O'Hara's Irish Stout | Carlow Brewing Company
Brewed by:
Carlow Brewing Company
Ireland
carlowbrewing.com
Style: Irish Dry Stout
Alcohol by volume (ABV): 4.30%
Availability: Year-round
Notes / Commercial Description:
The flagship of the O’Hara’s brand, this uniquely Irish stout brings one back to how Irish stouts used to taste. First brewed in 1999, it has since been awarded prestigious honours for its quality and authenticity.
O’Hara’s Irish Stout has a robust roast flavour complemented by a full-bodied and smooth mouth feel. The generous addition of Fuggle hops lends a tart bitterness to the dry espresso-like finish. This sessionable stout beer is filled with rich complex coffee aroma mingled with light liquorice notes. The combination of traditional stout hops with an extra pinch of roast barley allows us to stay true to Irish tradition, recreating a taste so often yearned for by stout drinkers.
Added by BeerAdvocate on 12-27-2001
HISTOGRAM
View: Beers
Ratings: 991 | Reviews: 504
3.75/5 rDev -3.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.68/5 rDev -4.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
4.16/5 rDev +7.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Wow! Nice big toasty flavors for a small 4.3% beer! Look is dark with a sandy head and smelled like rich roast, coffe, and chocolate. Taste matched and a light feel kinda chalky like in the back! Overall I will definitely have this again! Best before date of July 28 2019 consumed today
286 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Wow! Nice big toasty flavors for a small 4.3% beer! Look is dark with a sandy head and smelled like rich roast, coffe, and chocolate. Taste matched and a light feel kinda chalky like in the back! Overall I will definitely have this again! Best before date of July 28 2019 consumed today
286 characters
3.75/5 rDev -3.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
4.03/5 rDev +4.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Had on tap. Perhaps the best irish dry stout I have had so far on this trip given the rich chocolate and coffee aromas in the smell, and the taste bringing in addition licorice, smoke, tobacco, and roasted malt, all while maintaining a classic mouthfeel and characteristics of the style.
287 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Had on tap. Perhaps the best irish dry stout I have had so far on this trip given the rich chocolate and coffee aromas in the smell, and the taste bringing in addition licorice, smoke, tobacco, and roasted malt, all while maintaining a classic mouthfeel and characteristics of the style.
287 characters
3.44/5 rDev -11.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.75
Creamy head, similar to Guinness. Chocolaty, with long bitter finish. Light to medium bodied. Dark brown to black in color. Not a remarkable beer.
146 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.75
Creamy head, similar to Guinness. Chocolaty, with long bitter finish. Light to medium bodied. Dark brown to black in color. Not a remarkable beer.
146 characters
3.83/5 rDev -1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
3.81/5 rDev -1.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
2.85/5 rDev -26.4%
look: 2.75 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 2.75
look: 2.75 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 2.75
4.22/5 rDev +9%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4
Very dark brown with a thin white head.
Smell is very chocolatey with a roasted character.
Taste and mouthfeel is very smooth with a dry finish. There is a slight bitterness to balance it out. The main flavors are coffee and chocolate.
This is a great stout. It's a little unassuming, but it's nice to have another option for a stout that isn't super heavy.
360 characters
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4
Very dark brown with a thin white head.
Smell is very chocolatey with a roasted character.
Taste and mouthfeel is very smooth with a dry finish. There is a slight bitterness to balance it out. The main flavors are coffee and chocolate.
This is a great stout. It's a little unassuming, but it's nice to have another option for a stout that isn't super heavy.
360 characters
3.71/5 rDev -4.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Really nice looking when pured into the glas, with a thick brown head and a dark brown, carbonated body.
Smells of coffee and roasted barley. The taste is similar, with some caramel also present.
Nice and refreshing, easy to drink (opposite to a Guinness for comparison).
271 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Really nice looking when pured into the glas, with a thick brown head and a dark brown, carbonated body.
Smells of coffee and roasted barley. The taste is similar, with some caramel also present.
Nice and refreshing, easy to drink (opposite to a Guinness for comparison).
