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Kilt Lifter

Four Peaks Brewing Company
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🌍 United States · Scottish Ale · One of 27 Scottish Ales in hopIQ

Four Peaks' flagship and the beer most associated with Arizona craft brewing — a Scottish-style strong ale with pronounced caramel and roasted barley, earthy floral hop aroma from UK varieties, and a clean dry finish. Silver at the 2013 GABF. Accounts for over half the brewery's total production.

ABV
6%
Bitterness
Lightly bitter
Roasted bitterness
SRM
deep amber17
See all Scottish Ale alternatives →

AWARDS

Silver · 2013
Great American Beer Festival 2013
Silver — Great American Beer Festival 2013
How it drinks· Its pace, balance and relationship to the style.
Pace
sessionsipper
Balance
malt-ledhop-led
Style expression
textbookdistinctive
Where this beer sits· Four axes, the same for every beer in hopIQ.
Body
Substantial body.
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
Off-dry finish.
drysweet
Bitterness
Soft bitterness.
mildbitter
Texture
Balanced mouthfeel.
crispcreamy

The weight carries the beer on its own, leaving the aromatics free to lead.

Character· What makes this beer itself — not just another Scottish Ale.
Hop character
earthy
floral
hoppy
Malt character
caramel
roasted
malty
bready
Fermentation & yeast
clean

FEATURED IN

#1 of 50The Best American Strong Beers

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Kilt Lifter

Appearance

Deep amber to copper-brown color with a translucent, clean clarity. A dense, off-white head forms readily and clings to the glass with fine Schaumhaftung. Carbonation is moderate and steady, supporting the full-bodied presence.

deep amberdense headclean clarity

Aroma

Pronounced caramel and roasted barley lead the nose, layered with earthy undertones from UK noble hop varieties. Floral and herbal notes emerge from the Edelhopfen, creating a balanced, non-aggressive aromatic profile. A subtle bready character rounds the bouquet.

caramel, roasted barleyearthy, floral hopsherbal

Taste

Caramel sweetness and roasted malt dominate the palate, establishing a rich, vollmundig mouthfeel from the start. Mid-palate develops earthy, slightly bitter hop character without harshness. The finish transitions toward dryness, with restrained bitterness (35 IBU) and lingering malt complexity.

caramel sweetroasted maltearthy hopsdry finish

Finish

A clean, dry finish emerges with subtle roasted and caramel notes fading gradually. The aftertaste remains smooth and malty, free of astringency.

clean, drysmooth malt
82
hopIQ score
Aroma
84
Taste
84
Appearance
80
Finish
78
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Serve & Enjoy

How to get the most out of Kilt Lifter

Serve at 12–16°C
Refrigerate, then rest 2 min

Serve at 12–16°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 Kilt Lifter

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

Other Scottish Ales in hopIQ

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