Donnelly Irish Red
Blue Stallion Brewing Co.

 

 

Great color and lacing nice after taste . Malty and sweet from initial taste to the backend. Very good Irish red beer with an American flare to it..as it should be

 

 

Keeping in their comfort zone of Euro-inspired ale and lager, a heavy-handed red ale steps forward. Carrying a slightly elevated heft, body, strength and alcohol level, the ale charms the tastebuds with a higher degree of culinary art as well.

Donnelly Irish Red is the rusty brownish red hue that's expectected. A frothy off-white head soon scatters but leaves a toasty-sweet scent in its wake, laced with caramel and toffee with a roasted pecan savory character. To taste, the malt-centric beer is sweet and toasty with underlying satisfaction of grilled granola, bread crust, caramel and nuttiness.

Across the middle palate, the taste is higher than usual, bringing in a greater weight but still retaining a high sense of drinkability. Hints of chocolate, peanut brittle and coffee peak through the sweetness as the subtle complexities of the ale show themselves. Balanced with a lightly charred acidity and a mild peppery hop bite, the finish is crisp but malty with a hint of mint when the alcohol pronounces.

Medium-bodied and remaining largely intact in flavor throughout the session, the ale's creaminess and residual sweetness keeps the taste satisfying but less dry or crisp as traditional Irish versions. Still a low-fuss beer by any measure, it's an effortless taste for throwing back more than one.