Parallel 49 'Salty Scot' scotch ale

I love scotch.  I love bourbon.  I also love beer.  So it should be a slam dunk for me to love scotch ales, a style of dark (and strong) ale that uses smoked or peated malts and often a little aging in barrels similar to how whisky is aged. 

However, oddly enough I find I don't usually go crazy for scotch ales.  I like them okay, but they are generally far from my favourite style of beer.  Part of this is the smoked or peated malts often feel too heavy for me.   Parallel 49's Salty Scot is not a typical scotch ale, even calling it a scotch ale is a bit of a stretch.  However, it addresses my concerns perfectly by incorporating a stronger hops presence than I was used to in this style. 

Parallel 49 is a relatively new but prominent force in the Vancouver brewing scene.  Their seasonal expressions continue to impress (more on that later!).   This particular expression pours a dark and rich reddish brown with a healthy but not huge tan head.   The smell is sweet but crisp, dominated by the caramel advertised on the label.  Upon drinking, the caramel comes through as salty toffee, powerfully rich and sweet but still crisp enough thanks to the hops presence to not feel heavy.  This is a very drinkable beer without sacrificing any flavour.