Shillelagh Organic IPA
Mick Duff's Brewing Company

On draught at the brewpub, served in a shaker pint (my kind of pub!), Shillelaugh is a ruddy caramel with an off-white head that leaves some sticky lace.

Smell is on the modest side at first, but as it warms, the hops really come out (which seems counter-intuitive), a nice pungency, mostly pine.

Taste is balanced, it's got some decent citrus hop flavor and some sweet maltiness, moderate bitterness. The hops were underwhelming at first, but they really linger nicely on the aftertaste, and as I work through, I realize are quite generous. As it warms up a bit, I get some nice chocolate notes from the malt, which provide welcome depth.

Mouthfeel is dry, medium body.

Drinkability is pretty good. Not the most aggressive hop profile, but strong enough for sure, it's just softened by the excellent balance and overall cleaness that these guys have really masters.

Deep hazy amber in appearance, slick bubbley off-white head, slight retention but lots of lacing. Chewy caramel malt on the nose, orange and white grapefruit rind hops accompanied by pine. The hop rip is right there right from the start in the flavour, some leathery malt, yet finishes with an intense pungent Cascade hop finish of dry scraping white grapefruit rind. Slick, soapy mouthfeel. It satiates a hophead's need to peel their palate away with IBU's. I'd have another.