O'Hanlon's The Original Ruby Stout
Hanlons Brewery

O'Hanlon's The Original Ruby StoutO'Hanlon's The Original Ruby Stout
Beer Geek Stats | Print Shelf Talker
From:
Hanlons Brewery
 
England, United Kingdom
Style:
English Stout
ABV:
4.5%
Score:
82
Avg:
3.61 | pDev: 13.02%
Reviews:
84
Ratings:
90
Status:
Active
Rated:
Jun 25, 2017
Added:
Apr 25, 2003
Wants:
  1
Gots:
  0
No description / notes.
View: More Beers
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by JudgeRoughneck:
Photo of JudgeRoughneck
Reviewed by JudgeRoughneck from Louisiana

3.51/5  rDev -2.8%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 2.5
Amazing, huge, fluffy, foamy nut colored head is sculpted and precariously teetering well out of the rim of the glass. Damn thats sexy. The lacing is good, and the beer itself is black with slight ruby tinge, as the name implies.

The nose is alcohol, cherry, slight raisin.

Well crap. For a beer that looks and smells so impressive, I sure was expecting a big taste here. I have been disappointed. Perhaps the first thing I notice is the mouthfeel, which is ridiculously thin for a stout, is very carbonated at first, and then totally flat. It is slick also. First taste is definately of red wine. It slowly goes to a snapshot of malt and then a big splash of very typical stout bitterness, with more wine in the finish.

This is really a good beer, its appearance and smell just had me expecting something way different from what I got. This is an interesting stout, worth a try, but it has some serious mouthfeel issues in my book and if you're going to drop 4 bucks on a stout you can really do better.
Jan 11, 2006
More User Ratings:
Photo of Lone_Freighter
Reviewed by Lone_Freighter from Vermont

3.99/5  rDev +10.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Poured into an English pint glass.
The appearance was a sturdy dark brown close to black color with a finger's worth of quickly dissipating white semi-foamy head that left barely any lace. What was there seemed to just slide into the beer.
The aroma had some plums, sweet cherries, dark roasted malts, light coffee, milk chocolate and some earthy hops.
The flavor leaned towards the sweet side like an English Stout should and did a good job of pulling the roast towards the sweetness for a fair blend. Smooth silky sweet aftertaste of the malts and noted fruits.
The mouthfeel was almost medium bodied as it seemed to sit just a touch under. Carbonation felt fine. ABV felt appropriate.
Overall, pretty nice as an English stout and one I wouldn't mind coming back to for me.
Jun 25, 2017
 
Rated: 3.59 by connecticutpoet from Connecticut

Jun 29, 2015
 
Rated: 3.62 by DaveMiller from Minnesota

Mar 30, 2015
 
Rated: 3.5 by KAF from Iowa

Aug 06, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by BillRoth from Maryland

Dec 07, 2013
 
Rated: 3.5 by stereosforgeeks from Virginia

Dec 17, 2012
 
Rated: 3.5 by jfcaa193 from Canada (QC)

Feb 15, 2012
Photo of buschbeer
Reviewed by buschbeer from Ohio

3.67/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
1 pint 0.9oz bottle
Served in a pint glass

A - It pours dark brown with dark amber highlights. It has two inches of mocha head.

S - The aroma is roasted coffee and bitter chocolate. I also get a tart cherry smell.

T - I get some rich roasted coffee with a hint of burnt popcorn on the finish. I had some initial sweetness, but it fades as the beer warms.

M - Medium to full

O - It is a decent beer. I really didn't detect much of the port but it was interesting to try it.
Jul 10, 2011
Photo of tigg924
Reviewed by tigg924 from Massachusetts

3.55/5  rDev -1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
Poured into a Sam Adams perfect pint glass

Appearance: 1 inch head, clear, dark brown in color with a touch of red

Smell: big time port and some chocolate

Taste: big time port, some chocolate, light coffee, and black licorice

Mouthfeel: medium carbonation, medium-light body, sweet but super dry...especially on the finish.

Overall: A sipper where the port comes through big. This is about as different a stout as I have had in a while. You must like port to enjoy this one and I do. However, the taste is a bit too strong and different for me, so this is most likely a one and done.
May 12, 2011
Photo of StJamesGate
Reviewed by StJamesGate from New York

3.68/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
On cask at the GBBF*.

Pours black-ruby with a taupe filmy head that holds. Roast, chocolate and port barrel on the nose. Vinous malts with notes of baker's chocolate, earth and ash, with a whiff of petrol. Mint hops end. Very clean finish, light to medium, not much chew.

Of two minds on this one. Very drinkable in body and finish, but I'm not sure I like at all what the port brings, or why it's even there.

*silver medal, 2010.
Aug 09, 2010
Photo of StevenBilodeau
Reviewed by StevenBilodeau from Connecticut

3.08/5  rDev -14.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
This was a nice and complex beer. It poured into my tasting glass nice and dark brown, with hints of red highlights. It has some head, and little lacing. The smell was sweet, with some notes of fruit, and the bitterness of dark chocolate. I drank it, and it was very flavorfull and had a unique taste due to its port wine attribute.
Feb 06, 2010
Photo of alleykatking
Reviewed by alleykatking from Indiana

3.15/5  rDev -12.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
I had some higher hopes for this stout as I love a good port wine. Let's see how this one goes.

A- Pours a deep dark brown almost black color. One and a half finger mocha colored head that dies down to just whisps on the top of the beer. Little lacing on the glass. Nothing pops with this beer in appearance.

