Carlow OHaras Irish Red

My brother-in-lawww gave me a 6-pack of this as a Christmas gift. I had tried on on 12/23/3006 while opening gifts. Now it’s time to have another and capture my my thoughts about it. O’Hara’s Irish Red pours an amber color (slightly darker than average) with a reddish hue. This brew is clear, visible carbonation level is moderate, and has a large light caramel colored had that collapsed to leave a nice crown with decent lacing. There is some nuttiness and a hint of roasted malt in the aroma. The flavor is caramel malt and moderately sweet. There is a hint of smoke in the finish mildly bitter finish. It has is medium bodied and has an average mouthfeel. Overall this is a well balanced brew and enjoyable to drink. 12 oz bottle (Best Before 31 MAR 07) from 6-pack. Gift from Brother-in-Law. Thanks man!

Bottle. Clear red colour with a medium off-white head. Aroma and flavour of hops, fruit and malt with some bitterness in the finish.

Bottle. Pours a clear reddish amber with a lacy off-white head. Some nutty sweetness and fruit in the aroma. Light, watery body and active carbonation. The taste starts lightly sweet with nuts, bread, caramel moving to a touch of smoke and earth for a dry finish.

50 cl bottle from Dublin. Red ale with large head. Rather sweet ale, quite thin and watery. May be true to the style, but it’s not my favourite style!

My first Irish Ale. By the looks of the label, better be good. Pours transparent darker brown almost black. Very little aroma. Hoppy impact on the tongue during the first taste. Label says it’s sweet, not much sweeetness in there. Finish lingers bitter for quite a while. Not tremendously impressed with this style but it is acceptable. Too expensive to buy again at this rating. $3 for a 12 oz bottle.

Bottle, served at <a href=http://ratebeer.com/Place/illinois/frankfort/galway-tribes-pub-and-ale-house/6495.htm>Galway Tribes. Pours deep amber, kind of sherry-like, with a thin bubbly head. Dark malt smell with a slight cherry nose. First taste is nice and, again, bubbly. Then a richly malted brew, with notes of port wine and just a bit of peat. Fine and hearty. I’m rating this pretty high as a great example of the style. Bottle had a "Best by" stamp of 31 Mar 07, so it seemed to be pretty good and fresh.

Aroma gives light citrus hops and malt character which vaguly reminds me of a veinna, though not very powerful. Taste is thinner again, and the hop character does not balance out the sweetness from the malt.

12 oz bottle-Poured a medium amber color w/a big off white foamy head. Typical roasted aroma you would expect, but a lot more hops than you would normally find in an Irish Ale. Doesn’t have that typical smooth malt drinkibility or bitter finish I associate with a Irish Ale. Really tasted more like an American Pale Ale. Wasn’t bad, jjust wasn’t what I was expecting. Have to mark it down some because it’s really not brewed to the style it’s calling itself.