Irish Cream Temptress
Lakewood Brewing Company

Appearance:
Poured from the bottle, the beer reveals a deep, shadowy hue appearing nearly opaque until backlit, where a subtle reddish-brown glint emerges at the edges. A thick, textured tan foam forms initially, then recedes into a partial layer, with delicate lace trailing the glass in a fine, unbroken sheet.

Aroma:
The scent is initially reserved but develops complexity as it warms. Rich cocoa and chilled espresso rise first, underpinned by dark sugar and toasted caramel tones. A trace of warming alcohol adds a sweet spice, eventually giving way to a soft impression of cream and vanilla reminiscent of a liqueur.

Flavor:
Starts with a firm bite of dark chocolate and black coffee, quickly unfolding into waves of milky sweetness, vanilla, and a hint of oak. A familiar malt structure anchors the profile, gradually yielding to more roasted elements. Toward the end, there’s a mix of syrupy sweetness and subtle hop bitterness, capped by a faintly metallic, earthy note.

Texture:
Rounded and smooth on the tongue, with a velvety body and gentle carbonation that keeps it engaging without overwhelming.

Impression:
A balanced, evolving experience, rich yet refined with enough sweetness and depth to complement its strength, and just enough hop character to finish clean. Warming, flavorful, and easy to enjoy slowly.

 

 

 

 

Appearance: On pouring, a dark mahogany body presents, crowned by a large, coarse, and persistent tan head. Before a strong light at the narrowest point of the glass, some ruby highlights may be seen. Thin, finely-beaded lacing coats the glass wall in an unbroken sheet.

Aroma: Bitter cocoa and cold coffee dominate the aroma. The alcohol with an ABV of 9.1% presents with a sweet and slightly spicy note. Notes of molasses, coffee and dark caramel are present, as well. The aroma of Irish Cream is absent at first pour, but develops as it warms, offering a wave of sweet cream and vanilla.

Taste: Opens with bitter cocoa and coffee. This is soon followed by notes of vanilla, sweet cream and wood, with the spicy alcohol offering a pleasing warmth. Later in the taste, roasted malt dominates the palate. At the close, there is a molasses sweetness paired against earthy hop flavors. and a flourish of lingering, mild metallic hop notes.

Mouth feel: Soft and very full, quite pleasant, with just enough soft carbonation to add interest.

Drinkability/notes: Very pleasant, as are all of the Temptress varieties, and seems most appropriate to this St. Patrick's Day 2024. Sláinte!

Presentation: Packaged in a standard twelve-ounce aluminum can, served in a La Fin du Monde tulip.

Had Irish Cream Temptress at Guitars & Growlers, Richardson, Tex., on draft into weird small tulip "pint."

Pours apparently absolutely black, but deep brown at the edges when backlit, with 1-finger, creamy tan head, which soon dissipates to a partial film, leaving little lace. Very little aroma off pour, but lots of mild chocolate as warms. Begins crisply carbonated, delivering sweet, creamy, vanilla cream-filled milk chocolate, carrying over the Temptress grainy malt backbone and into what would be the usual Temptress mildly roasty finish, except it is sweetened up a bit, allowing a little Noble hop character to show in a crisp finish.

Temptress, but less aromatic, and much sweeter.