McSorley's Irish Pale Ale - Pabst Brewing Company

RonaldTheriot

Louisiana

4.22/5  rDev +33.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I really love this ale. It looks great in the beer glass, with it's not-too-bubbly red appearance and creamy head. It smells like good hoppy ale, with coffee notes. The taste is outstanding, with just the right amount of hops and somewhat of a cream ale flavor. Mouthfeel is watery and cheery. This product has excellent drinkability and it goes down smooth and nice. I think I could drink this one daily. It's very good with spicy and and robust foods. But, it's also quite nice to drink it by itself. Highly recommended.

RJT

Serving type: bottle

12-28-2009 21:57:41 | More by RonaldTheriot

Rudgers73

New York

4.15/5  rDev +31.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured into my Boddingtons Imperial pint glass. Light red in color with a good sized sticky, fluffy head that settles to 1/2" leaving nice lacing behind. This smells great. It has that characteristic nutty/toasty Irish aroma. I can smell slightly chocolate and bready malt. The hops are faint in the nose, but smell like a mild english variety. The taste is pretty good as well. Light and toasty, much like the smell with a sweet overtone. Slightly acidic toward the end. This is an ale that Killian's wishes it could be like. Rich with flavor and balanced nicely with a bitter finish. You could almost make an english brown ale out of this if different yeast was used. Very drinkable, and although the ABV isn't stated, I think it is very sessionable as well.

Nice mild ale.

Serving type: bottle

09-07-2009 02:48:38 | More by Rudgers73

tugdriver7

Maryland

4.1/5  rDev +29.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Tried this one after drinking the Black lager. Liked this one better, and I usually prefer the "darker" beer. So this was a pleasant surprise! Nice reddish/amber color with a soft foam on top. Fairly rich malt in the nose, a touch sweet (in a good way), with a nicely balanced (very mild) hops bitterness. Roasted caramel taste continues and the balance is maintained right down to the end. Little true hops flavor, per se; but it is really unique in that way. Definitely worth trying. Something I'd seek out and buy. Very enjoyable. Thanks, N, for bringing it by.

Serving type: bottle

03-31-2009 00:35:51 | More by tugdriver7

thekanna

Maryland

4.03/5  rDev +27.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A: Pours a gorgeous clear amber with a huge tan head that leaves spotty clumps of lacing down the side.

S: Sweet caramel malts, some yeast.

T: Sweet caramel malt taste and a bit of toasted rice devolves into a great, not overwhelming hoppiness and slight metallic earthiness.

M: Smooth with medium carbonation.

D: Very drinkable, kick-back-and-have-a-few stress relief kind of beer.

Serving type: bottle

05-30-2010 04:55:31 | More by thekanna

mpcrump

Indiana

4/5  rDev +26.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from 12oz bottle into pint glass.

A: Good amber color. Lots of carbonation. Large head that stayed for a while. Lots of lacing.

S: Biscuits, caramel, grains, and a mild hint of citrus.

T: Nice start with malts and grains. Hops kicked in the end.

M: Medium body and carbonation.

O: Good Irish Ale. Perhaps a bit lighter than some but good body and flavor.

Serving type: bottle

10-27-2011 16:48:58 | More by mpcrump

gboy515duo

Pennsylvania

3.98/5  rDev +25.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

A: A beautiful dark brown, amber colored body with little to no head.

S: A strong malty aroma with very present spices

M: a very strong bite, decently carbonated.

T: A very nice malty taste, almost creamy. The hops were also noticeable in this ale. After a few sips other flavors seem to creep out, such as an almost chocolately or coffee flavored hint.

D: Definitely could drink this one all night long.

Serving type: bottle

06-27-2010 16:20:27 | More by gboy515duo

MattyG85

Minnesota

3.95/5  rDev +25%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Retail version. Poured from 12 oz. bottle into a Sam Adams perfect pint glass.

Appearance: Deep amber red with lots of rising bubbles. Huge 3 finger off white head that has great retention and lots of lacing.

Smell: Lots of roasted caramel malts that give a strong aroma of biscuit. Also some grains and a mild aroma of earthy hops with a light hint of citrus.

