I was in NYC for a series of business meetings and found myself with a long break between meetings. I decided that I probably had time for lunch and a pint before the next meeting but one question loomed: Where should I go? Well, the office is not too far from 46th Street, and G-LO has raved about St. Andrew’s Restaurant & Bar several times. Truth be told, I had the good fortune to have lunch (great shrimp club but sadly with no pint) there in June and was looking forward to spending a little more time there. During my last trip, I sat near two older gentlemen meeting up for a casual lunch and watched enviously as they put away a number of Belhaven Scottish Ales. Naturally, as I sat at the bar, I was leaning toward the same. My opinion was furthered when the man entering to my left ordered a Belhaven before he even sat down. So, I thought that the beer couldn’t be all that bad, if the bar favors it and three different patrons have ordered it in my presence.
Belhaven Brewery dates itself to 1719 and by the beginning of the 21st century; they had become the largest independent brewer in Scotland. This attracted the eye of Greene King Brewery who engineered a successful takeover in 2005. After the purchase, Greene King has allowed the brewer to remain much of its independence and beer is still brewed in Belhaven.
Here is what Belhaven has to say about their Scottish Ale:
Malty and hoppy, we at Belhaven love the classic Scottish Ale and we’ve been brewing it longer than any of the other beers we produce. Delivering a sweet, smooth and creamy finish, Scottish Ale has a stunning ruby colour in the glass. Magic.
I found the Scottish Ale to be…
- Appearance: Deep copper with a healthy tan foam.
- Aroma: Strong malt, doughy and a little grassy.
- Taste: Very light on the carbonation with a creamy texture and a good bit of sweetness.
- ABV: 5.2%
The Scottish Ale was a very good complement to my lunch (asparagus and mushroom soup and a grilled chicken sandwich). I would add that this is a good lunch beer. Not too boozy, hop heavy or overpowering; just a nice beer. My only regret was that I hadn’t enough time for a second beer (or an opportunity to try any of the wonderful Scotches).
