McCaffery's Irish Cream Ale
Argus Brewery

McCaffery's Irish Cream AleMcCaffery's Irish Cream Ale
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From:
Argus Brewery
 
Illinois, United States
Style:
Irish Red Ale
ABV:
4.14%
Score:
84
Avg:
3.62 | pDev: 13.26%
Ratings:
17 | reviews: 5
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Oct 16, 2016
Added:
May 25, 2010
Wants:
  3
Gots:
  1
Exclusively brewed for Ballydoyle Irish Pubs.
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Rated: 3.72 by scootercrabb from Illinois

Oct 16, 2016
 
Rated: 3.92 by BB1980 from Illinois

Apr 01, 2015
 
Photo of BeerandWhiskeyHQ
Reviewed by BeerandWhiskeyHQ from Illinois

4.3/5  rDev +18.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Appearance
A deep dark rich amber/copper color
Smell
Slight malt and a medium/strong hop aroma
Taste
Tastes rich a creamy, is full bodied and a sturdy beer. Rich in malt and subtle but welcome hop flavors
Overall
This has been my go to cream stout since I have been drinking them. It has a smooth, heavy mouthfeel yet easy to drink and doesn’t sit heavy in the stomach. It may not be the most complex of all beers, but man is it enjoyable to sit a drink a few of with some good pub food!

-BeerandWHiskeyHQ.com
Feb 03, 2014
 
Rated: 3.25 by SMKilp from North Carolina

Jun 21, 2013
 
Rated: 3.5 by nzerbe from New York

Mar 17, 2013
 
Rated: 3.75 by Chisfinest84 from Illinois

Feb 26, 2013
 
Rated: 3.5 by ssimpson89 from Illinois

Dec 27, 2012
 
Rated: 3.75 by bryang002 from Illinois

Oct 30, 2012
 
Rated: 3.25 by Vlaminck from California

Jun 24, 2012
 
Rated: 3.5 by imperialking from Illinois

Mar 07, 2012
 
Rated: 3.5 by BKBrewer from Illinois

Feb 29, 2012
Photo of emerge077
Reviewed by emerge077 from Illinois

3.33/5  rDev -8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
12 oz. bottle, "1136" julian date, possibly May 2011?
Served in a tapered pub glass. Marketing blurb for Ballydoyle pubs on the back side of the label.

Took an aggressive pour to generate much foam, and the head faded after a couple minutes. Floating island of bubbles, thin crown of lace around the edges. Saturated orange color with a dull haze about it.

Yeasty aroma, husky grains, bread dough.

Flavors are also doughy, some toastiness lasting in the dry aftertaste. Some nuance seems to emerge as it warms... a dry grassy herb note in the aftertaste, some floral aspects that mesh with the central bread dough and toasted grain flavor. Body is sort of light to medium, though it has a lower level of carbonation. Seems like something that might work well on nitro or cask. An easy drinking session beer, though there's not much substance to hold sustained interest.
Nov 28, 2011
 
Rated: 2.5 by barnzy78 from Illinois

Nov 20, 2011
Photo of scruffwhor
Reviewed by scruffwhor from Illinois

3.72/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Colo is a hazey copper color with a quick head , good bubbling, and just a touch of foam.

Toasted malts, and a little grassy hops adds a nice crispness to the aroma.

Lightly toasted biscuits and watery crackers make up the malt bill, while the hops add a good doe of Eartht to the flavors to keep this ale at the right balance.

Great Chicago brewed session ale.
Feb 26, 2011
Photo of tapman
Reviewed by tapman from Illinois

3.52/5  rDev -2.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4
Medium sized off-white head that tumbles down into an oil slick lace. Beer is a light brown color and clear.

Aroma is a little fruity with some pale and slightly darker malts; biscuit accompanies the yeast. Small hops, but larger (some of the fruit) than most cream ales I've had.

Bready, cardboardy, bitter and with a slight spicy character. Some biscuit and some mineral-like yeast by-product.

Big carbo-bite. A lot of carbonation must be absorbed in the liquid because there isn't a lot of bubbles, but a big bite.

Pretty average for the style, but better than most cream ales I've had. A little more flavor.
Nov 04, 2010
Photo of tjsdomer2
Reviewed by tjsdomer2 from Illinois

3.58/5  rDev -1.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Appearance: Not red/amber, that's for sure. Despite what the label and pub website photo describes, this beer is not red. However, it does have a vague rosy tint to it. For the most part, McCaffery's looks pale yellow with some cloudy density. Nice foam and lacing on the glass.

Smell: Mostly yeast. It would be pretty boring if it weren't for the slightly fruity aroma. Kind of like strawberries. Not a smell I've experienced before in beer.

Taste/Mouthfeel: Lives up to its name since it's definitely very creamy. Very good feel overall. I can't say I'm wild about the flavor. Again, some strawberry essence to go along with the dry malt and yeast flavor. Kind of a bitter finish.

Drinkability: Pretty filling beer. Worth a try, but not necessarily a session beer.

Overall: Apparently you can only get this at one pub in Downers Grove IL, so it's definitely an attempt to draw people. Honestly, McCaffery's is a good beer, although definitely sample more at this pub. Also, I'm not sure why this is labeled "Irish Red Ale." It's definitely not red. Seems like more of a witbier of some sort.
May 25, 2010