Taste: Roasted malts and grains up front giving it a lightly sweet, bready flavor. A little bit of earthy hops in the finish help balance things out. Very malt forward but it tastes good.

Mouthfeel: Medium body and carbonation. Slightly chewy and pretty smooth.

Overall: A pretty good Irish ale. On the lighter side but still has some good flavor. I would like to try this at the pub in NYC someday.

Serving type: bottle

06-04-2011 04:40:25 | More by MattyG85

JohnFatAss

New Jersey

3.9/5  rDev +23.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Ordered on tap at my local bar and served in an ice cold pint glass.

Copper colored brew. I did not notice much of an aroma.

Sweet malty taste, very little bitterness and easy to drink.

It really hit the spot. I don't know if it was because it was served so cold, but it sure did taste good and went down easy.

Serving type: on-tap

04-11-2011 01:54:29 | More by JohnFatAss

albern

Massachusetts

3.85/5  rDev +21.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Not a bad beer at all, quite refreshing, and even more surprising coming from Lion Brewery. The brewpub is located in NYC, but they bottle elsewhere. The look of the beer is good, it has a clear amber color with some nice foamy, and partly creamy white head that retains a bit and laces ever so slightly. The nose is very typical ringwood yeast, some crystal malt, some slight caramel notes too. This is a very classic British pale ale aroma, with the taste that follows suit.

The beer has the ringwood yeastiness, it has some unmistakable dry crystal malts, it is lightly carbonated, there is a bit of diacetyl in the taste as well. It is just a tad prickly in the mouthfeel, and it does have a slightly chicory hint or two. The beer is a bit smooth, not all that creamy, it has a touch, just a touch of leafy hop, to balance out those crystal malts, but not by much. This is a very traditional British style irish ale with a slightly sourish finish. It is quite good, refreshing, light, and hits all the right notes.

Serving type: bottle

05-25-2009 22:37:42 | More by albern

superdedooperboy

Georgia

3.85/5  rDev +21.8%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

12 oz. brown longneck bottle poured into a 19 oz. "pub" glass.

Deep copper-amber in color with nice clarity. The one-fingered head of off-white foam is short-lived, falling away rapidly and leaving behind a clean glass virtually devoid of stick.

A sweet, lightly toasted caramel malt aroma enters the nose, with a bit of herbal, resinous hop character.

Light-bodied but not watery, with just enough carbonation to scour the tongue; a lightly toasted, semi-sweet caramelly maltiness provides a backbone supporting dry bitterness with resinous, piney, slightly herbaceous hops, finishing very dry and bittersweet, with a hint of resin and maple.

Nothing too complex, but should it be? An Irish Red Ale needs nothing outlandish to be good, and a Pale Ale, particularly an American variant, requires about an equal level of complexity; and so it is with McSorley's "Irish Pale Ale," a beer straddling the line between Irish Red and American Pale, and doing so rather nicely. Two down and another could easily go: just the way a brew of this sort should be.

Serving type: bottle

07-28-2009 03:04:35 | More by superdedooperboy

bluetravlr

Colorado

3.85/5  rDev +21.8%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

A: Ruby red with a small head that quickly fades to nothing.

S: Like a peeled orange. I didn't pick up on the scent until I tasted this brew. Then . . . a bit of citrus baked in bread in a forest of pine and toffee.

T: Surprisingly great taste. Grapefruit, lemon-zest, orange-peel, and pine are strong in this one. The fruity flavors are great. The sweet (but not so malty) backbone of this beer is what makes it taste so great. It's like drinking candied fruits.

M: Slightly thick and syrupy. An effervescence of bubbly tingling is needed in order to bring out the citrus in all its glory. I hate over carbonation . . . but this one may be lacking.

D: The flavors are right, the abv is right, the syrupiness is the only thing wrong with this beer. It leaves a candy-coated feeling on the tongue. Other than that way way way drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

02-11-2011 11:53:04 | More by bluetravlr

jimineycricket20

3.83/5  rDev +21.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Enjoyed from a bottle poured into a pint glass. I think this beer gets an undue average rating. While the taste is rather mild, it lingers pleasantly and is enjoyable to drink. I think this would be a good beer for someone who is interested in acquiring an affinity for IPAs as it is not quite as hoppy yet still has the essence of an Indian Pale Ale.

