McHenery's Irish Stout
Porterhouse Restaurant & Pub

This beer poured a nice dark black with only the slightest of heads which did leave a decent lace. Aromas were nicely mixed between roasted malts, chocolate, and a bit of coffee. The flavor to this beer was very roasty up front, with some slight carob flavors that just snuck their way in. Some coffeeish flavors found their way into the mix but were quickly overthrown by more roastiness. There was a sweet aspect to this beer that came along with some cocoa flavors, and just a bit of toffee as well. The finish to this beer was only mildly bitter, but just enough to keep this beer in line. My only complaint was that the body of this beer was a bit thin, but it was quite smooth due to a very subtle carbonation. Overall this brew was a nice offering, just a little thin.

Served as part of a sampler tray at their restaurant in Lahaska, Pa. As it states on their beer menu, all of their beer is brewed for them by River Horse Brewing in Lambertville. This was poured into a 7 oz. tall sampler glass and appeared almost midnight black in color, and was topped off with a very creamy and generous head of dark tan foam. The aroma is rich with dark roasted grains. The taste is rich and mysterious with dark and sweet roasted goodness. The finish is somewhat buttery and bitter. The body is a bit watery, but very nice and flavorful on the whole.

Right from the tap just one foot away, my pint was served with very little head. Dirty glass? Maybe. I was able to bring up a little head later in the glass by swirling it, but it did not hold and it left no lace. The body is a hazy deep-brown that appears black in the full pint with just highlights at the lip and base. What little head is present is light-tan and foamy. The nose expresses mildly sweet cocoa and a gentle roastiness - similar in many ways to creamy coffee but with a distinctly chocolate side. Nice! The body is light/medium; and it's enhanced by a very fine and moderate carbonation that leaves it creamy and smooth in the mouth. The flavor delivers on the sweet cocoa promised in the aroma and adds a good deal of toffee characer to the mix before revealing it's subtle roastiness. It finishes smooth and easy with just an underlying bitterness to dry it out. It's dark malt character is held in check, and it's minor acidity is nicely balanced against the mildly sweet maltiness. Although I wouldn't label it a "dry" or "Irish" stout, it was quite nice; and I hesitate to say it, but the beers brewed on premesis seem to be better than the standard draught River Horse beers. Maybe freshness is a factor? Regardless, the McHenery's is a very nice beer that's worth trying if you get the chance to stop in.