Irish Dry Stout
John Harvard's Brewery & Ale House

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From:
John Harvard's Brewery & Ale House
 
Massachusetts, United States
Style:
Irish Dry Stout
ABV:
3.9%
Score:
85
Avg:
3.75 | pDev: 14.67%
Reviews:
16
Ratings:
24
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Jun 27, 2015
Added:
Mar 30, 2002
Wants:
  7
Gots:
  1
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by BierReise:
Photo of BierReise
Reviewed by BierReise from Florida

3.53/5  rDev -5.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
This was sent to my table on the house by the manager which was a nice surprise. Since I was already in the midst of a pint of Nutbrown ale I had to let this sit and wait for awhile. And sat it did, deep mahogany with a creamy thick head. The head on this beer didn't even budge the entire time it sat through the time I finished it. Aroma was a mild one of roasted malt and a bit of espresso. Body was on the thin side, much to my dissapointment and flavor was a bit weak as well. Some chocolate and roasted malt flavors. Quite a dry stout and reminding me of Guinness. A lighter stout that you could drink a few of and not get too full of.
Aug 03, 2003
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.65 by Shy5 from Oregon

Jun 27, 2015
 
Rated: 3.25 by Nichols33 from Massachusetts

Sep 19, 2014
 
Rated: 2.56 by cfadams17 from Pennsylvania

Aug 23, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by bluerabbit from Massachusetts

Aug 03, 2013
 
Rated: 4 by WreckingBrew from Massachusetts

Jun 30, 2013
Photo of jlindros
Reviewed by jlindros from Massachusetts

3.81/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
Nitro tap at the brewhouse in Framingham.

Pours a great looking creamy darker 2 Finger head bulging over the top, very dark black hints of super dark light sneaking through at the edges.

Nose nice dark malts, little roasty with dark choc, powdered cocoa, dried lactose creamy aroma, very dry aroma, little caramel.

Taste stars creamy with a slight metallic flavor, little burnt roast, slight acrid coffee, char. Dry lactose, hint of powdered cocoa, little creamy oatmeal like, faint caramel. The nitrous flavor seems to come in and down out the choc creamy flavours but not the acrid roast which is why that seems to overpower a bit. Creamy sticky finish but dry, bit more dried lactose, powdered cocoa, and light metallic flavor finish.

Mouth is med bod, creamy, small bubble creamy carb.

Overall not bad, would be better without nitro, the acrid roast flavours come through a bit too much.
Jun 26, 2013
 
Rated: 3.75 by Wizzman from Massachusetts

Apr 08, 2012
 
Rated: 3.75 by zoso1967 from Michigan

Mar 25, 2012
 
Rated: 3.16 by vfgccp from New York

Mar 17, 2012
Photo of SkunkWorks
Reviewed by SkunkWorks from New York

2.65/5  rDev -29.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Had on tap at the John Harvard's in Smithhaven Plaza. Served in a pint glass.

Look: black body with brown edges, two finger mocha colored head with decent retention. Actually left layers of lacing on the glass.

Smell: I can't really smell anything here.

Taste: follows the nose. Not a whole lot going on in this one. Hints of roasted malt, a bit of sourness, but that's all. Tastes almost like a watered down Guinness. Try as I might, I am not getting any of my favorite stout flavors.

Feel: medium tending towards thin bodied, moderate carbonation, some sourness.

Drink: fairly drinkable. Wait, this is a 3.9% alcohol by volume beer? Considering how light this is, its hard to justify giving it a good drinkability score considering that its less drinkable than many 6% alcohol by volume beers.

Overall, not impressed. Not a very good stout by any measure. Lacks flavor, lacks body and seems like a weaker version of Guinness. At 3.9% ABV, I have to wonder if they added any malt at all to this. Avoid.
Dec 22, 2010
Photo of plaid75
Reviewed by plaid75 from New York

3.31/5  rDev -11.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Poured a murky black hue with a one and a half finger creamy tan head. There was good retention and very good lacing.

The smell was essentially non existent.

The taste consisted of a slight black malt.

The mouthfeel was toward the thinner side of the style.