Serving type: bottle

03-16-2012 22:15:16 | More by jimineycricket20

yuenglings

Pennsylvania

3.78/5  rDev +19.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Read about this in the beeradvocate mag never heard of it before so i figured i would give it a try.
Has a good head at first that shrinks rather quickly to a nice thin layer on top withc left a good amount of laceing. Has a dark copper color to it.
The smell is sweet with a hint of flowers and caramell hops the taste is about the same with a grassey finish.
Has a nice and smooth mouth feel its not to heave and its not to thin. It leaves your mouth feeling dry and wanting another sip. it has good carbonation.
As far as drinkabilty goes i think this beer is real drinkable even in large amounts cause it goes down smooth and its not filling i would defintly buy this agian when im looking for a good session beer

Serving type: bottle

04-18-2009 19:11:21 | More by yuenglings

PierceMyers

Tennessee

3.78/5  rDev +19.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

The most remarkable characteristics for this beer were it's color; which was rich, full, and slightly reddish, and its great balance. It immediately struck me as being very appetizing in its appearance, which featured a thick head along with the nice color. The aroma was not particularly remarkable, but that was OK, because the flavor was full like the hue. It was slightly heavier than I expected in a pale ale, which kept the bitter on the back, allowing the malty side some attention. It was overall very appetizing to the eye and to the taste. I'd buy more.

Serving type: bottle

06-29-2011 22:56:48 | More by PierceMyers

Minkybut

Virginia

3.75/5  rDev +18.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I had a terrible time tinding this beer on BA. Also to be noted that the beer on BA is listed as coming from Lion Brewery, but on my bottle it says McSorely's Brewery. Anyway I poured this brew into my glass at 50 degrees. The beer amber colored with a fast decaying head. It had a bitter smell. The taste was interesting in that it tasted a bit like it had cane sugar in it. I liked it and will buy again.

Serving type: bottle

03-25-2009 19:43:35 | More by Minkybut

thekevlarkid

Maryland

3.75/5  rDev +18.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

On tap at a Greek joint called Sartori's in central NY this beer was a clear copper color with one finger of slightly tan-colored head. The retention was fine and the lacing in broken bands. The aroma was balanced but unassertive, light hops and generic malt. The flavors, however, were really quite enjoyable! It started malty and then went into a soft hoppiness comprised of two layers, one slightly citrusy in a zest/rind kinda way and one more spicy. I also tasted hints of toasted grains and the finish was pleasantly hoppy. Lovely, without being big. Just balanced and quaffable. The body was medium-light, the carbonation good and the mouthfeel good.

Serving type: on-tap

06-21-2010 13:35:06 | More by thekevlarkid

ummswimmin

New Jersey

3.75/5  rDev +18.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

I poured this into my handy, dandy tulip glass. There was almost no foam, but the color was really nice to look at. The red is unmistakeable.

The flavor is nice and light. You get some grain flavor from the wheat. Also present was a little bit of sweetness.

This was a pretty good beer. I was surprised to taste a beer of this quality from Papst. The other McSorley's wasn't on par with this one.

Serving type: bottle

11-05-2011 01:53:46 | More by ummswimmin

Lexluthor33

New York

3.73/5  rDev +18%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Medium brown color with a small head and lace.
The aroma of grains,toasted malts and some hints of fruit.

The taste of malts and some mild hops. Very simple taste.
The feel was medium to light body with medium carbonation and decent balance.

Notes: A decent beer that I would like to try on tap.

Serving type: bottle

06-18-2009 02:04:16 | More by Lexluthor33

mainlyale

Maine

3.7/5  rDev +17.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

I found this at a border store in Calais. I bought 1 12 oz bottle. It poured a clear dark amber and had a short lived 1 finger head. The smell was pretty neutral. The initial taste was sweet and that stayed for middle and aftertaste. I did not dislike it - I might drink it again, but I have many more to try before I do that. It reminded me of an English mild or brown.

