Review – Cigar City Big Sound Scotch Ale

From Cigar City Brewing – Big Sound Scotch Ale is dedicated to our good buddy Gino, the most punk rock bagpiper you’ll ever meet, and the rest of the men and women of Tampa Bay Pipes and Drums. Brown in color, Big Sound has huge notes of dark sweet toffee with underlying mild notes of coffee in the aroma.

Cigar City Brewing – Big Sound Scotch Ale – 750 ml bottle poured into a goblet. 8.5% abv. Thanks to Gary in Tampa, FL. (Click Image to see entire label)

Appearance: Pours a midnight, reddish brown. Starts out with a big frothy head that subsides to a quarty inch of tan froth.

Aroma: Peaty malt, cocoa-cola, resinous earthy hops, vanilla, old medicine chest and oiled leather. Finishes very roasty and semi-sweet.

Taste: Bitter cocoa, woody booze, fresh made drip coffee, earth, and spicy hops.

Mouthfeel: Full bodied, not thick or syrupy what-so-ever.

Overall: A unbelievable Wee Heavy, now in my top 3 (Alesmith, Great Divide being the others).  Big, complex, but not overdone and not underwhelming.