Rating: 5.35/5

Wee Heavy by Alesmith is a 10% ABV Scoth Ale/Wee Heavy.

Label:
Great American Beer Festival 2008 “Small Brewing Company of the Year”
This Scottish-inspired deep mahogany colored ale showcases a rich, malty flavor profile of caramel and toffee offset by hints of roast and subtle smoke. The complex malty sweetness includes notes of dark fruit balanced by a subdued hop bitterness. Wee Heavy is incredible nuanced and in a class of its own in terms of balance and sophistication. It ages very well and will keep improving for years to come.

Wee Heavy’s complex malt profile lends itself very well to a host of roasted or grilled meat and vegetable dishes. Robust cheese, salty blues, and nutty farmhouse style cheeses also pair very well with this beer.
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Been passing up this beer for ever and only really tried it when I have had it at the pubs or at restaurants. Hell, I did a review on the Barrel Aged version and had yet to review this one. So I definitely wanted to bring this one forward as Wee Heavy is a style I don’t often get chance to try and it really is a style I do love. You can find this one wherever they sell Alesmith and it is a year round release.

Aromas:
Lots of dark fruit currants, plums, prunes, boysenberries, black berries, grapes, rich caramel, smoked peat, licorice, anise, dark chocolate, milk chocolate, brown sugar, butterscotch, blueberry cheesecake hints and cinnamon.

Flavors:
Dark fruits like raisins, plums, boysenberries, black berries, currants, figs, anise, grapes, molasses, scotch, toffee, dark pepper, butterscotch, earthy notes, dark chocolate, milk chocolate, blueberry cheesecake, cinnamon, smoked peat, chocolate mousse, brown sugar, licorice, banana notes and honey.

Aftertaste:
Raisins, butterscotch, earthy notes, blueberry cheesecake hints, smoked peat, toffee, caramel and currants. It is a medium sipping beer with a smooth quality to it. No alcohol in the taste and medium mouth feel.

Overall:
Exceeding expectations just a bit reminding me a bit of what Apophatic from Monkish was except the style is not a quad and more toward the Scottish ale. There are few and far between Wee Heavies and this one is pretty common so if you definitely want to see what a great example of the style is, go try this one out. Many of the Alesmith beers are epic and really, you can’t go wrong here. I’ve had this beer before in restaurants and I am glad I was able to give you my thoughts on it now.

Anime Corner:
Kula Diamond from the King of Fighters Series was used in this pairing since I used her in the Bourbon Barrel Aged version of this beer long ago. While she is quietly sitting in the barrel in the BBA version, she is free to unleash in this version. Her colors pair greatly with the colors of the beer label but also the variety of the dark berry flavors this style presents. She is not a Banshee, nor is Banshee only part of Irish tradition but of Scottish Gaelic myth as well where they call her, bean sìth or bean-nighe. Hell, even Mexico has one called La Llorona. Anyways, she has blue hair and is cold as ice like the Banshee which ties back to Irish and Scottish tradition and hence forth, the Wee Heavy style. Like I said though, she looks like a Banshee, but she is not one. In fact, Kula enjoy lots and lots of sweets, so just like this beer is full of sugary goodness, so is Kula. She is 10% but don’t try to take her on all at once, she is a very powerful fighter and will freeze you where you stand.