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© NCSU Student Media 2012
Highland brewing company balances malt and hops in its amber-colored Gaelic Ale. The Asheville-based microbrewery originally named the brew "Celtic Ale" in honor of the Celts and Scots of the Appalachian mountains, but later changed the name. Photo by Alex Sanchez.
A quintessential winter beer has a bold flavor, rich body and doesn’t shy from malt or hops, so naturally many beer drinkers flock to stouts and porters. Highland’s flagship Gaelic Ale takes inspiration from the flavors of Irish and Scottish ales and delivers balanced malt and hops as an American amber ale.
Beer drinkers tend to favor bold and heavy beers in the winter, like stouts and imperials, but the seasonal zeal often wears after a few weeks. There is a reason why pumpkin ales only appear for a short period throughout the year.
Highland’s Gaelic Ale offers everything you’d want in a cozy winter beer, including a body with made with more malt than a pale ale without being too sweet or alcoholic. The brewers use standard barley base malt to achieve an adequate fermentation and add roasted malts for color and depth of flavor. The deep honey color is appealing and typical of the amber style, and the mix of aromatic and bitter hops round off the malty flavors.
This is a beer to drink before, during and after dinner, and its modest 5.6 percent alcohol makes this one a refreshing session beer—one you can drink one after another in a session without getting too intoxicated.
This beer, coming from Highland Brewing Company in Asheville, is popping up in bars and taverns across North Carolina and is easy to find in Raleigh. Either on tap or from the bottle, Gaelic Ale will come through with a crisp drinkability unlike many heavy winter seasonals . If you can’t make up your mind at the grocery store or the tavern, Gaelic is a simple and reliable brew.
The remarkable thing about Highland Brewing Company is their attention to simple details. Craft beer, especially seasonals , sometimes can have too many flavors and additives going on that only act as distractions. This flagship Gaelic Ale is simple and smooth, which says a lot about its makers. Highland understands the importance of water, malt, hops and yeast and doesn’t stray from that with its Gaelic Ale.
Though Highland makes a winter seasonal, the Cold Mountain Winter Ale brewed with vanilla and hazelnut, winter spice usually loses its appeal after the new year. The consistency of Highland’s Gaelic Ale may be a good choice to toast to for 2012.