DarkElf (3497) - La Jolla, California, USA - JAN 24, 2023UPDATED: JAN 24, 2023 04-Mar-18 (750-ml swing-top bottle: Purchased 17-Apr-09 for $7.99 at Bottleworks in Seattle, WA)
These flip-top bottles rarely hold carbonation, so I'm pleasantly surprised that this is an exception. This Stout opens with a loud pop and pours half an inch of dark-tan head atop the black body. Head retention is fine, fading to a ring, but leaving a wide swath of patchy lacing on the glass. The nose is roasty with dark toast and chocolate, but doesn't have burnt or ashtray character. On the lightly-sweet palate of roasted but not bitter roast, flavors of dark chocolate, toasted bread, mild coffee, a hint of cocoa, and a smoky, slightly burnt quality in the background define this classic profile. The beer is medium-plus in weight, medium in soft, creamy carbonation, and generally on the fairly dry side. Overall, this has been a most welcome surprise, a beer I thought would be flat and oxidized is in fact incredibly delicious. One of the best Irish Stouts I've tasted, on par with the best recent 'new' releases (in the USA) from Guinness.
alexsdad06 (17906) - Cincinnati, Ohio, USA - APR 27, 2021UPDATED: APR 27, 2021 This is a backlog rating from 2008 from a bottle shared by family, from notes. When I had this beer it was average to below average for the style and not something I wanted to have again or I just didn't get back to my notes because of my technology at the time, work and/or family. Words to describe this beer are mild roasted malt, chocolate, thin, a splash of coffee, light spice in the background, ok.
Beese (16985) - Tooting, London, Greater London, ENGLAND - JAN 31, 2020UPDATED: JAN 31, 2020 Cask at The St. Albans Beer Festival on 27/09/2007. I’m not sure whether (Guinness aside) this wasn’t the first Irish beer I tried. A really nice, full stout with smooth roastiness.
Bitterbill (3241) - Casper, Wyoming, USA - NOV 29, 2017From Jul 2008
This pours from 750ml swing top bottle a pitch black with a 2 finger head of billowy tan foam. Certainly a looker in my glass.
The smell has notes of roasted malt foremost with lesser notes of coffee and maybe some chocolate.
The taste starts off with a big burst of roasted malt that I look for in an Irish Dry Stout. Yes indeed, it's very roasty and very dry. I also can taste some coffee, toffee, slight dark chocolate, an underlying sweetness that I guess comes from some caramel, and it has a very dry finish. That certainly makes me want to take more sips and the abv is low enough that I have no problem doing so.
It's medium to just a tad under full bodied and the carbonation is fairly low, which I like in examples of the style. Btw, head retention and lacing are top notch!
Cool. I just found another tasty Irish Dry Stout that is a pleasure to drink and it makes me wish I had bought more than 1 bottle. Hopefully, on my next trip to Colorado, it will still be available. You just never know because beers come and beers go...
MarkoNm (6124) - Novo mesto, SLOVENIA - JUL 27, 2015Rating this one for some time back. Poured a deep black color, topped iwth a fine tan colored head, nice retention. Aroma was quite roasty, nice chocolate and some coffee notes as well present. Taste had a slight sweet start, roasted body with coffee, mild bitterness in finish. Was a pretty nice one.
kathouse (1942) - LAS VEGAS, Nevada, USA - MAY 11, 2013Marketed in the pub as a seasonal double stout. Pours black as a typical Irish Stout with a think nitrogen charged head. Aroma of chocolate and espresso. Flavor was full bodied, complex roasted malts, and very well balanced. Delicious!
TheJestersBeer (2431) - SWEDEN - DEC 30, 2012Bottled.
Pours pitch black.
Dry, full bodied, highbitterness, balanced CO2.
Heavily roasted taste, cocoa, coffee beans, hops, quite spicy. Good one. (2009-05-28)
madmitch76 (36790) - , Essex, ENGLAND - JUN 20, 201225th June 2010
Opaque black stout. Thick tan head. Semi soft and semi dry palate. Fresh minerally dark malt. Roasted but not hard roasted. A touch of espresso and distinct unsweet dark chocolate. Finishes soft and minerally. Decent.
reebtogi (6499) - Edmonton, Alberta, CANADA - MAY 16, 2012750ml bottle pours almost black in color with some lovely red highlights when held to a light source. Aromas of light roasted malts with chocolate and earthy notes. Taste is light roasted malty bitterness with a chocolatey malt sweetness with some citrusy and earthy hop bitterness leading to a dry finish. Light to medium body with decent carbonation and a pleasantly smooth mouthfeel. A very nicely done stout that I thoroughly enjoyed.
Chudwick (4909) - Northern, Kentucky, USA - APR 4, 2012750ml bottle - pours pitch black with nice tan head and instant lacing. Nose is roasted malts, coffee and peppermint (reminds me of a mint candy from Vichy, France), Flavor is much like the nose. taste is mainly sweet but ends on a bitter note. Flat, smooth and a dry finish. tasty for nothing to write home about.