14C

Scottish Export

A moderate-strength, malty beer with light caramel, toast, toffee, and fruit flavors. A slight roast dryness offsets the residual sweetness in the finish, with the bitterness perceived only to keep the beer from being cloying.

Compare

Approximate color illustration of Scottish Export

12–20 SRM

Parameter ranges

Alcohol · ABV

3.9–6%

Bitterness · IBU

15–30

Color · SRM

12–20

Original gravity · OG

1.040–1.060

Final gravity · FG

1.010–1.016

Ranges describe a style, not an individual beer. Color is an approximation. Light and glassware change its appearance.

Appearance

Pale copper to brown. Clear. Low to moderate, creamy off-white.

Aroma

Medium maltiness with caramel and toffee notes, and light toasty and sugary qualities that might be reminiscent of toasted breadcrumbs, ladyfingers, English biscuits, graham crackers, or butterscotch. Light pome fruitiness and light English hop aroma (earthy, floral, orange-citrus, spicy, etc.) allowable.

Flavor

Medium toasty-bready malt with caramel and toffee overtones, finishing with a slightly roasty dryness. A wide range of caramelized sugar and toasted bread type of flavors are possible, using similar descriptors as the aroma. Clean maltiness and fermentation profile. Light esters and hop flavor allowable (similar descriptors as aroma). Sufficient bitterness to not be cloying, but with a malty balance and aftertaste.

Mouthfeel

Medium body. Medium-low to medium carbonation. Maybe be moderately creamy.

Notes

The Scottish Ale category provides additional context. May not seem as bitter as specifications indicate due to higher finishing gravity and residual sweetness. Do not mis-perceive the light roasty dryness as smoke; smoke is not present in these beers. Americanized versions are often greater in strength (similar to American treatment of Irish Red Ales).

History

The Scottish Ale category provides additional context. The Shilling ale names were used for mild (unaged) beer before World War I, but the styles took modern form only after World War II.

Characteristic ingredients

At its simplest, pale ale malt and colored malt, but can also use sugars, corn, wheat, crystal malts, colorants, and a variety of other grains. Clean yeast. Soft water. No peat-smoked malt.

Style comparison

The Scottish Ale category provides additional context. Stronger than other Scottish Ales, but with a similar flavor profile. Similar in strength to Best Bitter and Strong Bitter, but with a different flavor profile and balance.