Clay Bald's Stotter Aboot Wee Heavy Scotch Ale with Hazelnut

Review Date 12/5/2025 By John Staradumsky

  Style: Wee Heavy   Brewery: Buck Bald   Country: USA   State: North Carolina   $ Per OZ: $.41 (D)   ABV: 9%

New brewery alert! For me anyway. I was in Murphy, North Carolina for a few days’ vacation, for a visit to the Harrah’s Valley River Casino and of course, a local brewery. The last time I was here I hit my beloved Valley River Brewery and as I did, I noticed a new brewery there, Buck Bald. We were in Murphy on Tuesday and Wednesday, and Valley River is closed both those days, so I dropped into Buck Bald for a few brews.

I was not disappointed. The place was full of locals and tourists enjoying a few good beers, the atmosphere was quaint, and the staff very friendly. They do not offer samplers per se, but they will give you a free taste of whatever you would like to try. I saw about 12 beers on tap, and they fill growlers and also sell beer to go in cans. I liked the fact that they will run a tab for you, but they operate on the honor system and do not hold a credit card. You go up when you are ready to leave and tell them what you had. This is Buck Bald's second location, the first being in Copperhill, TN.

I very much enjoyed the Clay Bald’s Stotter Aboot Wee Heavy Scotch Ale with Hazelnut. The bartender recommended this when I inquired about the Scottish Ale. I ended up drinking both.

Buck Bald says:

You've been asking for it and we delivered. Stotter Aboot is our dark and delicious Wee Heavy Ale with Hazelnut. We made this 9% marvel for our good friend Clay Bald to enjoy on his 60th birthday. Now we make it periodically throughout the year, but when we put it on tap it doesn't last long.

I paid $6.50 for my pint of Stotter Aboot, and in fact all the pints were $6.50 here. That is a good price in today’s craft beer world.

Clay Bald’s Stotter Aboot Wee Heavy Scotch Ale with Hazelnut pours to a dark mahogany color with a thick creamy tan head and a nose of dark sweet malt and toasted nuts. Taking a sip the beer is medium to full in body, rich and sticky sweet. Toffee and treacle abound, chocolate arrives, and then the hazelnut hits. The beer finishes dry with herbal grassy hops. It is warming with alcohol which was welcome on a cold winter’s night in the mountains.

This beer was delicious and a bargain at the price. I will certainly be back to Buck Bald, and of course Valley River Brewery, the next time I am in Murphy. Little Murphy has a vibrant brewing scene downtown with these two in close proximity.

Glad I tried it?  T

Would I rebuy it??