Serving type: bottle

10-28-2010 21:28:57 | More by mainlyale

JoeyBeerBelly

New York

3.68/5  rDev +16.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12oz bottle served in a standard pint glass.

L - clear amber color with an off-white head that lasted quite a while and left good lacing.

S - caramel malt, faint grassy hops and grainy aroma.

T - a tad bitter most of the way but there are some sweet moments in the taste.

F - medium bodied with mild carbonation.

D - goes down easy and isn't too filling.

Serving type: bottle

03-05-2009 00:04:27 | More by JoeyBeerBelly

smcolw

Massachusetts

3.68/5  rDev +16.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Modest head that settles quickly. It does leave nice blanketing lace. The color is dirty copper/amber.

More malt than hop, but dry. Earthy with notes of milk chocolate.

Full-bodied with a rich pale malt (again, dry) up front. I also detect caramel. There's a good hop balance in the swallow which leaves some lingering pepper in the aftertaste.

This beer is a very easy drink. There are no flaws and it exhibits all of the Irish Ale characteristics.

Serving type: bottle

12-18-2010 23:51:40 | More by smcolw

mkabull

Massachusetts

3.65/5  rDev +15.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Appearance- nice copper color with nice head formation that does fade a bit but there was some lacing
Smell- has a slight grainy/husky aroma some hop aroma present but not much
Taste- taste was good but not great husk from aroma present in the taste finished pretty clean slight astringent aftertaste
Mouthfeel- fit style not to thin but also not to heavy
Drinkability- great drinkability good session beer

Serving type: bottle

03-05-2009 01:06:57 | More by mkabull

Parrotbeak

Minnesota

3.65/5  rDev +15.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Light amber with a thin white head that fades quickly, leaving some thick patchwork and a bubbly ring around the perimeter.
Smell is spiced malts, with some ginger and caramel tones.
Taste is spicey malts, with the malts carrying, becoming slightly toasty and bready. Faint, nutty tones, as well as some cinnamon and brown sugar accompany the malty finish.
Mouthfeel is crisp, with a fairly dry finish. Light body.
Drinkability is good. Easy beer to drink.

Serving type: bottle

04-07-2010 00:55:47 | More by Parrotbeak

TMoney2591

Illinois

3.65/5  rDev +15.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Served in a Devil's Backbone willibecher.

Thanks to Wedge421 for this guy!

Boston's "Amanda" is currently rocking my iTunes while I drink this, a reminder of an unrequited love, one that got away. *tear* With this review I will "say it like a man and make you understand" what this brew's all about. It pours an orange-amber, quite clear, with a short stack o' white sudsy head. The nose is condensed floral hops and toffee, very sweet, with a touch of brown sugar thrown in for flavor. ... How appropriate, .38 Special's "Caught Up in You" just started... Think about it. Anyway... The taste comes off as fairly bitter, plenty o' leafy greens for some reason, sorta an ivy-ness, followed by a stiff bit of what is trying to be an assertive caramel-ity. (You come up with these non-existent nouns, you're so smart!) A tiny bit o' that brown shugga (how come it tastes so good?) survives to tell its grandkids about its invasion of the 'strils. The carbonation is moderate, the body a light medium, and, as Natalie Imbruglia's "Torn" starts off (you wish you had the eclecticism of my playlist), it goes down pretty smoothly. It ain't the greatest thing in the world, but a solid brew to slam back for an easy bit of enjoyment. "So, I guess the fortune-teller's right..."

Serving type: bottle

05-13-2010 10:44:07 | More by TMoney2591

WesWes

New York

3.63/5  rDev +14.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

The beer pours a dark amber/red color with a 1/2" offwhite head that slowly fades to lacing. The aroma is decent. It has a nice pale and crystal malt scent along with a fruity yeast aroma. It almost smells like English Ringwood yeast. The taste is decent as well. It has a smooth, malty flavor that goes down easy witha slight sweetness in the finish. It's medium bodied with a dry aftertaste. This is a quaffable brew, but nothing exceptional.

Serving type: bottle

03-29-2009 21:27:05 | More by WesWes