O'Hara's Irish Stout
Carlow Brewing Company


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- From:
- Carlow Brewing Company
- Ireland
- Style:
- Stout - Irish Dry
Ranked #17 - ABV:
- 4.3%
- Score:
- 87
Ranked #17,425 - Avg:
- 3.87 | pDev: 11.63%
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- May 08, 2022
- Added:
- Dec 27, 2001
- Wants:
- 85
- Gots:
- 128
SCORE
87
Very Good
87
Very Good


Notes:
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.
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.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
4.03 by BlueSpader from Washington on May 08, 2022
4.02 by jmbeerdude91 from Arizona on May 03, 2022
3.85/5 rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
by mikeg67 from New Jersey
440 ml can. Pours brown with tall, long lasting, creamy, beige head and nice lacing. Aroma is of toasted malt, dark fruit, cacao and vanilla. Body is medium, creamy and smooth. Taste is of nutty, toasted malt, coffee, chocolate, brown sugar, dark fruit and earthy hops. Finish is long and dry. Nice brew.
Apr 05, 2022
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
by mikeg67 from New Jersey
440 ml can. Pours brown with tall, long lasting, creamy, beige head and nice lacing. Aroma is of toasted malt, dark fruit, cacao and vanilla. Body is medium, creamy and smooth. Taste is of nutty, toasted malt, coffee, chocolate, brown sugar, dark fruit and earthy hops. Finish is long and dry. Nice brew.
Apr 05, 2022
4.02 by CRObighit2 from Canada (ON) on Apr 02, 2022
4.24 by bump8628 from Oklahoma on Mar 21, 2022
3.78 by Hazey92 from New York on Mar 17, 2022
3.2 by infernalCop on Mar 09, 2022
3.49/5 rDev -9.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
by BalancingBrooms from Illinois
Black with ruby edges and a half finger tan head. Nose is slight chocolate, roast, and raisin. Taste follows the nose with burnt chocolate up front, and some slight sweetness. Body is light to medium with light carbonation, watery. Overall an ok beer, nothing exceptional but no real faults other than being on the thinner side.
Feb 01, 2022
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
by BalancingBrooms from Illinois
Black with ruby edges and a half finger tan head. Nose is slight chocolate, roast, and raisin. Taste follows the nose with burnt chocolate up front, and some slight sweetness. Body is light to medium with light carbonation, watery. Overall an ok beer, nothing exceptional but no real faults other than being on the thinner side.
Feb 01, 2022
4.06/5 rDev +4.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
by milkshakebeersucks from Maryland
Solid black appearance with a small beige head and a fair amount of lacing. Roasted malt aroma laced with coffee and a light touch of cocoa, Hops? Don't think so. At least not in the nose. Smooth, nutty, earthy flavors compliment the roastiness. Some bitterness as the aftertaste evolves. Nicely carbonated, full-to-medium bodied, lingering finish.
Jan 12, 2022
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
by milkshakebeersucks from Maryland
Solid black appearance with a small beige head and a fair amount of lacing. Roasted malt aroma laced with coffee and a light touch of cocoa, Hops? Don't think so. At least not in the nose. Smooth, nutty, earthy flavors compliment the roastiness. Some bitterness as the aftertaste evolves. Nicely carbonated, full-to-medium bodied, lingering finish.
Jan 12, 2022
3.52/5 rDev -9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
by jonmikel from Spain
Bought at a Bar in Las Arenas (Spain).
-Black appearance. Small foam head.
-Nespresso coffee taste
-Quite full bodied.
It is a normal Irish stout. Nothing over the top.
Dec 18, 2021
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
by jonmikel from Spain
Bought at a Bar in Las Arenas (Spain).
-Black appearance. Small foam head.
-Nespresso coffee taste
-Quite full bodied.
It is a normal Irish stout. Nothing over the top.
Dec 18, 2021
3.91/5 rDev +1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
by Tony787 from Canada (ON)
I bought a bottle at the LCBO in Ontario 500ml at 4.3
Poured into glass with a 1finger head dark color slow carbonation.
Very tasty smooth creamy at the start expresso flavors in this stout beer .
I do like my expresso coffee in the morning then grab a little breakfast .
After that it's beer for breakfast .
Overall this Irish stout is very good brewed in Ireland.
Cheers
Dec 06, 2021
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
by Tony787 from Canada (ON)
I bought a bottle at the LCBO in Ontario 500ml at 4.3
Poured into glass with a 1finger head dark color slow carbonation.
Very tasty smooth creamy at the start expresso flavors in this stout beer .
I do like my expresso coffee in the morning then grab a little breakfast .
After that it's beer for breakfast .
Overall this Irish stout is very good brewed in Ireland.
Cheers
Dec 06, 2021
4.13/5 rDev +6.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
by nick_perry from North Carolina
Black color with a tan head. Aromas aren’t well pronounced. Sharp carbonation gives you a kick at first. Medium bodied. Smoky flavor takes a long time developing and brings along notes of coffee and cedar. Lingering finish.
Oct 23, 2021
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
by nick_perry from North Carolina
Black color with a tan head. Aromas aren’t well pronounced. Sharp carbonation gives you a kick at first. Medium bodied. Smoky flavor takes a long time developing and brings along notes of coffee and cedar. Lingering finish.