S- Good roasted malt upfront on this. This turns into some plum, raisin, and tart cherry fruit notes. The port comes into play toward the end of the aroma but almost in a separate kind of way. Nothing wrong with that but the aroma kind of stops and then goes into this....not blends into this.

T- Roasted malts on the front of this breaks way to a nice cherry tartness with some darker fruits as well. There is a light smoked presence that makes way into a port taste in the back of the beer. Once again the port has its own taste that juts in and doesn't do it in a smooth fashion. Start and stop jerk motion in the mouth with flavors.

M- Medium mouthfeel. Kind of watery feeling in the mouth. Carbonation was a little lacking in the beer. Roasted malts and port are left on the palate and in the aftertaste. Clean tasting for the most part. Drying on the tongue.

D- This beer was a one and done. Actually I don't think I finished the very end of this one. I didn't expect a whole lot with this one and it didn't surprise me. Might drink again if someone buys it.
Jan 06, 2010
Photo of jdhilt
Reviewed by jdhilt from New Hampshire

3.41/5  rDev -5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Pours a three finger tan head that fades slowly leaving a good lace. Totally black color, no high lights. Medium carbonation and medium-heavy bodied. Slight roasted coffee nose. Flavor is semisweet roasted coffee. Small burnt coffee finish. Not finding any port. Halfway between a sweet and dry stout. $4.99 for a 500ml bottle from Manchester Wine and Liquors Manchester, CT. Best by 1/23/10.
Oct 19, 2009
Photo of treehugger02010
Reviewed by treehugger02010 from Pennsylvania

2.84/5  rDev -21.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3
My girlfriend got me this beer, and I poured it into a pint glass.
Appearance: The body is an opaque dark brown color. The head is four or five fingers tall, light tan in color, huge sized bubbles, wonderful retention and thick sticky lacing.
Smell: The aromas are resin, pineapple and grapefruit.
Taste: The flavors are roasted barley, watery and coffee.
Mouthfeel: The mouthfeel is thick and edgy.
Drinkability: This is a not too drinkable beer.
Don't drink and review.
Apr 03, 2009
Photo of HeyItsChili
Reviewed by HeyItsChili from South Carolina

4.05/5  rDev +12.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
A - Poured into a pint glass. Pours dark brown/black with a foamy brown head.

S - The stouty qualities of chocolate and coffee are present and mix very well with the vinous port influence.

T - Really unique. The aged wine essence of the port serves as aa deep, dry, balance for the sweet and chocolaty stout.

M - Smooth and creamy.

Notes - An interesting twist on stouts. Good stuff.
Jan 25, 2009
Photo of cvfish
Reviewed by cvfish from Louisiana

3.75/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5
A - Poured a dark brown color that produced a tan head that retained well and left nice lacing around the glass

S - plums and cherries, chocolate malts, some smoked wood

T - The fruit taste of the red wine is present, along with chocolaty, burnt malts, and some sulte hops

M - A little dry, creamy, medium body, light carbonation

D - Good beer, very interesting combo here, recommend giving it a try
Jan 19, 2009
Photo of poetaster
Reviewed by poetaster from California

3.58/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 3
The concept interested me: a stout "enriched with port wine." Pours almost black with a generous amber head and fruity, hop-spicy nose. The mouthfeel on this one hits you before the taste--too much carbonation. It takes a while to settle down, but when it does, what emerges is an especially dry stout flavor with winy, port-like topnotes. All in all, a disappointment, though I would like to try another one, and compare it with other O'Hanlon offerings, if I can find them.
Nov 28, 2008
Photo of beerthulhu
Reviewed by beerthulhu from New Jersey

4/5  rDev +10.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
A: Poured a very dark, opaque color (dark ruby red when held up to the light) with a small creamy and persistant off tan head that stuck around for awhile.

S: dried fruitiness (plums) with a silky, smooth roasted aroma that was vinous with some dark licorice, and smoked oak. Not a lot of hop bitterness detected.

T: Labeled as brewed with port wine that gives this stout a very warming and refined texture similar to a fine wine. The initial flavor starts out malty with a dry lightly smoked roasted flavor with dried fruit (plums). A touch of chocolate, licorice is also detected while the beer finished dry on the tongue with a light smoked wood character.

M: medium bodied with a smooth, soft, and silky roasted feel while it slid down the throat effortlessly.

D: Very easy to drink and to enjoy. A nice dry English stout worth a try.
Sep 10, 2008
Photo of beace
Reviewed by beace from California

2.65/5  rDev -26.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5
Sounded unique so grabbed at $6. Wasn't to worried if it wasn't fantastic, kinda wish i would have purchased something else.

Appearance was dark with a not so tight beige head that left some distinct bands of lacing but nothing to write home about.

This aroma is dominated by a tart cherry character that is accompanied by some roasted notes. Kind of strange; expected more of a stout nose, or maybe just a robust aroma both the cherry and roast aromas just prance around.

My feelings on the flavor is similar to my aroma notes. Everything needs to be turned up a bit. I can faintly detect some promising flavors but I wish that they would stand out more. The mouthfeel is a bit watery.

This is an english ale so the flavors tend to be more on the mild side. Hats off to O'Hanlons for crafting this beer, I just wish they would have turned it up a bit louder.
May 28, 2008
O'Hanlon's The Original Ruby Stout from Hanlons Brewery
Beer rating: 82 out of 100 with 90 ratings