O'Hara's Leann Folláin - Carlow Brewing Company

ThisWangsChung

Maryland

3.49/5  rDev -12.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5

11.2 oz bottle poured into a Samuel Smith pint glass.

A: Pours an ultra-dark brown color. Not perfectly opaque, mind you, but nearly. The head is a two finger heavy cream color with nice texturing, before it settles to one finger. Nice retention, too.

S: There are a ton of roasted malts and coffee. Some chocolate pops up, as well, perhaps even a hint of smoke. It also smells hoppy, even - maybe it IS generously hopped? I mean, that character of grapefruit peel prominent in Cascade hops is unmistakable here.

T: Again, there's a healthy flavor of grapefruity hops right there in the midtaste. It starts a bit chocolaty before the hops come in full (well, moderate) force. Finish is pure roasted barley. Generally, it's mild in flavor; while this keeps the competing flavors in check, it makes it a bit dull. Luckily it's not overly acidic as many well-hopped stouts/porters tend to be.

M: Hits the clean dryness typical of the style well, but the finish goes too far into being astringent. A bit insubstantial and undercarbonated in its feel; par for the course in many dry stouts. Great drinkability nonetheless.

O: And as I finish my glass, I notice the bottle cap somehow fell down in there. How the hell did that happen?! Oh well, this a fine offering. Not great, but fine.

Serving type: bottle

01-15-2013 00:04:57 | More by ThisWangsChung

bh123

California

4/5  rDev +0.8%

05-22-2013 05:14:50 | More by bh123

boesesfleisch

California

4/5  rDev +0.8%

05-15-2013 20:54:19 | More by boesesfleisch

RedneckBeerz

North Carolina

4/5  rDev +0.8%

04-18-2013 03:15:10 | More by RedneckBeerz

JMBSH

Colorado

4/5  rDev +0.8%

04-14-2013 18:09:16 | More by JMBSH

bconsidine

Maryland

4.25/5  rDev +7.1%

03-18-2013 15:57:48 | More by bconsidine

jewellrunner

Missouri

4/5  rDev +0.8%

03-18-2013 09:25:58 | More by jewellrunner

TheFightfan1

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +0.8%

03-17-2013 22:24:50 | More by TheFightfan1

MusicaleMike

Pennsylvania

4.93/5  rDev +24.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75

The perfect beer to review for St. Patricks Day. Best before date reads March 28, 2014. Poured into a balloon glass.

Leann Follain was originally O'Hara's Celebration Ale that they made for Easter years ago. It was well-received and they decided to make it a year round product.

It pours with a rich black body topped with a tan head that sits two fingers thick. The tan head recedes slowly into a craggy, rocky head that does a great job of sticking around. When held up to light, brown highlights shine through at the very edge of this beer. An otherwise very dark beer.

Initially served a bit too chilled, but first impression was that this beer had a HUGE roasted malt aroma, possessing a great smokey, ashy aroma. Not as intense as a rauchbier, but certainly present and perfect for a cold winters day. Notes of campfire, chicory, carob, and vintage leather all underlay a chocolate and dark fruit aroma. This beer has more complexity and depth than you would normally find in any Irish Stout. Simply amazing.

On the palate, it starts with a creamy full body. A tinge of hop bitterness up front, followed by flavors of roasted grains and smoke towards the finish. For something this full-bodied, it possesses a surprisingly dry finish. Lingering flavors of cigar, campfire, cocoa powder intermingle in the aftertaste, joined by a light earthiness from the hops. Well-balanced flavor that sits somewhere between hoppy and malty. The carbonation is just spot on as well.

This is just about the most perfect Irish Dry Stout I have ever had, from the bold, complex aroma, to the perfectly balanced body, to the fantastically dry finish, this beer has the style down in spades. Absolutely will be drinking this again...today, and in the future.

Pairs well with Irish Beef Stew!

Serving type: bottle

03-17-2013 17:27:50 | More by MusicaleMike

UCLABrewN84

California

3.94/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Best by 3/28/14.

Pours an almost opaque super dark crimson-brown with a foamy dark khaki head that settles to a small cap on top of the beer. A foamy latticework of lace coats the glass on the drink down. Smell is of dark roasted malt, cocoa powder, and coffee beans. Taste is much the same with cookie dough and cocoa powder flavors on the finish. There is a mild amount of roasty bitterness on the palate with each sip. This beer has a lower level of carbonation with a slightly crisp mouthfeel. Overall, this is a good beer that is tasty and super easy to drink.

Serving type: bottle

03-16-2013 06:09:08 | More by UCLABrewN84

Eucrid

Ireland

4/5  rDev +0.8%

03-10-2013 19:25:44 | More by Eucrid

oberon

North Carolina

3.65/5  rDev -8.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Poured a deep dark chocolate brown with some mahogany highlights when held to the light,a frothy one finger tan colored head atop.Ton of coffee roast with some woody smokiness,pretty much like a mocha coffee.A little sharper than expected in the mouth,I would like more of a smooth creamy feel.Dry heavy roast on the palate with some bitter chocolate underneath,it has a little more "oomph" to it compared to others of the style.Not bad but the feel takes away from a pretty good beer.

Serving type: bottle

03-01-2013 22:40:05 | More by oberon

cjac

Maryland

4.25/5  rDev +7.1%

02-17-2013 02:11:19 | More by cjac

KarlMcGowan

Ireland

4.25/5  rDev +7.1%

01-26-2013 00:47:04 | More by KarlMcGowan

BILF

Israel

4.75/5  rDev +19.6%

01-14-2013 16:57:07 | More by BILF

Thirstygoat

Illinois

4/5  rDev +0.8%

01-01-2013 00:22:19 | More by Thirstygoat

ronanohall

4.25/5  rDev +7.1%

11-21-2012 23:18:49 | More by ronanohall

jmtpi

New York

4/5  rDev +0.8%

11-19-2012 19:27:16 | More by jmtpi

VernonKell

Michigan

4/5  rDev +0.8%

11-15-2012 22:03:49 | More by VernonKell

Vierenner

Ohio

3.05/5  rDev -23.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Picked up on a recent trip to Dublin. Had trouble liking this one. Has good appearance and mouthfeel but that's where the goodness ends. It has an unexpectedly sharp bite, but it doesn't seem to be hoppy so I'm kind of confused where that bite comes from. It also tastes quite roasted/smokey ... sort of overpowers any other subtle flavors that might be hiding underneath.

Serving type: bottle

10-23-2012 00:06:56 | More by Vierenner

Kremlock

Ontario (Canada)

3.5/5  rDev -11.8%

09-18-2012 18:28:17 | More by Kremlock

innominat

Ireland

3/5  rDev -24.4%

09-18-2012 16:33:14 | More by innominat

Liquoric3

Germany

3.75/5  rDev -5.5%

09-13-2012 05:27:15 | More by Liquoric3

dspencer714

4/5  rDev +0.8%

09-05-2012 17:21:23 | More by dspencer714

Wantedandlisted

3.75/5  rDev -5.5%

08-19-2012 22:51:46 | More by Wantedandlisted