271 characters
3.55/5 rDev -8.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
11.2 oz. Bottle
BB: 28 FEB 2019
Pours a nice dark brown color, pretty nice carbonation, with a pretty nice thick/creamy two-finger light tan head, which leaves some sticky lacing behind. The nose is malty, hoppy, nice touch of chocolate, roasty. The taste is malty, hoppy, with some chocolate, roasty. Medium body, ABV is hidden pretty nicely. Overall, surprised me, tasty.
374 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
11.2 oz. Bottle
BB: 28 FEB 2019
Pours a nice dark brown color, pretty nice carbonation, with a pretty nice thick/creamy two-finger light tan head, which leaves some sticky lacing behind. The nose is malty, hoppy, nice touch of chocolate, roasty. The taste is malty, hoppy, with some chocolate, roasty. Medium body, ABV is hidden pretty nicely. Overall, surprised me, tasty.
374 characters
4.04/5 rDev +4.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Look- pours black with cola brown hints around the edges of the glass; 1/2 finger tan head, decent amount of lacing
Aroma- dark roasted coffee and bakers chocolate
Taste- follows the nose with chocolate and coffee, but there's also a firm bitterness that seems to be a combination of roast and hop bitterness
Feel- light-medium bodied, medium carbonation, finishes bitter and very dry
Overall- nice dry Irish stout with a nice roasty flavors and decent bitterness
467 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Look- pours black with cola brown hints around the edges of the glass; 1/2 finger tan head, decent amount of lacing
Aroma- dark roasted coffee and bakers chocolate
Taste- follows the nose with chocolate and coffee, but there's also a firm bitterness that seems to be a combination of roast and hop bitterness
Feel- light-medium bodied, medium carbonation, finishes bitter and very dry
Overall- nice dry Irish stout with a nice roasty flavors and decent bitterness
467 characters
3.8/5 rDev -1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
Nice aroma of roasted malts with hints of dark fruit and coffee, fuller and richer than the other two. Dark ruby color with a moderate tan head, thick and creamy, but lacking the nitro gorgeousness of the canned Irish stouts with the widget. The head also recedes quickly to a thin cap with lacing creeping up the sides of the glass. Mouth feel is on the thin side without the boost from nitro. Roasty flavor with dark fruits and coffee. Richer flavor with more depth than either Guinness or Murphy's. Somewhat sweeter, also. Just enough bittering to balance the malts; not nearly as bitter as the Murphy's. Best of the three (Guinness Draught, Murphy's Irish Stout, and O'Hara's).
681 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
Nice aroma of roasted malts with hints of dark fruit and coffee, fuller and richer than the other two. Dark ruby color with a moderate tan head, thick and creamy, but lacking the nitro gorgeousness of the canned Irish stouts with the widget. The head also recedes quickly to a thin cap with lacing creeping up the sides of the glass. Mouth feel is on the thin side without the boost from nitro. Roasty flavor with dark fruits and coffee. Richer flavor with more depth than either Guinness or Murphy's. Somewhat sweeter, also. Just enough bittering to balance the malts; not nearly as bitter as the Murphy's. Best of the three (Guinness Draught, Murphy's Irish Stout, and O'Hara's).
681 characters
3.79/5 rDev -2.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Pours black with red brown highlights. Not much head and no lacing.
Smells roasty and chocolately. Taste adds a certain smokiness to that, enough to remind me of rauchbier.
Really easy drinking. Packs a lot of flavor into the 4.3% abv. Truly sessionable, the beer is gone too soon from my glass and I find myself wanting another. Would make a great low-alcohol beer to keep on hand for the times I want one of those.
421 characters
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Pours black with red brown highlights. Not much head and no lacing.
Smells roasty and chocolately. Taste adds a certain smokiness to that, enough to remind me of rauchbier.
Really easy drinking. Packs a lot of flavor into the 4.3% abv. Truly sessionable, the beer is gone too soon from my glass and I find myself wanting another. Would make a great low-alcohol beer to keep on hand for the times I want one of those.
