McSorley's Irish Pale Ale - Pabst Brewing Company

B967ierhunter177

Pennsylvania

2.4/5  rDev -24.1%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

This pours a clear, copper color with no head. It's aroma is fruity with bread and maybe some honey mixed in. The flavor has notes of citrus, molasses, and pine followed by a curious taste as it warms. The mouthfeel is light, paving the way for a good drinkability. Lion McSorley's Irish Red Ale is a decent beer, slightly recommended.

Serving type: bottle

04-13-2011 03:23:08 | More by B967ierhunter177

Haybeerman

Colorado

3.53/5  rDev +11.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Clear orange/amber color. Poured a 2 finger off-white head with fair retention to an even skim. Decanted lightly. Lacing washed down the glass.

S: Roasted biscuity malt. Light citrussy hops. Faint aromas of earth, hay and grass. All very subdued.

T: Consistent with the nose, but citrus flavor is up front; lemon, orange and grapefruit. Sweet malt blends in with the hop character through the middle. Finishes crisp and bitter.

M: Light to medium body; more than I expected. Moderate carbonation. Smooth malt and a little resiny hop transition to a dry and crisp finish.

D: Expected the beer to be more gimmick than substance. Pleasantly surprised. A fairly decent beer in what is usually an average category.

Serving type: bottle

04-11-2011 21:44:20 | More by Haybeerman

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

Flounder57

Massachusetts

3.03/5  rDev -4.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

We went down to McSorley's two months ago and pretty funny to see the beer in a six pack up in Maine of all places.

Appearance: The beer pours a copper red color with a small head out the top of the glass. The beer is decently carbonated and leaves some lacing on the glass when consumed.

Smell: I get a slight hint of caramel malts

Taste: Slight hints of caramel malts again. This beer could use more flavor.

Mouthfeel: The beer's carbonation tingles in my mouth and seems like it is a little watered down.

Overall: This beer is alright and a bit different from the one I got in NY city at the famous bar on the label. Very drinkable, but not worth going up to Maine and getting another sixer. I think I will stick to the delicious Maine beers next time I am up there.

Serving type: bottle

04-08-2011 01:16:47 | More by Flounder57

TheSignPost

Illinois

3.1/5  rDev -1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Irish pale ale. I'd never heard of it, so I figured I'd try it. I can live without it. This is a very average beer. Not very complex like IPA's. The color is nice, a reddish, brownish hue. But the taste is a little watery. I'm not sorry I tried it, but I won't be trying it again.

Serving type: bottle

04-04-2011 22:33:59 | More by TheSignPost

HBeagle

Georgia

2.88/5  rDev -8.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

A- decent color with about a finger of head

S- Not very complex, but there is a nice hint of caramel

T- It seems like the flavors have been watered down, but it is very drinkable

M- Thick, but light and a decent level of carbonation

O- Not bad, I wouldn't make it a point to buy this beer, but I wouldn't turn one down either

Serving type: bottle

03-25-2011 23:28:21 | More by HBeagle

Metalmonk

North Carolina

3.3/5  rDev +4.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a coppery red liquid topped with an off-white head. 'Tis what 'tis.

Can't discern much of a smell here at all, other than maybe some caramel, some cherry taffy and some soggy grain. Or maybe I'm just trying to hard and there's nothing there at all.

Flavor has some cherry-like sweetness to it, a little kick of mineral, herbal tea, something that reminds of ginger ale, faint caramel maltiness and a trace of grassy bitter hops, but just a trace, and mostly found in the finish.

Generously carbonated, almost to the point of being abrasive, but the body's not as light as expected, which is appreciated as it helps offset the harsh bubbles. Pretty dry.

This is okay, performing pretty well taste-wise, and that's where it counts most. Easy to drink despite too-aggressive carbonation.

Serving type: bottle

03-25-2011 21:41:29 | More by Metalmonk

yesyouam

New York

3.35/5  rDev +6%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

McSorley's Irish Pale Ale is a lively, deep golden ale with a thick, off white foam that has outstanding retention and lacing. It has a cave-like aroma with a cardboard note and a touch of sweet malt. The smooth, soft, medium body has a slightly chalky finish. There's a little green bitterness followed by some sweet caramel. The finish is bitter, sweet and herbal. It tastes substantive but there's no need to sip it.

Serving type: bottle

03-20-2011 16:50:19 | More by yesyouam

csiewert

Oregon

3.33/5  rDev +5.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

This beer pours a clear light amber color with little off white head that leaves no lacing as you drink. The aroma is apparent with sweet malty notes and some fruity notes. The taste starts malty sweet and pretty much ends there. Overall an average pale ale.

Serving type: bottle

03-19-2011 01:07:08 | More by csiewert

patreely12

Maryland

3.2/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

it's St. Patricks day and this has been sitting around waiting to be reviewed.

12 oz poured into a Samuel Adams perfect pint glass.

