Murphy's Law Red Ale
Portsmouth Brewery
- From:
- Portsmouth Brewery
- New Hampshire, United States
- Style:
- Irish Red Ale
- ABV:
- 5.5%
- Score:
- 81
- Avg:
- 3.51 | pDev: 15.38%
- Ratings:
- | reviews: 29
- Status:
- Retired
- Rated:
- Jul 09, 2018
- Added:
- Mar 15, 2003
- Wants:
- 3
- Gots:
- 1
SCORE
81
Good
81
Good
The eponymous creation of our former Head Brewer, Paul Murphy, is a full-bodied ale whose ruby color and toasty sweetness result from the generous use of caramel malt, balanced by four hop additions, including a dry hopping in the conditioning tank.
22 IBU
22 IBU
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Reviewed by edward_boumil from New York
3.91/5 rDev +11.4%
look: 3.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
3.91/5 rDev +11.4%
look: 3.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Served on tap at the brewpub itself.
Poured a very dark red, nearly brown colored ale. Little head, no lace. Aroma and taste are quite nice, tons of roasty cereal malt, also is very fruity and sweet which are aspects of red ales that I really enjoy. Has a touch of dryness as well to bring balance to the beer. Is also quite smooth and sessionable, so it goes back nice and easy but brings the flavor
All around a very nice example of the style, one of the better ones I've tried as of late.
Mar 17, 2016Poured a very dark red, nearly brown colored ale. Little head, no lace. Aroma and taste are quite nice, tons of roasty cereal malt, also is very fruity and sweet which are aspects of red ales that I really enjoy. Has a touch of dryness as well to bring balance to the beer. Is also quite smooth and sessionable, so it goes back nice and easy but brings the flavor
All around a very nice example of the style, one of the better ones I've tried as of late.
Reviewed by jneiswender from Massachusetts
4.46/5 rDev +27.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
4.46/5 rDev +27.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Served from growler into mug. Light cola body and a off white head. Smell is of yeast and chocolate and fruit. Taste is fruity and finishes bitter. Medium carbonation. Nice beer
Feb 27, 2016
Reviewed by Back_in_the_Saddle from Vermont
3.74/5 rDev +6.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.74/5 rDev +6.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
This was poured into a pint glass.
The appearance was a soft hazy burnt amber color with a one finger white foamy head that dissipated at a nice pace. Lacing was stringy and messy.
The smell started off with some roasty to toasty caramel malts with some light nuts hitting underneath the nose appropriately.
The taste was moderately sweet with an ample amount of bitter from some earthy and spicy hops. Malts and nuttiness come back nicely to cling in the aftertaste and finish.
The mouthfeel was about medium bodied with a nice sessionable feel to it. Carbonation is relaxed allowing a crisp sweetness to lay down on my tongue.
Overall, as an Irish red ale, I'd say this one works.
Nov 22, 2015The appearance was a soft hazy burnt amber color with a one finger white foamy head that dissipated at a nice pace. Lacing was stringy and messy.
The smell started off with some roasty to toasty caramel malts with some light nuts hitting underneath the nose appropriately.
The taste was moderately sweet with an ample amount of bitter from some earthy and spicy hops. Malts and nuttiness come back nicely to cling in the aftertaste and finish.
The mouthfeel was about medium bodied with a nice sessionable feel to it. Carbonation is relaxed allowing a crisp sweetness to lay down on my tongue.
Overall, as an Irish red ale, I'd say this one works.
Reviewed by Lawl3ss from Texas
2.76/5 rDev -21.4%
look: 2.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3
2.76/5 rDev -21.4%
look: 2.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3
Chilled 22 oz. Bomber into 16 oz. shakers. Best by date June 2014, although it was purchased at the brewery last weekend.
Look- extremely cloudy deep amber-red. Pours with two fingers of whipped almond cream head. Falls quickly, minimal lacing. The hue would be spot on if it wasn't opaque.
Smell- Nice, if subdued. toasted caramel and honey, slightly dusty.
Taste- well, it is almost the best-by date. Nonetheless, this seems over- oxidized, a little beefy and ashy. Raisin and rye toast dominate, a little sweetness and black tea. Finishes with a yeasty French bread flavor.
Mouthfeel
May 24, 2014Look- extremely cloudy deep amber-red. Pours with two fingers of whipped almond cream head. Falls quickly, minimal lacing. The hue would be spot on if it wasn't opaque.
Smell- Nice, if subdued. toasted caramel and honey, slightly dusty.
Taste- well, it is almost the best-by date. Nonetheless, this seems over- oxidized, a little beefy and ashy. Raisin and rye toast dominate, a little sweetness and black tea. Finishes with a yeasty French bread flavor.
Mouthfeel
Reviewed by Florida9 from Illinois
3.38/5 rDev -3.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.38/5 rDev -3.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
A: Very dark brown-tinted red in color. Forms a rather smallish, creamy, tannish colored head that reduces to just the faintest of surface coatings and leaves just a trace of lacing.
S: Aroma is very creamy, with notes of sweet caramel, bread, and just a touch of toast, along with a very faint hint of green apple.
T: Taste is very malty. Lots of caramel. Moderately sweet. A little toast or roasted malt. There is a slight bit of citrus on the finish, but the hops are quite restrained on this one.
M: Malty with a smooth, creamy mouthfeel to it. Mild to moderate bitterness, though there is a slight soapiness on the finish. Lower carbonation.
O: A fairly standard - and fairly unexciting - Irish ale.
Feb 09, 2013S: Aroma is very creamy, with notes of sweet caramel, bread, and just a touch of toast, along with a very faint hint of green apple.
T: Taste is very malty. Lots of caramel. Moderately sweet. A little toast or roasted malt. There is a slight bit of citrus on the finish, but the hops are quite restrained on this one.
M: Malty with a smooth, creamy mouthfeel to it. Mild to moderate bitterness, though there is a slight soapiness on the finish. Lower carbonation.
O: A fairly standard - and fairly unexciting - Irish ale.
Reviewed by Thorpe429 from Illinois
1.92/5 rDev -45.3%
look: 4 | smell: 2 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 2
1.92/5 rDev -45.3%
look: 4 | smell: 2 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 2
Bottle shared by TurdFurgison. Thanks, Eric! Pours a reddish-amber color with a short off-white head and a bit of lacing. The nose carries some amber malt and faint hops along with a pretty decent amount of diacetyl, which carries over into the flavor. Very disappointing. Buttered bread. I would not have this one again. Hopefully it was just an off bottle.
Dec 15, 2012
Reviewed by KTCamm from New Jersey
3.69/5 rDev +5.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
3.69/5 rDev +5.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
Poured from a bomber into a perfect pint glass.
Pours dark brown with hints of red throughout. Sharp caramel smell that really jumps out. light sweet taste with very low carbonation. Smooth. Some toffee taste with a falvorful hop. Id like a little more carbonation and bite, but a good beer.
Aug 26, 2012Pours dark brown with hints of red throughout. Sharp caramel smell that really jumps out. light sweet taste with very low carbonation. Smooth. Some toffee taste with a falvorful hop. Id like a little more carbonation and bite, but a good beer.
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