter
Roasted bitterness
SRM
dark22
PaceSipper
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
Balance
malt-forwardhop-forward
What makes this beer itself
maltyroastedfruity
malty
roasted
fruity
herbal
spicy
dark fruit
Aroma
The nose leads with herbal Edelhopfen notes layered over dark roast malt character.
not found:hoppy,caramel,clean,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Black Isle Scotch Ale

◎ Appearance

Deep copper-brown to near-black in color, reflecting the 22 SRM specification. The unfiltered character produces a slight haze that softens the edges of the pour. A dense, tan head settles to a persistent collar with good lacing retention on the glass.

deep copper-brownunfiltered, hazydense head with lacing

◌ Aroma

The nose leads with herbal Edelhopfen notes layered over dark roast malt character. Beneath this foundation, dried fruit cake and subtle spice emerge—a complex interplay that invites repeated sniffing. The oat contribution adds a soft, cereal-grain roundness to the overall profile.

herbal hop, dark roastdried fruit cake, light spicecereal grain softness

◐ Taste

Entry is rich and malt-forward with immediate sweetness that mirrors the fruit cake notes from the nose. The mid-palate develops a warming spice character balanced by the oats, which contribute body and a slightly creamy mouthfeel. The low IBU of 20 allows the Malz character to dominate, with only gentle hop bitterness arriving late.

malt-sweet, fruit cakewarming spice, creamy oat bodyrestrained bitterness

◑ Finish

The finish is lingering and spicy, with the warmth persisting through a slow fade. Residual sweetness and malty notes accompany the aftertaste, leaving behind a satisfying glow rather than sharp dryness.

spicy warmthlingering malty sweetness
82
hopIQ score
Aroma
84
Taste
83
Appearance
80
Finish
79
Serve at 12–16°C

Serve at 12–16°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 Black Isle Scotch Ale

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About Scotch Ale

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Scotch Ale?

Scotch 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 Scotch Ale

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

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