Highway 78 Scotch Ale

Brewery: Green Flash Brewing Co., Pizza Port Carlsbad, Stone Brewing Co.

Style: Scotch Ale

Series: Stone Collaborations

• ABV: 8.8%

  Size: 12 oz bottle

  Website: http://www.stonebrew.com

I love the idea of Stone’s collaboration series: micro brewers working together to produce “liquid tributes to the spirit of camaraderie.” So I’ve got high hopes for Highway 78 Scotch Ale, which brings together three North County San Diego brewers: Escondido’s Stone, San Marcos’s Green Flash, and Carlsbad’s Pizza Port.

Highway 78 pours muddy red-brown with a pronounced head that quickly falls, leaving little islands of lacing on the glass. Malty and sweet on the nose, vanilla and oak undertones. Peaty on the tongue, malt, warm sugar, and alcohol, with a touch of cherry. None of the aggressive hoppiness I typically associate with Stone and Green Flash. Light carbonation balances a moderately heavy mouthfeel. Boozy sweet molasses finish. Warming. An enjoyable collaboration, great for a rainy afternoon. Paired really well with the curried potato and peas hand pie (like a samosa in a crust!) from Petaluma Pie Company that I had for lunch.