Overall a decent at best example of the style.
Nov 25, 2009
Photo of LilBeerDoctor
Reviewed by LilBeerDoctor from New York

3.53/5  rDev -5.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Reviewed on 9/28/08. On tap at JH. Pours black with a small tan head. Aroma of roasted malt and slight coffee notes. Flavor of nice roasted malt, bitter chocolate, and a touch of smoke. Quite dry and a little chalky. Pretty tasty though!
7/4/7/4/14 (3.6/5)
Dec 27, 2008
Photo of sinstaineddemon
Reviewed by sinstaineddemon from Connecticut

4.03/5  rDev +7.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
A - has a dark strong coffee appearance, with a dark tan head that was 2 full fingers when it arrived

S - has a roasted aroma of quality malts, with a slight coffee hint

T - taste like a weak coffee (the beer isnt weak, just resmebles weak coffee), the beer is very fresh and quenching, rich hoppy and slight chocolate hint

M - smooth and refreshing, not strong bodied, but damn good

D - highly drinkable and easy to put down and order another before you know it
Mar 26, 2006
Photo of francisweizen
Reviewed by francisweizen from Washington

4/5  rDev +6.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Cask conditioned and one of the better brews available at the Jh's in Springfield, PA. This one was a nearly opaque black colour with red edges and a tiny head of dark tan foam. The aromas are all roasted malts, coffee, chocolate, and a bit of leafy green hops. The taste follows. Surely, this is one dimensional, but it still kicks Guinness' ass. Mouthfeel is watery, even for a cask brew, but the drinkability remains quite good. Solid, but nothing more than that.
Mar 03, 2005
Photo of CharlesRiver
Reviewed by CharlesRiver from Connecticut

4/5  rDev +6.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Sampled this beer on tap today at the Harvard Square location. Poured out jet black in color with a half inch creamy white head that left a nice lace. The smell was chocolate but mostly malty notes coming through. The taste was not what I expected at all. Solid malt backbone with hops and also something smoky coming through. True to the name, it was dry but well balanced. The body did seem a bit thin but actually made it more drinkable. I really liked it and would order again.
Apr 05, 2004
Photo of smcolw
Reviewed by smcolw from Massachusetts

3.78/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4
Excellent cream-white head with traditionally expected sticky lace. The brew is jet black.

Strong black patent malt smells with just a touch of hop. The taste is similar: chicory coffee-like malt bitterness--a "dark" flavor with a slight hop bite. It's thin bodied, especially as a stout.

This is a very drinkable beer and quite different from the Irish lot. Drier and less creamy, this is a special beer.
Apr 03, 2004
Photo of WVbeergeek
Reviewed by WVbeergeek from West Virginia

4/5  rDev +6.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
John Harvard's Pittsburgh locale,

Appearas dark brown with ruby highlights when held up to the light, a tan full head excellent retention nice thick lacing forms down my pint. Aromatics lay on teh chocolate moccha slightly harsh tones sweeter than most dry Irish stouts but definitely kicks the shit out of Guiness, Murphy's, or Beamish in my opinion. Taste is a creamy flavor with an awesome dry finish coating the palate the milk chocolate is amazing with mild coffee tones this beer expresses why it's one of the best dry Irish stouts I've tasted to date. Mouthfeel: Medium to light body very creamy and extraordinarily drinkable so good. Try some mixtures with this one hell do an IPA and Dry Irish, or any of the beers on tap at John Harvard's you'll be surprised how well they mix.
Nov 05, 2003
Photo of chaduvel
Reviewed by chaduvel from Massachusetts

4.48/5  rDev +19.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5
Beautiful black with a creamy off-white head that leaves rings after each sip. Gorgeous. Smell is of roasted oats with a malty coffee aroma in there as well. Silky smooth taste deftly balanced hops, roasted malts and rich roasted coffee. Goes down easier than any dry stout I've ever had. Superior to Guinness and all the other ubiquitous Irish stouts in every way.
Oct 14, 2003
Photo of PatandDavid
Reviewed by PatandDavid from Massachusetts

4.15/5  rDev +10.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
This was as black as night, with a little bit of that reddish/brown hue you can find when held to the light.

Very nice pour, beautiful thick head, a ton of lace left throughout the glass. Smell wasn't distinct, just had an air of freshness.

Very creamy mouthfeel, light bodied, slightly astringent. Slight roasted note in the finish. Would recommend for others. Not a big bold beer, but satisfying mouthfeel, and a nicely balanced mild beer.

Another nice beer from the folks at JHs. pat
Jul 21, 2003
Irish Dry Stout from John Harvard's Brewery & Ale House
Beer rating: 85 out of 100 with 24 ratings