A - copper red color. is this an irish red? the label says "irish pale ale". weird. pretty nonetheless. 2 fingers of tan head after an aggressive pour. nice lacing. really surprised with how appetizing this beer is.

S - toasted, bready malts and some nice earthy hops. a tad bit of sweetness, maybe caramel or brown sugar. faint hint of spice too.

T/M - rather bland. there's a nice balance between the bready malts and hops. slightly bitter all the way through, with a dry aftertaste. but the flavors are watered down. the brown sugar provides a bit of sweetness, but not enough to fill the flavor void. light to medium bodied. moderate carbonation.

D - this goes down really easy though. very sessionable at 5.5% ABV.

Overall - the appearance and nose really had me going, but I was let down by the flavor. still, this is a decent beer and will not deter me for visiting McSorley's one day.

Serving type: bottle

03-18-2011 04:15:08 | More by patreely12

Brenden

Ohio

3.23/5  rDev +2.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

This beer is closer to red than pale, being a deep, nearly copper orange color. I don't know if this is actually a red, "Irish Pale" (whatever that means), or some sort of hybrid. The head makes a valiant struggle and manages just better than average in size, retention and lacing, left in thin spots moderately on the glass.
There's some nice toasty malt character on the nose with lots of bread, dough, toast and the like. It's a little light and ends up being doughy/bready malts with a strong grains presence with a bit of sweetness added and a bot of hops bitterness for balance pulling through.
The taste follows suit here, but with problems as it gets a bit weak and light. Bready/doughy malts and maybe some caramel from malts getting a bit of balance from a light floral hops presence and some sweetness lingering underneath. Hops add some spiciness and a nice grassy/earthy thing. I do get a bit of diacetylic butterscotch sort of thing going on as it warms.
This one loses something in the mouthfeel, as it's really much too thin. Nothing impressive in terms of crispness or smoothness keeps it lively other than just enough carbonation to at least keep it from being flat and terribly dull.
Overall, this isn't a bad effort (maybe BA bad), but I rate it as I like it and, as such, it's above average for me and not one to run away from.

Serving type: bottle

03-17-2011 19:45:34 | More by Brenden

9InchNails

New Jersey

3.55/5  rDev +12.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Copper color body. I don't know where Pale Ale comes from because this is more of an Amber copper color. Tan head that looked nice while it lasted but disapeared quite fast. Decently carbonated by the looks of the bubblage.

A bready caramel malt with the smell.

Brown sugar, caramel and bready maltiness and at the very end a little citrus. Not a bad taste.

Medium body, feels nice in the mouth. Noticeable carbonation.

I can drink a few, easy going down. Taste is good, feels good. Definitely a beer to choose if all the other beers are lame.

Serving type: on-tap

03-14-2011 03:20:53 | More by 9InchNails

FoamyMustache

Rhode Island

3.3/5  rDev +4.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

A - Poured from a bottle into a tumbler displaying a rich amber color and extremely thing white head.

S - Touch of orange zest and floral hops, but only as the beer warmed up. Not the rich aromatics I like to see from a pale ale.

T - Average...just average. Begins with a fairly crisp balance of spice and smooth malts, but fades to nothing incredibly fast. Finish is weak at best.

M - Very light, refreshing, crisp and just the right amount of carbonation.

D - Mouthfeel makes this brew moderately drinkable, however the lacking flavors really turn me off.

If someone handed me a six pack I would drink them, but I think I'll pass on this beer in the future.

Serving type: bottle

03-11-2011 18:51:02 | More by FoamyMustache

peensteen

Ontario (Canada)

3.05/5  rDev -3.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Pours a deep copper colour, moderate white head, light lacing on the glass. Smells of malt, light hops and a caramel like sweetness. Taste is of malt, and a slight bitterness and a sticky sweet note that was mildly unpleasant. Mouthfeel is good, quite full with a good use of carbonation. Drinks OK and wasn't bad really but I dont think I'm going to revisit this anytime soon though.

Serving type: on-tap

03-06-2011 20:11:28 | More by peensteen

wcintula

New York

2.83/5  rDev -10.4%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Not a bad beer, but it needs work. It looked great with it's reddish-copper body with a thick light caramel-colored sticky head to top. The smell is a bit caramel-y with a light toast to it. the taste is all the with a bit of bittering hops and a slight butterscotch note on it. It's odd that there's almost no aftertaste on this beer. It's got a thick body and is a bit filling.

Serving type: on-tap

02-22-2011 22:10:35 | More by wcintula

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

Stockfan42

Massachusetts

3.05/5  rDev -3.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a clear red-sh orange body with a thin off white head that quickly goes down to just a thin lace.

Aroma's of caramel, malt, grains, grapefruits and a bit of hops.

Taste is mostly caramel, sweet malt and grains. A hoppy undertone gives it a slight bitterness.

