Tasting Notes: Old Mortality
Brewery: Craigmill Brewery
Origin: Strathaven, Scotland, ML10 6PB
ABV: 4.2%
Version: 500ml bottle
This is a companion to Craigmill’s Clydesdale IPA, which I reviewed recently; the literary minded among you will already be aware that the name derives from the famed novel by Sir Walter Scott, inspired by the 18th century character Robert Paterson, a stonemason who travelled Scotland maintaining the headstones of martyred Covenanters, earning him the sobriquet Old Mortality (see, we don‘t just destroy livers and build our beer guts here, we‘re also cultured and educational, all part of the BoB service!).
The taste is pleasantly sharp and slightly spicier than I’d normally expect for an 80 Shilling (which the brewery attributes to a mix of two different types of hops), which I found left a warm aftertaste and an attractive, slightly flowery aroma. The colour is a deep, dark, warmly attractive chestnut brown. My gold standard for judging all 80 Shilling ales by is the Caledonian Brewery’s well-nigh perfect beer and against that high standard I’ve got to say the Old Mortality stood head held high (beer, head, geddit? Oh suit yourselves…). While Caley 80 will remain my personal favourite I’d be very happy to down several pints of this lovely, warm, spicy ale. Sadly I haven’t seen it in the supermarkets or off license, only in a gift shop in the Clyde Valley. But next time I'm back through that way I'd quite like to visit the brewery and pick up some more, as well as some samples of the other beers they brew which I haven't had a chance to try yet.
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Damn, that sounds good. Send a couple of bottles south of the border, could you? :)