Irish Potato
Ludlam Island Brewery

Pours brown with a ruddy, muddy appearance thanks to a turbid translucency. Head is three fingers of pillowy off-white foam. Aroma hits coconut immediately after opening the can. Vanilla bean, cinnamon, and lactose adds further sweetness, which runs firm over roasty, caramely, bready notes. Flavor profile leans into a more even spread, with coconut, cinnamon sticks, vanilla bean, lactose, and toffee creating that spread. Sweetness is a little more mild than the nose, offering up glimpses of bready, toasty, and caramely malts. Grassy and spicy hops sit underneath, but are not enough to become a major contributor. Flavor additions bring a little artificial flavor with it, which is a little off putting from the balance of the beer. Mouth feel is medium in thickness with a porous, bubbly texture. Overall, a pretty wild brown ale. The flavor additions work together pretty well in the aroma, but come across a little fake in the flavor profile.

Served in a 15.5oz Spiegelau tulip from a 16oz can.

Poured from fresh growler into a pint glass. It pours a cloudy, dark cola color with a thick, fluffy, light khaki-colored head and thick, soapy lacing. On the nose there is cinnamon, coconut, and a thick, malty aroma I attribute to the potatoes. I've never had a beer brewed with Irish potato (as opposed to yams) and the initial taste is dry and slightly starchy. But it's balanced by coconut and vanilla that is subtle but effective. It's not nearly as sweet as I anticipated. As it warms in the glass there is increasing cinnamon and it provides a pastry-like quality. The finish is dry and and somewhat bitter. The flavors work really well. This is tasty! The mouth feel is lite, crisp, and clean with pleasant carbonation. And it's highly quaffable at 5.2% ABV. Overall, this ale is unique and flavorful. It could be paired with corned beef and cabbage or simply enjoyed with friends. I really liked it!