Irish Red
Taps Fish House & Brewery

Beautiful clear red ale. Good head production and decent retention.

Nose is quite neutral and mild. There's a bit of toast, caramel, and herb.

Flavor is similarly mild, but very clean and enjoyable. A bit more toast than the nose. Very low sweetness or fruitiness; very low hop expression, although it's very balanced in bitterness.

A beer like this surely borders on boring for many, but it's so cleanly executed, balanced, and drinkable that it's really a lovely experience. It's not trying to be an American India Irish Red Ale. An excellent example of the style.

Perfectly clear amber color after an aggressive pour that props up a light tan head. There’s caramel and cocoa on the nose, and those aromas translate directly to the taste, with an emphasis on the caramel.

There is nothing fancy about this beer, but it is executed perfectly, IMHO. If this is the only beer you drink the rest of your life, you are a very lucky beer nerd. What a magnificent example of the style.

A pretty cherry amber color. Small off-white head that leaves a bit of lace.
Bread and caramel aroma.
Taste a little more complex. Caramel, brown bread, late floral hops.
Light-bodied, very enjoyable.

An 80 rating? What the fuck Irish Red's are all of you drinking that's that much better (I should say more authentic) than this?

It pours a perfect deep amber bordering crimson, crystal clear body, with a well retaining khaki foam that leaves the glass beautifully.

The aroma is spot on. Heavily toasted white bread drizzled in caramel with a spicy, almost peppery finish.

That flavor. So familiar, and comforting. All malt goodness with burnt brown sugar, toasted biscuits, roasted nuttiness, and a peppery and floral finish.

Sticky and chewy sweet malty goodness hit with a splash of bitterness and a dryness that demands another sip.

This is about as authentic an Irish Red I've come across. Fans of great US representations of the style (such as Red Trolley) rejoice. This is top notch.

Slainté, and a big thanks again Derek!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This has been a staple offering from Taps for years now.
Pours a beautiful amber with hints of ruby. Sandy head forms lithely and retreats to a ring that leaves subtle lacing.
Nose carries caramel malt, some brown bread, and a nutty, earthy blend that dries out the sweetness a tad. Definitely highlighting the malt, but there's certainly more going on here. I wouldn't say "complex" but as far as the style goes, this one is more so than most Irish reds.
Mouthfeel is medium, finishes a tad slick. Carbonation is low.
Overall, this is not my go to style of beer, but it is a very good one.

 

 

 

On-tap at Beachwood I,

A: Pours a medium caramel red with a soft creamy white head, leaving some good lace. Solid looking pint.

S: A bit aromatically challenged with hints of toffee and biscuit.

T: Light bready malt flavour with some caramel/biscuit flavours. Mild grassy hops in the finish.

M: Light-bodied, very creamy and soft, easy drinking.

O: This was a solid pint, but nothing really to stand out. If you want something you can drink a lot of on St. Patty's day, go with this.