BJCP 14A · Scottish Ale
Scottish Light
The lightest of the Scottish ales: clean malt with soft caramel, barely any hops and a dry touch of roasted barley. Very low alcohol and very drinkable.
Scottish Light by the numbers
- Alcohol (ABV)
- 2.5 – 3.3%on a scale of 2.0 to 14.0
- Bitterness
- 10 – 20 IBUon a scale of 0 to 100
- Color
- 17 – 25 SRM33–49 EBCon a scale of 1 to 40
- Original gravity
- 1.030 – 1.035on a scale of 1.026 to 1.130
- Final gravity
- 1.010 – 1.013on a scale of 0.990 to 1.040
What Scottish Light is like
A malty beer, very light in gravity and alcohol, with a clean profile of soft caramel, light roast and a dry finish. The hops are there only for balance.
Appearance
Pale copper to very dark brown, clear. Off-white head with low to moderate retention.
Aroma
Malt with soft caramel, sometimes butter or light toffee, and a faint roasted note. No noticeable hops or pronounced esters.
Flavor
Soft malt with caramel and bread, and a dry finish that may have a light roast from the roasted barley. Low bitterness and clean fermentation.
Mouthfeel
Light to medium-light body and low to moderate carbonation. No warmth.
Where Scottish Light comes from
Scottish ales were identified by their price in shillings per barrel, and the Light is the 60-shilling ale. It was the everyday low-alcohol beer in Scottish pubs.
Ingredients
Scottish or British pale ale malt with some crystal and a small amount of roasted barley for color and a dry finish. Very little English hops and a clean Scottish yeast.
Brew it yourself
How to brew Scottish Light at home
Mash at 68-69 °C (154-156 °F) so it has body despite the low gravity. Ferment cool, at 15-17 °C (59-63 °F), with a clean Scottish yeast and carbonate low. The classic mistake is adding peat-smoked malt: it's not part of the style.
Food pairing
It calls for simple food: fish and chips, meat pies or a roast beef sandwich.
Glassware: nonic pint glass, the classic pub glass, made for long drinks.
Frequently asked questions
How strong is Scottish Light?
Between 2.5% and 3.3% ABV, according to the BJCP 2021 Style Guidelines. That is a low strength.
How bitter is Scottish Light?
It has 10 to 20 IBUs, a low bitterness. For reference, a mass-market lager is around 10 IBUs.
What color is Scottish Light?
Light brown to dark brown: 17 to 25 SRM (33 to 49 EBC).
What food pairs well with Scottish Light?
It calls for simple food: fish and chips, meat pies or a roast beef sandwich.
Which styles are similar?
If you like it, also try Scottish Heavy and Dark Mild.
If you like Scottish Light, try these
Classification and statistics: official Scottish Light guidelines from the BJCP, 2021 edition. Original text by Hacer Cerveza Casera.