Grace O'Malley's Irish Ale
Free State Brewing Co.

(review from March 2017) Excellently flavorful, malty red. Good palate heft, nice caramelly/malty flavor and a lovely slightly sweetish, lingering aftertaste.

 

 

a really solid example of the style, and a great food beer, this is a dry irish red thats got a little more grain character and body to it than many, nutty and toasted, dry but flavorful, really nicely done, surprised you dont see this one around more, its very well done. i think its a style people only look for extremely seasonally, and thats a real shame, because a beer like this is perfectly suited to the entire fall season, not just the saint patricks day window, it really creams fall at me, warming and hearty on the grain side of things, bready and bold, but almost crisp in the finish, especially for a malt driven beer, i really like that abrupt finish, almost has a lagered quality about it. i guess its hard when you give it a name like grace o'malley to make it stick as a year round beer, but the liquid is certainly good enough to work in a much broader window. smooth and easy drinking, satisfying, not at all hoppy, and decidedly old school. a pleasant surprise in a style i often overlook!

 

 

Draught @ Brewpub: Interesting pour. It has a bit of the Guinness-like cascade going on with it. It pours a coppery-amber color, which ended up being almost clear. Needless to say, it ended up with a decent size off-white head that leaves some lacing. There is a hint of roastiness to the nose. Earthy, grassy hops predominate the aroma, with some caramel also. It has a decent malt body, with a slightly dry taste. Very little sweetness to it. This is a very good beer!