The latest Cellar Reserve beer
from Grand Teton Brewing Company was released this past Friday, August 15th;
although it may still be another couple weeks before we see a bottle this far
east. The third beer in the 2014 Cellar
Reserve series is the Sheep Eater Scotch Ale, a beer which originally debuted
in the 2009 Cellar Reserve series and has become the more requested Cellar
Reserve release in the years since. I personally
enjoy the Cellar Reserve series and look forward to each new release.
I was fortunately able to get
ahold of Grand Teton Brewmaster Rob Mullin to get his take on Sheep Eater so be
sure to check that out at the bottom of the “They Say” section. It’s always great to get additional information
direct from the brewmaster.
They Say:
Sheep Eater Scotch Ale was first brewed in 2009 and
has become our Cellar Reserve most-requested for a comeback. Scotland's cold,
blustery climate lends itself to the growing of barley and oats but not to the
production of hops, which are almost always added sparingly. In order to create
depth and diversity in the beers brewed in Scotland, malts were roasted and
kilned to help bring out hidden flavors.
Scotch Ales are some of the
world's most flavorful beers. The specially roasted and kilned malts used in
the mash impart roasted, caramel, and raisin sweetness to the flavor profile.
Our ale is brewed with black roasted barley and peat-smoked malt, adding even more
complexity to the palate. It is gently hopped, fermented cool and aged cold for
exceptional smoothness. The result is a copper-brown color and a pleasant
mouthfeel and body.
We ferment this beer colder than most ales ferment so
that we do not risk producing any flavors driven by yeast-produced esters.
Instead, we want the malt to shine through and provide all the wonderful
flavors Sheep Eater has to offer.
Drink this beer at cellar
temperatures between 47-57 degrees Fahrenheit. The strong dark malts and high
levels of alcohol will make this beer an ideal candidate for prolonged
cellaring. Enjoy this beer with flavorful meats such as honey ham,
well-marinated and grilled steaks, and roasted root vegetables lightly seasoned
with salt. With dessert, try crème brûlée and a side of berries; the light and
airy texture of the crème brûlée and tartness of the berries will balance
nicely with the thick, sweet mouthfeel of Grand Teton Brewing’s Sheep Eater
Scotch Ale.
Alcohol by Volume: 7.5%.
Original Gravity (Plato): 22˚
Color (Lovibond): 20˚
IBUs: 21
Sheep Eater Scotch Ale will be available August 15,
2014 in 1/2 and 1/6 bbl kegs and bottle-conditioned 750 mL cases.
Brewmaster Rob Mullin adds:
Of all the beers in our Cellar Reserve Series, I think Sheep Eater best demonstrates the appeal of aging beer. This year's version was brewed with the same recipe we used years ago, and the specs are
almost identical, yet through its time in the cellar I was a little worried. It just didn't have the rich complexity I was looking for, and remembered from the first batch. We bottled the 12 ounce samples a
few weeks ago, and racked some kegs. That beer, with just a little age, has already gained most of what I remember loving about Sheep Eater. With more time it will only get better. The phenolics from the
peat will mellow, the edges will smooth out, and the flavors will blend even more harmoniously. I'm really excited to drink this one over the next couple of years.
If this is a style you like, I'd recommend buying a few bottles. We filled fewer than 400 cases so I don't think it'll be around long.
almost identical, yet through its time in the cellar I was a little worried. It just didn't have the rich complexity I was looking for, and remembered from the first batch. We bottled the 12 ounce samples a
few weeks ago, and racked some kegs. That beer, with just a little age, has already gained most of what I remember loving about Sheep Eater. With more time it will only get better. The phenolics from the
peat will mellow, the edges will smooth out, and the flavors will blend even more harmoniously. I'm really excited to drink this one over the next couple of years.
I Say:
Sheep Eater Scotch Ale pours
a very clear deep mahogany with a thick, creamy, light tan head with moderate
rocky breakup on top. The headstand
holds very good retention, sticking around minutes after the pour, but not
through until the end of the glass. This
is a very pretty beer to look at, but no one ever buys a beer just to stare at
it, at least no one in their right mind.
The aroma is dominated by sweet, toasted malts that signal more
complexity to come. Slight caramel notes
are evident, alongside dark raisins, and a subtle, peaty smokiness that lends
additional complexity. Earthy hop notes
and caramelized sugars round out the back end.
Much
like the aroma, the flavor is dominated by malts. There is a pleasant upfront caramel malty
sweetness which quickly becomes considerably more complex. Notes of raisins, and toasted malts transition
to more caramel and peat smoke to a touch of roasted barley and earthy hops in
the background. The roasted barley dries
out the finish, although not so much that there is a persistent slightly smoked
caramel aftertaste. Sheep Eater is
smooth and sweet up front, transitioning to a semi-dry finish. It is on the full side of being medium bodied
with a moderate level of carbonation.
I have
never made a secret of the fact that I enjoy the beers coming out of Grand
Teton Brewing, and that I feel the Cellar Reserve beers are some of the best I
have had. The Sheep Eater Scotch Ale is
no exception, it is a remarkable beer that I will be stocking up on to enjoy
once the weather gets colder. As Rob
noted above however, this is a particularly small release, so it might be a
hard one to find in stores. If you see
it though, I would recommend that you do pick up at least one bottle to see
what it’s all about.
That’s
all for tonight, I will get another review up next week! Have a great weekend and Happy Drinking!