This ale is brought to you by the Dark Horse Brewing Company, based in Marshall, Michigan. Dark Horse has named the Scotty Karate Scotch Ale after a local one-man band. Scotty Karate Scotch Ale is Scottish ale with a stiff 9.75% ABV (Alcohol by Volume). The beer is a darker red color and pours out a dark, hazy amber color. It is truly a beautiful looking ale.

The aroma hits you quickly with a smoky, caramel apple scent and a slight hint of cinnamon. The smokiness was a nice touch without being too overpowering. The taste reiterates the smoky, caramel aroma. The flavor is sharp and does not linger for long. The beer goes down very smoothly with no burn. This scotch ale is the Silver medal winner in 2007 from the Great American Beer Festival and is well deserving.

Shane and I had mixed reactions. This was my first Dark Horse brew and I was pleasantly impressed. If you like a darker beer with a strong, rich flavor and aroma, I highly recommend giving the Scotty Karate Ale a try.

Overall: 8/10

Title photo from: Flickr