O'Reilly's Irish Red
McKenzie Brew House

 

Draft at the brewpub.

Pours a slightly cloudy, dark golden copper color with dark amber edges and a half finger off-white head that quickly settles into a thin, lasting ring.  Sporadic spotty lacing.

Bland aroma with subtle spice and earthy hops.  Dominated by sweet malt with hints of rye, caramel, toffee and dark fruit.

Medium bodies with a surprising hop forward flavor profile followed by a sweet malt backbone.  Crisp, spicy hop bite lingering over caramel malt sweetness, spicy rye, toffee, bread and dark fruit notes.  Easy to drink with a subtle hop component countering the strong malt presence.  

Thanks to stewdawg for this in GATM

A: Really nice looking deep ruby color with a finger and a half of slightly brownish head. Great lacing and poured with a nice cascade.

S: Big malt nose. A touch of sweetness in there as well. A little bit of chocolate but that is probably just from the ton of malt in this.

T: Very favorable. The maltiest Irish Red that I have ever had. A touch of roast is in there as well. Finishes clean.

M: It is a bigger body than you would expect from the style but it doesn't get in the way of drinkability at all.

D: A really great and flavorful session beer. Split the growler and wished we had another.

Brew poured a dark murky red, and a thin layer of creamy head topped it off. Interesting aromas- big malts, slightly roasted and caramelized with essence of dark fruits and some crisp hops. Sweetness is complex with hints of toasted brown bread and a honey-like stickiness. One of the best examples of subtle hops in an ale ive had to date- they are a base for the flavors but their bitterness is subdued and turns into an earhty, spicy, tongue-tingling finish. Very interesting brew and the unique use of hops makes this one a must-try. Also, the ABV has been bumped up to 6.6% and is still hardly detectable.

Brewed for St. Patty's day, this is a welcome variation from the standard dry Irish stouts. It's very deep copper in color with a reddish cast beneath a cream colored head that holds well and leaves some nice lacing about the glass. The nose offers caramelish malts with a touch of grassy hops thrown in as well. It's medium bodied with a fine, median carbonation and it has somewhat of a creamy mouthfeel to it. In the flavor, deeply caramelized and toasty malts are well balanced by grassy, delicately floral hops and a firm bitterness. It finishes dry with a lingering malt character. A tasty, well-brewed ale with great balance and enough character to keep it interesting after a few.