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Captain of the Coast

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Chocolate-covered cherries and toasted oak lead the flavor, with aromas of spice and vanilla and notes of apricot and dark marmalade. This Wee Heavy has a silky smooth mouthfeel, 9.5% ABV and 25 IBU, and won silver at the 2017 European Beer Star in the wood and barrel aged strong beer category. Brewed by Pelican in Oregon.

ABV
9.5%
Bitterness
Lightly bitter25 IBU
Roasted bitterness
SRM
dark22
PaceSipper

AWARDS

Silver · 2017
European Beer Star
Wood and Barrel Aged Strong Beer
★Silver — European Beer Star (Wood and Barrel Aged Strong Beer)
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
Balance
malt-forwardhop-forward
What makes this beer itself
chocolateoakvanilla
chocolate
oak
vanilla
spicy
dark fruit
caramel
Aroma
The nose leads with warming spice notes and creamy vanilla, followed by prominent toasted oak and hints of apricot.
also:malty
not found:hoppy,roasted,fruity,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Captain of the Coast

◎ Appearance

Deep copper to dark amber in color, with a rich mahogany hue. A dense, persistent head forms with excellent retention and fine lacing. The beer presents clear to slightly hazy clarity, befitting a wood-aged Scotch Ale.

deep amberdense headexcellent lacingclear to hazy

◌ Aroma

The nose leads with warming spice notes and creamy vanilla, followed by prominent toasted oak and hints of apricot. Beneath these, dark dried fruits emerge alongside subtle cherry undertones. The wood aging imparts complexity without dominating the malt-forward character.

toasted oakvanilla, spicedark stone fruitwood-aged complexity

◐ Taste

Chocolate-covered cherries dominate the palate with a velvety, full mouthfeel. Mid-palate reveals layers of toasted oak, dark marmalade, and caramel sweetness, while the spice and vanilla notes persist throughout. Moderate bitterness (25 IBU) provides balance without assertiveness, allowing the rich, boozy character to unfold.

chocolate, cherrysilky mouthfeeloak, caramelrestrained bitterness

◑ Finish

The finish is long and warming, with lingering chocolate and dark fruit notes. A pleasant alcohol warmth builds toward the aftertaste, leaving residual vanilla and oak impressions.

long, warmingalcohol presence
87
hopIQ score
Aroma
85
Taste
88
Appearance
85
Finish
86
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 Captain of the Coast

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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 chocolate, smooth, oak character as Captain of the Coast will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

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