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Cuillin Beast

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Sweet, fruity and smooth, despite its strength. At 7% it is the strongest ale of the Isle of Skye Brewing Company and is made with live yeast. That is well above the 3.8% to 5.5% of the brewery's other beers, and it comes from Uig, on the pier of the Isle of Skye. The brewery jokes that drinkers will live to tell of meeting the beast.

ABV
7%
Bitterness
Lightly bitter
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
fruitymaltycaramel
fruity
malty
caramel
Aroma
Sweet fruity notes dominate, with dried stone fruit and subtle dark berry character emerging from the live yeast character.
not found:hoppy,roasted,clean,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Cuillin Beast

◎ Appearance

Deep amber to copper hue with excellent clarity despite the use of live yeast. A thick, creamy head forms and persists well, with fine lacing that adheres to the glass. Carbonation is moderate and well-integrated, contributing to the structured presentation.

deep amberpersistent headclean clarityfine lacing

◌ Aroma

Sweet fruity notes dominate, with dried stone fruit and subtle dark berry character emerging from the live yeast character. Underlying malt brings caramel and toffee warmth without any harsh alcohol notes. A gentle spice note adds complexity to the nose without overwhelming the primary fruit impression.

dried stone fruitcaramel sweetnesslive yeast charactersubtle spice

◐ Taste

The palate opens with pronounced sweetness and ripe fruit character that builds through the mid-palate with malty richness and subtle caramel notes. At 7% ABV, the alcohol is present but well-balanced, contributing warmth rather than heat. Bitterness remains restrained at 20 IBU, allowing the malt and fruit to command the flavor profile while providing gentle structure.

sweet entryfruity mid-palatecaramel maltbalanced strength

◑ Finish

The finish is smooth and lingering, with the sweetness gradually fading to reveal a warm, slightly dry malt character. A subtle alcohol warmth persists without becoming sharp or unpleasant.

warm aftertastesmooth fade
81
hopIQ score
Aroma
82
Taste
83
Appearance
80
Finish
78
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 Cuillin Beast

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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 sweet, fruity, smooth character as Cuillin Beast will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

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