O'Hara's Irish Stout
Carlow Brewing Company
- From:
- Carlow Brewing Company
- Ireland
- Style:
- Irish Dry Stout
Ranked #34 - ABV:
- 4.3%
- Score:
- 87
Ranked #23,210 - Avg:
- 3.87 | pDev: 11.63%
- Ratings:
- | reviews: 550
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Apr 14, 2026
- Added:
- Dec 27, 2001
- Wants:
- 95
- Gots:
- 133
SCORE
87
Very Good
87
Very Good
The flagship of the O’Hara’s brand, this uniquely Irish stout brings one back to how Irish stouts used to taste. First brewed in 1999, it has since been awarded prestigious honours for its quality and authenticity.
O’Hara’s Irish Stout has a robust roast flavour complemented by a full-bodied and smooth mouth feel. The generous addition of Fuggle hops lends a tart bitterness to the dry espresso-like finish. This sessionable stout beer is filled with rich complex coffee aroma mingled with light liquorice notes. The combination of traditional stout hops with an extra pinch of roast barley allows us to stay true to Irish tradition, recreating a taste so often yearned for by stout drinkers.
O’Hara’s Irish Stout has a robust roast flavour complemented by a full-bodied and smooth mouth feel. The generous addition of Fuggle hops lends a tart bitterness to the dry espresso-like finish. This sessionable stout beer is filled with rich complex coffee aroma mingled with light liquorice notes. The combination of traditional stout hops with an extra pinch of roast barley allows us to stay true to Irish tradition, recreating a taste so often yearned for by stout drinkers.
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Reviewed by DraftMonger from Denmark
3.49/5 rDev -9.8%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.75
3.49/5 rDev -9.8%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.75
Copenhagen 14/4 2016. 50 cl bottle from Meny, Østerfælled Torv, Kbh. Ø. Some Celtic engravings and a declaration that this is an award winning beer (very reassuring).
Pours opaque reddish dark brown with a light beige head. Settles as thin patchy layer of foam unable of covering the surface of the beer.
Aroma is of dark roasted malts and bitter coffee. A little sweet caramel and toffee as well.
Rather strong carbonation for a stout and watery palate. Lively texture.
Flavor is more light and watery than I expected. Nice coffee bitterness and a little sweetness. But a bit diluted.
A very light stout where you get a little disappointed when you get to actually taste it.
Apr 14, 2026Pours opaque reddish dark brown with a light beige head. Settles as thin patchy layer of foam unable of covering the surface of the beer.
Aroma is of dark roasted malts and bitter coffee. A little sweet caramel and toffee as well.
Rather strong carbonation for a stout and watery palate. Lively texture.
Flavor is more light and watery than I expected. Nice coffee bitterness and a little sweetness. But a bit diluted.
A very light stout where you get a little disappointed when you get to actually taste it.
Rated by Pmicdee from Canada (ON)
3.75/5 rDev -3.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.75/5 rDev -3.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
April 9 2026
Apr 10, 2026
Reviewed by Some_Beer_Sometimes from California
2.43/5 rDev -37.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 2.25
2.43/5 rDev -37.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 2.25
There’s a bit of goodness. There’s coffee and and cream as one might expect. There’s a bit of natural wood smoke and smoked sausage, resembling peat smoke. But it’s mostly badness. It’s too watery, somewhat metallic, and there’s a noticeable flavor of… dog food?! Yeah, that’s how I’d describe it. Not good.
Sullivan’s makes a better dry stout.
And Guinness Extra Stout is still the best.
Apr 01, 2026Sullivan’s makes a better dry stout.
And Guinness Extra Stout is still the best.
Rated by AudiMike from Idaho
3.92/5 rDev +1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
3.92/5 rDev +1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
CreamyFuknPint!
Feb 27, 2026
Reviewed by blueshawk69 from Kansas
3.75/5 rDev -3.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.75/5 rDev -3.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
(review from July 2020) Much less dry, much more roasty, javalicious than Guinness with a slightly sweeter backend. Well balanced, good palate heft & aroma, drinks like more than it's 4.3% & disappears fast!
Dec 28, 2025
Reviewed by talisen-crw from Canada (ON)
3.75/5 rDev -3.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.75/5 rDev -3.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
At my lady Pamela's house; canned and chilled, 500mL in a pint glass. From their Variety Pack at my favourite LCBO at Tecumseh Mall in nearby Windsor. Best before October 28/26. My 4th beer from the Carlow, Ireland brewery, and for 2025. With Gracie the cat...
Dec 23, 2025
Rated by Nash39 from Florida
3.89/5 rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.75
3.89/5 rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.75
The pour is jet black with a tan & frothy head of foam. The taste is roasted malt, coffee, & cream, bakers chocolate, & tobacco char. Cheers! B
Dec 22, 2025
Reviewed by ANIMOUL from California
4.19/5 rDev +8.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.19/5 rDev +8.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Poured from a 16 oz can into pint glass; best by 1/28/26. Pours beautiful black body with steady one inch of foamy head. Smell okay; tastes of subtle oak, roasted malt, and slight sweetness. Great!
Nov 07, 2025
Rated by ttoadee from Texas
3.68/5 rDev -4.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.68/5 rDev -4.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
RB transfer
Aug 06, 2025
Reviewed by Mikehicks100 from Canada (ON)
4.5/5 rDev +16.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.5/5 rDev +16.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Pours a very thin brown foam head. Dies down quick. No lacing. Black color. Chocolate and vanilla extract smells.
Taste is very good. Lots of vanilla extract mixed with some chocolate and even a little milk coffee. I really like this stout and would buy it again. Better than I thought it was going to be. Only wish it was a little bit more hearty with a thick foam head.
Jun 09, 2025Taste is very good. Lots of vanilla extract mixed with some chocolate and even a little milk coffee. I really like this stout and would buy it again. Better than I thought it was going to be. Only wish it was a little bit more hearty with a thick foam head.
Reviewed by johnnnniee from New Hampshire
3.45/5 rDev -10.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
3.45/5 rDev -10.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
Can shared with my dad, I'm kind of surprised I haven't rated this before.
Dark brown bordering on black with a creamy frothy off white head that persists. Bitter chocolate and roastiness with hints of earthy hop to counter. Decent.
May 11, 2025Dark brown bordering on black with a creamy frothy off white head that persists. Bitter chocolate and roastiness with hints of earthy hop to counter. Decent.
Reviewed by Sinfull from New York
3.56/5 rDev -8%
look: 2.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.56/5 rDev -8%
look: 2.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Deep black color with a small beige head. Aroma of roasted malt and dark chocolate. Taste of coffee and roasted barley. Dry roasted and sweet aftertaste.
Apr 21, 2025Reviewed by Sinte from Italy
3.54/5 rDev -8.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.54/5 rDev -8.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Bottle 0.5L.
Dark brown body with a large, frothy, tan head, average duration with nice lacing.
Moderate-to-heavy malty (roasted) aroma with notes of coffee and light licorice.
Very bitter flavour with evident coffee in the aftertaste.
Light-to-medium body with dry texture; average carbonation.
Apr 05, 2025Dark brown body with a large, frothy, tan head, average duration with nice lacing.
Moderate-to-heavy malty (roasted) aroma with notes of coffee and light licorice.
Very bitter flavour with evident coffee in the aftertaste.
Light-to-medium body with dry texture; average carbonation.
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