A’right, ye English bastarrrds, this Kolonel has meede a trrrip across ye wee English Channel, ta’ the feine house of Traquair. And wwhat did eye feind, ye ask? Do ye? Do ye ask meh what did eye feind?

Clearly not proper syntax. However, if you’re in the mood for a random tasty, beardy beer, read on. The Traquair house is, as they say right on the bottle, the oldest inhabited house in Scotland. Which means these guys hung in there following the battle of Culloden _______________ = moment of silence for thee breeve Scots who stood tha greund at Cullahhden. Ahhhhhh… aye. They have an excellent little website at http://www.traquair.co.uk, which I found really made me want to take Mrs. Tripel to Scotland and stay at the Traquair House… now.

 The beer is produced from the standard Big 4 ingredients in extremely limited quantities (600-700 barrels per year, according to the website), with the water coming from a local spring. It won a platinum medal in 1997 from Michael Jackson (beer rest his soul), so you know it’s worth a shot. I suppose I would classify it as a stouty ale, with predominantly fruity, herby flavors and aromas. Definite hints of vanilla, oak (from having been fermented in oak casks), coriander (but not as much as their Jacobite varietal, check that one out too), and parentheses (too many this post, methinks). The 7.2 ABV is noticeable, but integrates easily with its full-bodied flavor. Drink this on a chilly late-autumn or winter eve, or anytime you want to grow a beard and kill English.

Overall: slightly pricey for the flavor, but well worth the experience of reconnecting with your highland (or lowland) ancestry.