A light to medium body thats pretty much just all carbonation. Not really smooth but goes down easy. A bit of a dry finish for a beer thats mostly sweet.

Overall it's alright. Not a beer I am going to be purchasing anytime soon.

Serving type: bottle

02-08-2011 05:10:53 | More by Stockfan42

CuriousMonk

Virginia

3/5  rDev -5.1%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Poured in a glass mug many a-time at McSorley's Tavern in NYC. I had the 12oz bottle a few times as well. Mostly clear copper body with a medium creamy off-white had. Sweet earthy and light malt aroma. Sweet earthy flavor, light malt and slight metallic hints. Medium light body with moderate carbonation. Very drinkable (perfect for binge drinking).

Serving type: on-tap

02-02-2011 19:02:02 | More by CuriousMonk

nickd717

California

3.05/5  rDev -3.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Draft at McSorleys, where I think this is what the "light" beer is. Hell if I know though.

Deep clear amber pour with a lasting two finger off-white head.

Caramel and cereal grain aroma with mild earthy hoppiness.

The flavor is big on caramel, grain, and bready notes. A little herbal too, not bad.

Medium-bodied and slightly crisp with soft carbonation.

A reasonable but not exciting beer.

Serving type: on-tap

01-21-2011 19:09:23 | More by nickd717

dogfishandi

New York

3.38/5  rDev +7%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

12oz bottle pulled from fridge poured into SA perfect pint glass. 3 17 11 UTICA NY stamped on neck.

pours out a clear brownish red with a one finger of soapy white head. faded to a thin retentive layer and left lots of sticky lace clinging to the glass.

light aroma mostly of caramel, toasted grains, and light chocolate. maybe a trace of grassy hop.

light flavors of caramel, toasted malt, light chocolate, grassy hop with just a slight bitterness. decent sense of balance.

light to medium bodied, but not the best overall mouthfeel. carbonation could feel better and a little chalky.

ok drinkability, but i wouldnt buy this agian.

Serving type: bottle

01-20-2011 01:13:38 | More by dogfishandi

great7dividers

Florida

2.78/5  rDev -12%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

McSorley's Irish Pale Ale has a pale copper colored hue and a very light citrus-y aroma. The mild appearance and smell characteristics were quite indicative of the overall texture and flavor. The light body of this ale makes it very drinkable, but the lack of flavor or complexity leaves its overall character quite mediocre. There is a soft, distinguished malt flavor, but it is subtle, almost to a fault. A decent Pale ale, but not much to write home about.

Serving type: bottle

01-16-2011 20:25:20 | More by great7dividers

kwjd

Ontario (Canada)

3.18/5  rDev +0.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

I believe this is the "light" at Mcsoreley's Ale House in New York City. Pours a pale orange colour with half of the glass being head. Head dissipates to a ring along the top of the beer quick enough, but still lasts until your finish your half glass (they give you 2 glasses). Lacing over some of the glass. Smells of grainy malt, almost no hops whatsoever. Very light sweetness, no bitterness in the flavour. Medium bodied ale. Easy to drink, but not all that interesting.

Serving type: on-tap

01-09-2011 04:53:04 | More by kwjd

tronester

Oklahoma

3.43/5  rDev +8.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Pours a clear golden orange, with a thin, creamy tan head. Nice looking beer. Smell is of oatmeal, and a hint of vinegar. Taste is bready up front, with a yeasty middle, followed by some ripe fruit flavor, and a spicy earthy hop finish. Mouthfeel is smooth, low carbonation. Drinkability is ok, ultimately this is one of those beers that one at a time is plenty. Still I would get this again, I am somewhat surprised at how low its overall score is.

Serving type: bottle

01-07-2011 00:35:32 | More by tronester

Mosstrooper

California

2.4/5  rDev -24.1%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.5

Poured from 12oz bottle into nonic pint glass.

Appearance: Golden-orange color with a small off-white head that dissipates quickly and leaves behind no lace and a little bit of floating foam.

Smell: A grape-like sweetness dominates almost everything else. Not bad, but there's no depth.

Taste: Begins with some apple sweetness and a metallic flavor, and finishing even sweeter. Too much sweetness.

Mouthfeel: Lighter body with balanced carbonation and a watery finish.

Drinkability: This beer has potential, but lacks depth in almost every area. It's passable, but not really worth buying regularly. Not terrible, but hugely disappointing.

Serving type: bottle

12-22-2010 01:22:09 | More by Mosstrooper

ozzyCobblepot

New York

3.1/5  rDev -1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

A: Pale, dark amber, good carbonations, thick tan head.

S: Chocolate, earthy hops, iodine-y

T: Diacetyl, slightly bitter hops, soft toasted malt, somewhat watery

M: Mouthwatering, moderate body

D: Not all that impressive an example of the style

Serving type: bottle

12-20-2010 01:17:27 | More by ozzyCobblepot