Le Bilboquet MacKroken Flower
Last week, when I stated that the bottle of L’Affriolante that I was reviewing was the last from this Quebec brewery, I was wrong. This, is the last bottle of beer I have from Le Bilboquet — I think.
At any rate, MacKroken Flower is a scotch ale that weighs in at 10.8% ABV and, in addition to the oatmeal stout, was one of my favorite of the bunch that I tried. What was really interesting with this beer is not it’s peaty character or the strong malt base. It was that the beer felt and tasted more like an Old Ale. It was lacking that distinct Scotch Ale character that the style is known for.
Appearance
The beer pours a deep garnet in color with a tan head that fell slowly to thin surface lace.
Aroma
Toasted malt, light sweetness, caramel and booze all come together for the nose. This beer is brewed with wildflower honey, but it didn’t come through in the aroma as much as I had hoped.
Taste
Hmmm… the beer lacks that distinct peaty character that I look for in a Scotch Ale. It’s got a strong malt base with a moderate sweetness. Hints of caramel and booze also play key roles in the flavor profile. The wildflower honey shows up, but only after the beer has had a chance to warm some. There’s also a touch of dark fruit in the mix. The smooth mouthfeel only adds to the Old Ale illusion.
Overall
This beer certainly wasn’t your traditional Scotch Ale. With more of an Old Ale character, the beer has a sweeter presence on the palate that most in the Scotch Ale (Wee Heavy) style realm. It’s a big beer as well, that is best enjoyed slowly on a cold night — the higher ABV warms you up nicely.
Rating:3.75/5