McCarthy Irish Stout
Crossroads Brewing Company

 

Note: A neighbor brought me the growler straight from the brewery in Athens. On the cap is handwritten "Irish Stout," but there's no name. My neighbor told me they were calling it "McCarthy Irish Stout" after someone he knows, and thus I'm entering it here under that name. No ABV % is known at this point. [Edit, 3/14/16: this beer is currently on tap for growler fills at Olivers in Albany, where they list the ABV as 4.4%.] Anyway, here goes. . . .

A: Poured from the growler into a Sam Smith's nonic-style imperial pint glass. Body is black with a small light-tan head. Leaves some splotchy "legs" behind with each sip.

S: Roasted barley malt and a touch of coffee.

T: First impression is "roasty." Taste pretty much follows the nose, with roasted malt, some husky grain and a good amount of roasted coffee beans. A touch of char, as well. Finishes fairly dry, though with a bit of roasty bitterness coating the palate.

M: Call it light-to-medium in heft. Carbonation is appropriate, fairly modest.

O: Good stuff. A lot of flavor in a relatively "smaller" beer.