Houlihan's Irish Stout - Sherwood Brewing Company

RichieS2

Michigan

4.55/5  rDev 0%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

FYI: The ABV and IBUs as listed on Sherwood's website and what was in the pub that day were different. The online listing was an ABV of 5.5 and an IBU of 30. The actual chalk board in the pub listed an ABV of 6.6 and an IBU of 43.

Ordered this with a lunch and enjoyed out of a 20 oz pint glass.

Appearance: Excellent by stout standards. Opaque with an admirable head but not one that was overwhelmingly big. Held up to the light it was still opaque with not a shimmer of red coming through.

Smell: World class! A whiff of this immediately brought the sensation of malts to the palate. Along with the malt gave way to the coffee taste that is a trademark of stouts.

Taste: Everything that a stout should be! As soon as it hits your tongue you can taste the fullness of the malt and as you roll it around you can pick up hints of sweetness. Interesting enough it has an IBU rating listed at 43 which is equal to some IPAs, yet it did not seem overly bitter to me.

Mouthfeel: Good but not great. Thick enough that the term watery does not enter the mind but not overly thick. It gets the job done and to me that is what is important.

Drinkability: After 20 ounces I would think nothing of ordering a second one after finishing lunch and enjoying it just as much. Then again stout is one of my favorite styles. With an abv of 6.6% I personally would stop after two.

Serving type: on-tap

01-10-2010 20:22:07 | More by RichieS2