Carlow OHaras Irish Red

Brewed by Carlow
Style: Irish Ale
Carlow, Ireland

Well done example of Irish Red Ale from an Irish brewery. This beer pours to a beautiful, bright, deep ruby color, with a creamy white head, and a moderate amount of carbonation. The nose on this beer is very inviting ,with some good sweet malty aroma paired with some estery fruit aromas. The palate on this beer is firm, with notes of sweet and caramel malts, paired with light touches of butter, and juicy fruit. It finishes with more malt and fruit character up front, then ends slightly cloying. Hops are present in this beer, but just to balance. A very well done, malt accented and fruity brew, a great beer to match with red meats such as beef or lamb.

Red-brown color, medium sweet fruity light roasted aroma and taste, light body, dry finish

Bottle: Deep copper, huge fluffy off-white head, fairly nice lacing, strong carbonation.   Cereal, molasses, oates on the nose.   Smells like old sweetened cereal at the bottom of the cardboard box, you know, the stuff that falls out of the bag and settles on the bottom of the box.   Watery graininess on the tongue, mild honeycomb cereal like taste and sweetness.   Touch of cardboard.   Body is moderate, but the mouthfeel is nearing the thin side.   Slightly sweet malt finish, lingering waxed cardboard.   Boring and, in my opinion, not worth seeking out.

Creamy white good mostly lasting head. Nice redbrown colour. Good aroma, malty and with nice hoops. pwerfull taste average finish. A good beer.

Beautiful mostly clear dark red/amber color with great head. Sweet malt (caramel?) flavor but watery and with a bitter aftertaste. A bit too carbonated.

Clear, deep amber body with a foamy, off-white head. Aroma of warm toast, lightly sweet malt, red grapes, and some cinnamon. Medium sweet flavor with an element of toasted grain husks, moderate bitterness, and a hint of tartness. Also slightly chalky. A fair IRA.

Bottle, at No. 5 (031008). Dark brown, fruity aroma, light bitter finish, watery.

Average in every respect. Better than I expected, yet not the extraordinary quality I expected.