hopIQ
ENDE
Build your DNASign in

St-Ambroise Scotch Ale

McAuslan Brewing
Tap to rate
🌍 Canada · Scotch Ale · One of 9 Scotch Ales in hopIQ

Brewed with peated and caramel malt in the Scottish wee heavy mould. The pour is dark ruby under a tawny head; the aroma is malt-sweet, with vanilla and butterscotch over a thread of peat smoke. The palate is velvety and full, moving through toffee and dried fruit into a lightly smoky finish, and at 25 IBU the Golding and Willamette hops frame the malt rather than cut it.

ABV
7.5%
Bitterness
Lightly bitter25 IBU
Malt-forward bitterness
SRM
dark22

AWARDS

Bronze · 2012
Canadian Brewing Awards
Scotch Ale
Bronze · 2014
Canadian Brewing Awards
Scotch Ale
Bronze — Canadian Brewing Awards (Scotch Ale)
Bronze — Canadian Brewing Awards (Scotch Ale)
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

Full body.

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

Wider bands mean we're less certain about the exact position.
Character· What makes this beer itself — not just another Scotch Ale.
Malt character
malty
caramel
Distinctive notes
vanilla
smoky
dark fruit
Compare with another beer →

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for St-Ambroise Scotch Ale

Appearance

The beer presents a deep ruby hue, translucent and well-defined under bright light. A tawny head rises with substance and settles into fine lacing around the glass. The carbonation is moderate, releasing the malt aromatics without aggressive lift.

deep rubytawny headtranslucentfine lacing

Aroma

The nose opens with pronounced malt sweetness, revealing layers of vanilla and butterscotch. A subtle thread of peat smoke weaves through the caramel notes, adding complexity without dominating. The overall impression is malt-forward, with the peated character providing gentle earthiness rather than aggressive smoke.

malt-sweetvanilla, butterscotchpeated undertonecaramel

Taste

Entry is velvety and full-bodied, with toffee and caramel anchoring the mid-palate. Dried fruit notes emerge—raisin and fig—complementing the malt base. The 25 IBU from Golding and Willamette hops frame rather than cut the malt, providing a light smoky bitterness that transitions into the finish without harshness.

full-bodied, velvetytoffee, dried fruitrestrained bitternesssmooth palate

Finish

A lightly smoky, moderately warming finish carries into a lingering aftertaste. The 7.5% ABV is present but not aggressive, allowing the malt character to conclude the experience.

lightly smokywarm finishmalt-driven
82
hopIQ score
Aroma
84
Taste
83
Appearance
80
Finish
79
+ Sign in to add your tasting note

Serve & Enjoy

How to get the most out of St-Ambroise Scotch Ale

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 St-Ambroise Scotch Ale

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, vanilla, full-bodied character as St-Ambroise Scotch Ale will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

Other Scotch Ales in hopIQ