Big Bad Plaid
American Brewing Company, Edmonds
Style: Scotch
Stats: 6.5 percent ABV, 30 IBU, 16.4 OG
Available: 22-ounce bottles.
My thoughts: Skip Madsen has been known to brew a scotch ale.
The former Pike Brewing and Boundary Bay head brewer has written recipes for two of the Northwest’s most iconic scotch ales in Pike’s Kilt Lifter ale and Boundary Bay’s Scotch Ale.
So it’s no surprise that American Brewing’s CEO Neil Fallon has been prodding Madsen to brew a scotch since he hired him to be the brewmaster at the Edmonds brewery in 2010.
After taking on IPAs, a stout, and a blonde among others as ABC’s brewer, Madsen relented and turned his gaze back to scotch. The result is American Brewing’s Big Bad Plaid Scotch Ale.
Madsen’s newest creation pours a deep, mahogany brown. The aroma has that nice malty bite that Americanized scotch ales usually have.
I hate to compare it to the Kilt Lifter and BB’s scotch, but it’s hard not to. Big Bad Plaid is definitely in the same family. There is the same roasted malty flavor and nice hop finish that Madsen’s other creations exhibit.
I try to avoid scotch ales that overdo the malt and become too sweet. Like his previous creations, Madsen avoids that issue with Big Bad Plaid, creating a good balance between the malt and hops. This is a very drinkable beer.
As for the taste, there are notes of molasses and caramel, but nothing overpowering. I will say that it doesn’t have the same rounded malt complexity of Boundary Bay’s Scotch Ale and is much closer in form to the Kilt Lifter, which finishes with that nice bitterness.
This is a good, solid addition to Madsen’s scotch oeuvre.
— Aaron Swaney
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