Beer #17- Tennent's of Scotland

Expectations are clearly the most influential factor in judging. For instance, I remember watching previews for the movie "Troy" when I was in high school. My friends and I were eager with anticipation as we left school early one day for the matinee showing of the film.

The theatrical trailer showed hard hitting action, an epic storyline, great actors, amazing cinematography, and promising inspirational speeches.

The movie had everything we had previously seen on the previews, yet they were not delivered in an appropriate manner. The movie floundered, sputtered, and failed before we even finished it. We left upset, angry, but mostly sad. The anticipation was over and it wasn't even close to delivering. I feel like Tennent's is microcosmal of my Troy experience.

As bravely ignorant as this sounds, I wish I had a Molson Canadian right next to this beer to compare the two. I know i'm insulting every Scottish man with this comment, but there are striking similarities between the two. Both a bit on the pale lager side, but with very different prices.

I will give Tennent's this, it has a deeper complexity. This pale lager sits on the palate for a second, delivers a brief complexity of sweet hops with white peppery notes- and then disappears. It's rush of brief flavor is subtly assaulting and unforgiving, leaving the palate wanting more, but not necessarily more of Tennent's.

I'm sorry Scotland, I was expecting more.




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I give Tennent's of Scotland an 82.


Look: Light Bronze
Smell: Hops and subtle white pepper
Taste: Crisp. Light. The pepper.



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Brett's ratings are out of 100.

*Please understand that ratings on this scale have been influenced by my scholastic history of grading. A grade below 75 is not good, it is less than average. A beer below 60 is bad. Beers in the 90s are in the upper-echelon of beers on this earth, and above 95- divinely inspired.*

As with all connoisseurs, personal taste affects all ratings. The best ratings tend to lean towards his two different biases; 1) Well-crafted heavy Stouts and 2) Lagers made with a simple perfection.

Please understand that just because Brett gives a beer a high rating doesn't mean you may think it is good. Only understand that if he gives it a high rating it is because most people who have a good taste in beer would do the same.