I stopped by the Roger Wilco just to look around. And the Leinenkugel’s Big Eddy label caught my eye. I had had the Russian Imperial Stout on several occasion and thought I had found it again. To my surprise, I had picked up a bottle of their Wee Heavy Scotch Ale. Not one to turn away a bottle, I brought the Wee Heavy home. It didn’t hurt that I had “researched” the Big Eddy series (Russian Imperial, Imperial IPA, Baltic Porter and the Wee Heavy) and found that they are the highest rated beers in the Leinenkugel lineup and decidedly more crafty than the more traditional offerings. Leinenkugel offers seven year round beers, two types of Summer Shandy (that is two too many) and three seasonal beers besides the Big Eddy Series. The Big Eddy name is taken from the local spring in Chippewa Falls that Leinie’s has used for 140 years to make its brews.

Here is what Leinenkugel has to say about their Wee Heavy:

Our Big Eddy Wee Heavy Scotch Ale is a tip of the cap to the brewers of Scotland. A blend of eight robust malts give Wee Heavy its complex flavor which is balanced by notes of dark chocolate, toffee and caramel.

I found the Wee Heavy to be…

Appearance: Ruby with no foam and little lacing.

Ruby with no foam and little lacing. Aroma: Heavy malt and wet dog.

Heavy malt and wet dog. Taste: Malty, a little like a barley wine with a sweet flavor and a slightly sour finish.

Malty, a little like a barley wine with a sweet flavor and a slightly sour finish. ABV: 9.5%

I had enjoyed the Russian Imperial so much that I was expecting the Wee Heavy to be a standout Scotch Ale. Instead, it was just a Scotch Ale. I guess I was expecting something different, so it wasn’t that the Wee Heavy was bad, it just wasn’t what I had expected from the Big Eddy Series.