O'Byrne's Irish Red
Great Waters Brewing

Looks like it's been awhile since anyone has reviewed O'Byrne's, and I'm guessing it's probably a bit different beer then pre-2005. From a growler snatched during the post-St. Pat's Day Parade mayhem.

A: Clear amber brown with a modest white head.
S: Very malty and sweet, with a bit of nuttyness and biscuit.
T: Lots of sweet caramel malt, some biscuit and a mild yeast fruityness you get from certain English beers. Finish shows a touch of spice with a slightly dryness that caps each mouthfull off nicely. No hops apparent, just sweet maltyness.
M: Smooth medium body with low carbonation typical of GW beers.

This one tasted pretty similar to some of their other beers (browns and even the lightly hopped pales) aside from the dry finish. Tasty, and easy/interesting enough to have a few.

On tap at the brewpub...I must have missed rating this last year.

Clearish copper color, head is foamy and pale, settles in at 1/4 of an inch. Good clinging lace, spider web in presentation. Smell is lightly hoppy, floral with a bare sense of light honey to accompany it. Mouthfeel is on the light side with medium carbonation overall. The beer is decently balanced between an arid hoppiness with just a little sense of allspice and a middle-of-the-road malt sweetness. Tips towards hops at the close. Overall, the flavor and texture is a little watery, making this more of a drinkable "St. Patty's" product than a beer of much distinction for Great Waters.

Named after the owner, O' byrn's Irish Red is a another amber done very well and is cask-conditioned. It reminded me a little of a English Bitter but milder.

Color is a hazy light brown, very small head that retained in small bubbles throughout most of the glass as I was drinking it. Very faint and light on the nose, has a slight aroma of hop and citrusy lemon. Taste is crisp, clean, light, a little watery, no real initial taste up front, but the middle gets a nice little dry hop and finishes with a citrus note and slightly dry. Hint of cinnamon maybe, too. Feels very clean but is watery, could be bolder and more medium bodied. Leaves a light pale citrus feel on the tongue. This could be better, but is pretty good and favored it slightly over the other amber.