Shield
Lough Gill Brewing Company

 

Maybe a little lighter bodied for a contemporary stout of this magnitude but that’s almost welcome. Tons of complexity, starting with chocolate and coffee followed quickly by caramel, bruleed sugar. On the palate the finish brings subtler notes of smoke, meat, phenolic and unmistakable bandaid character. Intriguing and super enjoyable.

This is a tasty, heavy but smooth, bursting with flavor stout. Chocolate and coffee notes, Maybe the best I've had of this type. Easy drinking despite the 14% ABV; be careful ! Highly rated.

Poured from undated 11.1 oz. can into a stemless Rastal beer glass at 59°. The color is ink-black and the modest cap of frothy, light mocha-colored foam fizzled away quickly leaving a thick ring. A nice, fragrant nose featuring roasted malt, burnt coffee, caramel, brown sugar, tobacco smoke, earthy char, and noticeable whiskey. Whoa, this is superb! The taste is coffee-forward but it is hard to separate from the Crolly whiskey. Initially, it is very boozy but as the Stout breathes in the glass the alcohol mellows. As I sip I begin to taste the oatmeal. There are also subtle notes of chocolate and toffee. The Ethiopian and Guatemalan coffee is strong and acidic. The base is strongly earthy char and tobacco ash which gives it a real attitude. All of the flavors are bold but they are highly complimentary. There is fairly strong bitterness throughout. The mouth feel is viscous and oily with low carbonation and you cannot escape the 14% ABV. Sip it slowly and let it develop. Shield is almost like a cordial. It would be great to sip before a fire on a cold Winter night.

 

 

Label says 14.9 oz can but looks more like a 11.2 ounce one to me. Thanks to Brutaltruth for this one! Served in a chalice, the beer pours dark brown/black with about an inch or so tan head. Head retention and lacing are both good. I like the aroma, the brew smells like coffee, dark chocolate, whiskey, burnt/charred malt and a bit of vanilla. Taste is similar to the aroma, but there's the addition of some oak, dark bread, smoky and toffee flavors. Good amount of barrel character here, and no one flavor overpowers the others. Mouthfeel/body is full, it's coating and a bit syrupy with a moderate amount of carbonation. Doesn't seem like it's 14% ABV either but I know it'll hit me later. I thought this was a pretty good barrel aged stout, definitely worth trying if you get the chance!

 

been reading the reviews these lough gill imperial stouts have been getting recently, can’t beleive i’ve waited this long to try one of them, this is good stout, real good stout, it’s a dark and menacing beer, boozy, lot of whiskey, black bread, liquorice, soy sauce, coffee, vanilla, dark fruits, not particularly sweet which is very welcomed, so pleasant to drink, heaviness and smoothness so finely balanced, amazing job from lough gill

This beer is the absence of all light. I swear the room actually darkened as it poured into a Pretentious Glass Company snifter. When the short-lived head of dark chestnut fell, small patches of lace were all that was left to record its presence.

Bailey's Irish Crème is unmistakable against roasted malt. The whiskey is well done, simultaneously subtle and defined. Rich milk chocolate follows with faint smokiness.

This Stout is by no means sweet. The roasted malt is quite strong, while bitterness is mild against the flavor of peat. There is also a mild oak. Again, the charred malt is exquisite. The finish is long and rich, with a never-ending progression as warmth amplifies the peat and charred malt.

A medium body and intensely soft/smooth texture. Alcohol is as high as expected, however, there is no heat whatsoever. Fine carbonation feels like velvet on the tongue, while residual sugar builds on the lips.

Another trip to East Aurora is in our future, if only to snag a few more of these. Happily, I did pick up three other Stouts from Lough Gill during this past trip. This one is perfect for a cold late autumn evening. I can only imagine it improving in candlelight beside a crackling fire.

From the 11.0 oz can in a snifter. This monster pours a dark coal black with a
fantastic head of brown foam that sizzles to a thick ring, thick clumping layer,
and sports some very nice lacing. Nose of rich coffee, faint cream, char, deep roast,
whiskey, oak, and dark chocolate. Flavors turn it up to 11! Dark cocoa, dark rich
coffee verging on espresso, subtle cream, dark berry notes, warming Irish
Whiskey with a touch of peat, oak, and balanced char with touches of vanilla.
Mouthfeel is full, smooth, warming but well hidden booze, and a lightly dry
finish.

Overall----This one is a winner! Balanced and approachable for the imperial
stout drinkers (like me and the Little Lady!).

Cheers

 

 

Nice deep color, but disappointing head, disappears very quickly.
Smell is average.
Very nice taste. ABV is extremely well hidden. Notes of coffee, not too much.
Very smooth and a little too easy to drink!

Very solid beer - not top notch, but worth having.