McSorley's Irish Black Lager - Pabst Brewing Company

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BA SCORE
80
good
-
275 Ratings

rAvg: 3.53
pDev: 14.16%
Reviews: 161
Hads: 114

Ratings Help

Brewed by:
Pabst Brewing Company

Illinois, United States

Style | ABV
Schwarzbier | 5.50% ABV

Availability: Year-round. bottle (144), on-tap (17).

Notes:
No notes at this time.

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Reviews

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Reviews by GregBlatz:

GregBlatz

Ohio

3.45/5 rDev -2.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

A - Deep dark ruby color with a tan head. Head is large and rocky. Laces the glass aggressively.

S - Chalky. Buttery. Very British. Dark fruit, plums and raisins.

T - Very ale-like. That is the first thing I notice. Somewhat fruity and quite frankly reminds me more of a light porter than a black lager.

O - It is an enjoyable brew. My sample was laser stamped on the neck with 071311. I assume that is a date but I'm not sure if it is a born-on date or a drink-by date. Either way it was pretty good.

Serving type: bottle

12-29-2011 00:20:58 | More by GregBlatz

More User Reviews:

InspectorBob

New Jersey

3.5/5 rDev -0.8%

05-22-2013 16:10:45 | More by InspectorBob

SonOfKyuss

Virginia

2.75/5 rDev -22.1%

05-12-2013 11:39:11 | More by SonOfKyuss

oakaged88

New York

3.75/5 rDev +6.2%

05-05-2013 23:39:11 | More by oakaged88

BYOFB

Wisconsin

3.75/5 rDev +6.2%

05-03-2013 04:03:13 | More by BYOFB

alex_hart

Massachusetts

3.25/5 rDev -7.9%

04-20-2013 16:37:21 | More by alex_hart

plaid75

New York

3.34/5 rDev -5.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured a black hue with amber edges below a one finger foamy white head. There was decent retention and lacing.

The smell featured sweet adjunct grain coupled with roasted barley.

The taste consisted of a slight sweetness tempered by a moderate roasted malt.

The mouthfeel was typical foe style with a vigorous carbonation.

Overall a tasty ale.

Serving type: bottle

04-15-2013 23:52:43 | More by plaid75

CHickman

New York

3.39/5 rDev -4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours an almost black looking dark brown color with a little chestnut brown showing where the light hits the beer and a huge foamy 2 finger tan head that faded pretty quickly, leaving minimal lacing as it went down.

Smells of cocoa powder, roasted grains, coffee grinds, dry grass or hay, chocolate, caramel, dry and faint floral hops and some burnt wood; very basic and roasted grain nose, that’s just sort of devoid of any major accents.

Tastes like it smells, with cocoa powder, roasted grains, coffee grinds, chocolate Quick powder, dry grass, hay, light caramel, faint floral hops, tea leaf and astringent charcoal notes; basically this tastes of roasted grains and chocolate notes.

Mouthfeel is very smooth and light, with mild carbonation, a medium and almost chewy body and slightly bitter finish that leaves a sweet charcoal taste.

Average overall, this might fit the style profile, but unless I was at McSorley's in NYC throwing back a few, then I doubt that I’d seek this out again. Extra points for being easy to drink.

Serving type: bottle

04-13-2013 03:29:10 | More by CHickman

hockeyfighter19

Pennsylvania

4.75/5 rDev +34.6%

04-11-2013 19:56:38 | More by hockeyfighter19

Celtics76

Rhode Island

3.5/5 rDev -0.8%

04-02-2013 15:05:33 | More by Celtics76

DMB

Massachusetts

3.75/5 rDev +6.2%

03-31-2013 02:32:52 | More by DMB

WissBrauSean

Pennsylvania

4.14/5 rDev +17.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I can reuse this bottle for hombrewing so I am giving some extra sumtin for dat! But look at that head! It is a very nice tan one finger head of tiny to small sized bubbles that fade to a heavy ring around the glass and a cap in the center and leaves a nice little Hopi village in the side of sandstone cliff kind of lacing on the glass. The beer pours a clear but opaque black. I poured this beer at about 50 degrees F.

At an instant an aroma of dark roasted malts hit me. Underneath that are some sweet malts and a bread like note. Someone reviewed it as the dark toasted crust on a slice of bread. They were not too far off. It's pleasant to say the least.

Taste wise once again like with many beers is amazingly similar to the aroma. At first the dark roasted malts are apparent and they carry through with the sip, but just after and sort of under that flavour is a darkened caramel sweetness almost like cola (as another reviewer put it) and then as the beer continues on the sweet fades to mild to medium English bittering hops on the back of the tongue with some dryness and a hint of licorice. Again, it is dry and a little bitter, but only enough so as to get you to drink more!

The mouthfeel is often described as crisp and I tend to agree. It's body is light to moderate with just over moderate carbonation which puts forth the crispiness. It's balanced and refreshing.

Overall, I would say that this is an excellent Schwarzbier at the least. I would totally seek this out AND recommend it to the beginning craft beer drinker as a good transition beer as well as an alternative to a stout in which they may not like. It is a great alternative to the latter in the winter as you feel like you can session this 5.5 % ABV beer without getting bloated and hammered. 4 out of 5!

Serving type: bottle

03-27-2013 01:54:22 | More by WissBrauSean