O'Hara's Irish Stout - Carlow Brewing Company

damndirtyape

Ohio

3.98/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

11.2 oz bottle poured into a Libby porter glass. Best before 25.01.13.

Appearance: Black on the table with a 1/4" dense tan head upon pouring. After a few minutes this dies back to a persistent 1/16" tan head across the top with some nice strands of lacing noted. When held up to the light some cola brown color comes through at the edges.

Smell: Burnt sugar, coffee, a bit of sweetness on the swirl with a tiny bit of chocolate coming out.

Taste: Roasted malts up front, a bit of sweetness in the middle with chocolate notes, and the finish is black coffee, more roasted malt and bittering hops. There are some occasional char and tobacco notes in here as well at the end as a bit of an aftertaste. Let this one warm up a bit to let all the flavors come out.

Mouthfeel: Spicy carbonation on the tongue, almost approaching fizzy. Thicker than water under the carbonation, but not highly so.

Overall / Drinkability: I remember the first time I had this many years ago and I was amazed at how much more flavor there was in it compared to Guinness. Now having it again many years later I'm still impressed but I think I've gotten spoiled by those nitro-taps. That being said, I think this beer is a bit over-carbonated. A little less carbonation and it would have worked better. Still, a very good stout and very drinkable. I had it by itself but I think I would be very interested in having it again with a meal.

Serving type: bottle

08-12-2012 23:45:11 | More by damndirtyape

cfitterer

Arizona

3.5/5  rDev -10.3%

06-19-2013 01:24:23 | More by cfitterer

rickyleepotts

Arizona

2.8/5  rDev -28.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.25 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 2.5

Man, today has been a long day. Actually, I have had a REALLY long week. Anyway, since Sheryl started her new job we haven't reviewed a beer. Hopefully we can review two tonight. I suggested we do an "off the wall" review where we review a beer that isn't on the list, but gets equal attention for the blog. I hope to do more of those, as I have started posting more content about the other beers I am drinking on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+. Anyway, we decided to review a beer that I had already prepared. I am not typically a dan of Irish stouts, but I am excited to try this one. It's been a while since we reviewed a beer, so regardless what it tastes like, it should be fun!

Oh, and I am not 100% positive, but I feel like the bottle changed. This bottle is only 11.2 ounces, and for some reason I thought they were bigger a few months ago. Can anyone shed some light on that for us?

In the Glass: This is pitch black in the glass with a nice two finger tan head. The lace is also nice, which isn't typical for this style. When I think of Irish stouts, beers like Guinness, Murphy's, and George Killian's come to mind. I tend to only drink this style around St. Patrick's day. The lace is drawing the glass to my nose. Let's see what she smells like.

Nose: The aroma is pretty boring. It takes a deep whiff to get some nice subtle dark burnt chocolate aromas. I want to say there are some subtle coffee notes peaking through there, too. I bet a beer like this infused with coffee would be amazing. Yeah, not impressed with the nose. I hope this bottle delivers on the flavor.

Flavor: I will say this is much better than Guinness. I mean, another level better. However, I don't like Guinness. Not saying I hate this beer, but it's just my "thing". The flavor does change as it slides across your palate. I am getting, at first, some nice burnt chocolate flavors, then I am hit with a metallic flavor as I swallow. I dislike my beers tasting like I just licked a coin. The finish is quick, leaving nothing really to desire. It's too cold, but I am not sure this will be much better unless it is in a warm glass AT room temperature.

Mouthfeel: The mouthfeel is nice. It has a nice fluffy experience going on. On my third drink, I did swish it around in my mouth a little. It didn't really do much for the flavor, but did open the beer up a little. If I was in a bar in Ireland, I might order an Irish stout. Just because I was there. But I wouldn't order two.

Aftertaste: It starts with those same metallic notes that I was getting, but quickly fades away leaving me bored. I HAVE to take another drink just to get some more flavor in my mouth. The finish is drying, which I like. But not drying enough to require another drink.

There are a few more of these on the list… but I doubt I like any/many of them. Oh well, maybe the next beer will leave me sockless. Get it?

Serving type: bottle

06-17-2013 03:47:32 | More by rickyleepotts

StevieDarrier

Ireland

4/5  rDev +2.6%

06-13-2013 20:54:51 | More by StevieDarrier

cambabeer

Florida

4.25/5  rDev +9%

06-06-2013 15:44:41 | More by cambabeer

jl28r1

Texas

3.75/5  rDev -3.8%

06-02-2013 03:27:09 | More by jl28r1

GRG1313

California

3.75/5  rDev -3.8%

06-02-2013 00:40:46 | More by GRG1313

crobinso

Colorado

3.75/5  rDev -3.8%

06-01-2013 19:54:03 | More by crobinso

JohnBender

Texas

3.75/5  rDev -3.8%

06-01-2013 14:45:42 | More by JohnBender

NightINgale

Quebec (Canada)

4.25/5  rDev +9%

05-26-2013 23:09:35 | More by NightINgale

Ciocanelu

Romania

4/5  rDev +2.6%

05-23-2013 06:59:36 | More by Ciocanelu

GinsuDave

Michigan

4.25/5  rDev +9%

05-21-2013 23:31:26 | More by GinsuDave

BeerForMuscle

New Jersey

4.25/5  rDev +9%

05-20-2013 17:15:45 | More by BeerForMuscle

SmellsofMahagony

Texas

4.25/5  rDev +9%

05-20-2013 02:45:56 | More by SmellsofMahagony

KSfrost

Maryland

3.75/5  rDev -3.8%

05-19-2013 22:01:12 | More by KSfrost

shand

Florida

3.84/5  rDev -1.5%
look: 5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

O'Hara's Irish Stout has a honestly amazing pour. It pours black, which is plenty impressive for a 4.5% brew, but the mocha head is huge and retains for an eternity. One of the best looking pours I've seen in a long time. The aroma is a roast and caramel thing, with just a touch of leafy hops. The taste offers a nice roast flavor, with some hints of chocolate, caramel, and the leafy hops from the nose. A pretty decent tasting dry stout. The mouthfeel is on the light side and well carbonated, and the drinkability is good. Overall, O'Hara's is a good Irish Dry Stout that I'd take over Guinness any day.

Serving type: bottle

05-01-2013 00:54:24 | More by shand

svendaddy

4.25/5  rDev +9%

04-29-2013 01:50:28 | More by svendaddy

bennettj1087

New York

3.75/5  rDev -3.8%

04-27-2013 12:36:54 | More by bennettj1087

MichaelBuck

Colorado

4.5/5  rDev +15.4%

04-24-2013 01:16:48 | More by MichaelBuck

Whatup14

Quebec (Canada)

3.5/5  rDev -10.3%

04-17-2013 14:03:33 | More by Whatup14

tbryan5

Louisiana

4/5  rDev +2.6%

04-05-2013 15:03:29 | More by tbryan5

adamcthomp

Spain

3.75/5  rDev -3.8%

03-30-2013 23:06:31 | More by adamcthomp

harpus

Alabama

3.75/5  rDev -3.8%

03-28-2013 17:24:56 | More by harpus

Pillowburn

Indiana

4/5  rDev +2.6%

03-27-2013 02:32:15 | More by Pillowburn

cw577enfield

Virginia

3.75/5  rDev -3.8%

03-25-2013 20:51:16 | More by cw577enfield