421 characters
3.73/5 rDev -3.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
Pours a thinnish brown color - lighter around the edges. Thin tan head dissipates quickly leaving no residual head other than a ring of foam along the outside of the beer.
Aroma has lots of dark fruits, cocoa, bakers chocolate and roasted malts. Very interesting nose and quite unique when compared to the readily available examples of the style.
Taste has strong notes of dark fruits, tobacco, roasted malt, some light cocoa and a bitter earthy hop finish.
Feel was thin, light with mild moderate carbonation.
While this is a good stout,the dark fruits give this a vey unique aroma and flavor profile and, in my opinion a deviation from the style.
655 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
Pours a thinnish brown color - lighter around the edges. Thin tan head dissipates quickly leaving no residual head other than a ring of foam along the outside of the beer.
Aroma has lots of dark fruits, cocoa, bakers chocolate and roasted malts. Very interesting nose and quite unique when compared to the readily available examples of the style.
Taste has strong notes of dark fruits, tobacco, roasted malt, some light cocoa and a bitter earthy hop finish.
Feel was thin, light with mild moderate carbonation.
While this is a good stout,the dark fruits give this a vey unique aroma and flavor profile and, in my opinion a deviation from the style.
655 characters
3.63/5 rDev -6.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
L) Pours a nice coffee color with a healthy off-white head.
S) Very crisp notes of roasted barley, slight coffee, and an incredibly slight toffee sweetness.
T) Very crisp and dry. The straight up coffee and roasted barley notes are there, nothing much more or less. Again, there is a slight sweetness coming from the malt, ever so slight, but it really is dry.
F) Has a medium-body and is quite crisp. Great carbonation.
O) Fine for the style. An easy 4 pack for St. Patrick's Day.
485 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
L) Pours a nice coffee color with a healthy off-white head.
S) Very crisp notes of roasted barley, slight coffee, and an incredibly slight toffee sweetness.
T) Very crisp and dry. The straight up coffee and roasted barley notes are there, nothing much more or less. Again, there is a slight sweetness coming from the malt, ever so slight, but it really is dry.
F) Has a medium-body and is quite crisp. Great carbonation.
O) Fine for the style. An easy 4 pack for St. Patrick's Day.
485 characters
3.38/5 rDev -12.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
4.18/5 rDev +8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Draught pint @The Brass Tap on St. Patrick's Day. Prefer to Guinness - more of a roast note on both the nose & tongue☘
120 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Draught pint @The Brass Tap on St. Patrick's Day. Prefer to Guinness - more of a roast note on both the nose & tongue☘
120 characters
3.98/5 rDev +2.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Poured into a Fremont small snifter. Pours a very dark mahogany brown, appearing nearly opaque in the glass, with a half finger light brown head with good retention and lacing. Aroma of dark toasted malt with a slight char, roast coffee and cocoa. Flavor follows, with slightly charry dark toasted malt, bitter coffee and a hint of milk chocolate. Dry, earthy and lightly charred malt and yesterday's coffee finish. Light to medium bodied with sharp carbonation. A very classic dry Irish stout profile with nicely toasted malt and good coffee and cocoa notes. Not the most robust of the style I've had, but very flavorful and great adjunct flavors for the ABV. Nicely done.
674 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Poured into a Fremont small snifter. Pours a very dark mahogany brown, appearing nearly opaque in the glass, with a half finger light brown head with good retention and lacing. Aroma of dark toasted malt with a slight char, roast coffee and cocoa. Flavor follows, with slightly charry dark toasted malt, bitter coffee and a hint of milk chocolate. Dry, earthy and lightly charred malt and yesterday's coffee finish. Light to medium bodied with sharp carbonation. A very classic dry Irish stout profile with nicely toasted malt and good coffee and cocoa notes. Not the most robust of the style I've had, but very flavorful and great adjunct flavors for the ABV. Nicely done.
674 characters
O'Hara's Irish Stout from Carlow Brewing Company
Beer rating:
3.87 out of
5 with
991 ratings
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