Irish Blessing
Boulder Beer / Wilderness Pub

*archived rating*

 

 

Black in color with minimal light penetration. There’s a fingernail of brown around the rim and covering nearly all of the top. The aroma is of dark roasted coffee. I’m tasting tasting coffee, dark malt, and Irish whiskey. The mouth is refreshing.

Very nice foamy head. Smell is sweet coco, cream, some hops, quite roasty. Taste is roasted malt, caramel, bakers chocolate, pine behind the body, and a hint of smokiness. Just a hint of whisky on the finish. Feel is smooth with a dry finish. A delicious export style stout.

Found a can of this beer at a local grocery store. Poured into a tulip glass. Dark brown color with a thick beige head and good curtain lacing. Smell and taste of dark chocolate with a hint of coffee in each. A wee bit of the Jameson. Nice smooth feel. Overall a good stout.

 

Jayzus wept! I had fuly intended to drink this either over the weekend of 13 to 15 March 2020 or on T, 17 March for St. Patrick's Day but events overtook all! School was cancelled on Friday & the spiral beCAN. The CANQuest (tm) also noted that an apporved pic was not in place, so that also needed addressed. Well, here we are. This was apparently a one-off for 2018 that featured Tullamore D.E.W.-soaked oak chips. Nobody said that I am moving quickly. This for me auld drinking partner, a singular lass of great renown, Kristen, who calls it "Tullamore DON'T!" A fine, feisty one, she is.

This will also mark the first of a triumvirate of beers & their liquor CANterparts, so stay tuned. I eschewed distilled spirits for many years, having gotten into more trouble with them than with simple beer, but in me auld age, I'm a bit less fiery.

From the CAN: "Irish Blessing Oak-Aged Coffee Stout"; "A dark stout brewed with fresh roasted coffee from OZO Coffee Co. in Boulder, CO, and aged on Tullamore D.E.W. (tm) Irish Whiskey soaked oak chips."

I beCAN by first pouring a wee dram of the whiskey to have all in readiness. After that, it was a Crack! of the vent, a slow, gentle C-Line Glug & we were off to the races! I was met with two-plus fingers of dense, foamy, rocky, light-tan head with very good retention.

I seized upon this moment to have a sip o' the whiskey, purely for medicinal purposes & to refresh meself on its lovely taste. Me surname may be ChANdler, as English as they come, but I have Irish & German in me heritage as well as a Jewish cast so when I decide to be Irish, there are none best challenge me on it! I sorely missed Big Daddy Dan's annual corned beef & cabbage fete on St. Pat's & I am given to bringing soda bread based on me late maternal-grandmother's recipe. 'Tis a grand day out, boyos!

By now, the beer was in readiness, so I forged ahead. Color was Irish-Black/Opaque (SRM = 44), not only evoking an inky darkness, but also the Moors & Spaniards who brought their blood to Ireland as invaders, giving us the "Black Irish". Nose smelled phenomenal - coffee & whiskey, like some underway mornings when no one was looking. Mouthfeel was medium-to-full, a tad light for the style, but ye CAN't have everything. The taste was marvelous with the coffee really leading the parade while the whiskey hung back to see what would happen next. Next, I took CANother wee hit off of the whiskey. Now, lads, the once-subtle whiskey flavor's origin became evident & I was right glad that I had all of this in abeyance. It's as though I had been preparing for this COVID-19 event all along … Finish was dry & while they might be calling it an American Stout, thanks to its adjunct(s) & aging, but at its heart, its sacred heart, this was a Dry Irish Stout. Make no mistake, this was a beauty! I'm almost two weeks late, but it made for a grand celebration here in quarantine. Slainte! YMMV.

Poured from a 12 oz can into a Dogfish Head tulip

L: Dark, dark brown pour.. nearly black with a finger of tannish head. Sticky lacing all over the glass.

S: Coffee and roast.

T.F: Roasted grains and espresso. Strong coffee... dark cocoa and a bit of oak/vanilla. Not a ton of whiskey flavor, but some woody notes. Medium bodied... sticky on the tongue and creamy mouthfeel. Sweet coffee and roast at the finish.

O: A solid stout. Good coffee flavor... lacking in the whiskey dept (only a problem as this was advertised). Easy drinking.

 

 

 

 

 

L:. Pours a dark black with a creamy smooth tan brown with thick lacing around the glass.

S:. Dark roasted malt, some sweet chocolate, coffee, a nice bitterness too, some smoke.

T:. Dark roasted malt, rich earthy coffee, a nice bitterness from the coffee, a bit of chocolate and some smoke. Very nice tasting state.

F:. Creamy smooth with a medium thick body.

O:. I haven't enjoyed a beer this much from Boulder Beer Company in a long time.

Even though this beer didn't have any whiskey notes just mild oak it was quite nice smooth chocolate like malts mixed with some roast coffee goodness. Not bad!