Wooden Cask Brewing Company - The Scotsman

This Scotch Ale presents an attractive deep ruby-amber color in the glass, capped by a modest head of beige foam. Per the style, this brew offers up a richly malty aroma with deeply toasted notes, bold caramel, touches of dried fruit, and hints of woodiness, earth, and hay. Scotch Ale, also known as Wee Heavy, is the most robust form of Scottish ale and is produced with large amounts of malt, which naturally leads to elevated alcohol levels and noticeable residual sweetness. Wooden Cask's The Scotsman is no exception, as that malty character in the aroma is robustly realized on the palate as it opens up with depth and breadth across the palate. Look for a bold wellspring of caramels and deep-down toasted bread, hints of toffee and tea, all shot through with fruity notes of fig, date, and raisin. The residual sweetness delivered by the massive grain bill is tamed nicely by moderate hop bitterness and a dose of spicy booziness which appears stronger at more ambient temperatures. Round, smooth, and full-bodied, this Wee Heavy is delightful on its own as a nightcap, but also offers interesting pairing options. Well-seasoned roasted meats, including venison and other game, spring to mind. A plate of British cheeses like Cheddar, Gloucester, and Cotswold would work nicely too, as would a complementary dessert of chocolate-covered toffee. Cheers!

Founded by Randy Schlitz and his wife, Karen, Wooden Cask opened for business in November, 2016 in Newport, KY, just a few blocks south of the Ohio River which bisects the greater Cincinnati area. Co-founder of Cincinnati's Rivertown Brewing Company, Randy sold his stake in Rivertown to his business partner so the two could pursue their own interests in the brewing industry: Rivertown could focus on growing their business with sours and more experimental and extreme beers, while Randy would be free to establish a new brewery to focus on traditional styles and creating an attached British-style pub. Since Cincinnati already was home to many existing craft breweries, Randy and Karen decided to locate their new brewery on the Kentucky side of the Ohio River, eventually finding the perfect spot on historic York Street in Newport, KY. The building has a rich history itself. In the 1940s-50s, the location was home to illegal gambling at the Flamingo Club, and by the 1980s it had become a destination for punk rock shows under the guise of the Jockey Club. It then housed a bowling alley and finally a Yellow Cab location before the Schlitzs turned it into their brewery and taproom.

Wooden Cask's focus is on traditional English, Scottish, and Irish beer styles, though they are not limiting themselves, as evidenced by their hefeweizen, gose, and even beers like bourbon barrel aged helles bock. Their goal is not to grow into a big regional brewery with wide distribution but, rather, to focus on their taproom and traditional brewing methods, taking the time to perfect authentic styles. Their taproom, whose bar top is constructed using wood from the old bowling alley lanes, features 18 draft beers plus small-batch and seasonal offerings, and, in 2019, Drunken Hog BBQ opened a location inside to serve tasty smoked pork. We've been impressed with the beers we've had a chance to sample from these fine folks, and are excited to bring you a taste this month. For more info, call 859-261-2172 or visit woodencask.com.