Oct 23, 2021
3.89/5 rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
by scott451 from Canada (ON)
440ml nitro can poured into a pint glass. A big one finger very fine pale tan head on opaque black. Solid head and lacing that sticks around. Sweet coffee smells. Surprisingly light body. Creamy mouthfeel. Very lightly carbonated.
Aug 31, 2021
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
by scott451 from Canada (ON)
440ml nitro can poured into a pint glass. A big one finger very fine pale tan head on opaque black. Solid head and lacing that sticks around. Sweet coffee smells. Surprisingly light body. Creamy mouthfeel. Very lightly carbonated.
Aug 31, 2021
4.09/5 rDev +5.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
by cjgiant from District of Columbia
Nitro can:
Before this can, I had one that was a little more explosive and whose head died oddly. This one is holding up a little better, but it is still a nitro pour, so those always look pretty silky. Nose has a brownie main component, but with a slow inhale, the sweeter aspects seem to evaporate to an unsweetened cocoa powder impression. Light cream in barely sweetened coffee was the impression until then.
Light, with a slightly chewy roasted malt presence to try to fill out the relatively low ABV. Feels a tad bigger than its weight class dictates. Roasted bitterness and a considerably dry ending is nice. It's not too roasty bitter, but a medium roast coffee with some dark, unsweetened chocolate notes further back in the taste. Deeper notes hold, sush that a light metallic/mineral note is squashed as soon as I take note of it.
Pretty decent balance to this, more roasty and a bit more full than the king of the style without extending beyond the bounds of the style as I see it.
Aug 28, 2021
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
by cjgiant from District of Columbia
Nitro can:
Before this can, I had one that was a little more explosive and whose head died oddly. This one is holding up a little better, but it is still a nitro pour, so those always look pretty silky. Nose has a brownie main component, but with a slow inhale, the sweeter aspects seem to evaporate to an unsweetened cocoa powder impression. Light cream in barely sweetened coffee was the impression until then.
Light, with a slightly chewy roasted malt presence to try to fill out the relatively low ABV. Feels a tad bigger than its weight class dictates. Roasted bitterness and a considerably dry ending is nice. It's not too roasty bitter, but a medium roast coffee with some dark, unsweetened chocolate notes further back in the taste. Deeper notes hold, sush that a light metallic/mineral note is squashed as soon as I take note of it.
Pretty decent balance to this, more roasty and a bit more full than the king of the style without extending beyond the bounds of the style as I see it.
Aug 28, 2021
3.94/5 rDev +1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
by VABA from Virginia
Pours a very dark color with a slight head and lacing
Aroma has coffee and licorice hints
The taste follows the nose with coffee and licorice flavor
A medium bodied decently carbonated beer
A good Stout
Aug 01, 2021
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
by VABA from Virginia
Pours a very dark color with a slight head and lacing
Aroma has coffee and licorice hints
The taste follows the nose with coffee and licorice flavor
A medium bodied decently carbonated beer
A good Stout
Aug 01, 2021
4.19 by 88caprice from Virginia on Jun 24, 2021
3.91 by simonrgilbert57 from California on May 08, 2021
3.75 by KT3418 from Colorado on Apr 13, 2021
4.02/5 rDev +3.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
by BuckyNBeer from Wisconsin
O'haras Irish Stout pours a dark hue with a decent head.
The aroma is sweet and roasty with a bit of coffee.
The flavor is slightly sweet with a good amount of roast and a bIt of coffee and it finishes with a bit of bitterness and sweetness.
Overall this is a very nice Stout.
Apr 10, 2021
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
by BuckyNBeer from Wisconsin
O'haras Irish Stout pours a dark hue with a decent head.
The aroma is sweet and roasty with a bit of coffee.
The flavor is slightly sweet with a good amount of roast and a bIt of coffee and it finishes with a bit of bitterness and sweetness.
Overall this is a very nice Stout.
Apr 10, 2021
4.23 by beerrat from Virginia on Mar 19, 2021
4.15/5 rDev +7.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
by Singlefinpin from North Carolina
Drinking this at home on Saint Patrick's Day.
Poured from a 12 ounce bottle into a pint glass.
Looks dark brown almost black with a nice foamy tannish head and lacing.
Smells malty sweet coffee, vanilla.
Taste follows the nose with an interesting slight bite.
Mouth feel is medium for the style.
Overall a very nice Irish Stout that I would definitely drink again.
Mar 18, 2021
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
by Singlefinpin from North Carolina
Drinking this at home on Saint Patrick's Day.
Poured from a 12 ounce bottle into a pint glass.
Looks dark brown almost black with a nice foamy tannish head and lacing.
Smells malty sweet coffee, vanilla.
Taste follows the nose with an interesting slight bite.
Mouth feel is medium for the style.
Overall a very nice Irish Stout that I would definitely drink again.
Mar 18, 2021
4.18/5 rDev +8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
by YuriArtibise from Canada (BC)
OVERALL: A solid Irish Stout
Appearance: Beautiful deep brown with a mousse-like tan head. Lots of lacing with legs
Aroma: espresso with a hint of liquorice
Taste: espresso with a hint of liquorice. Well balanced maltiness
Mouthfeel: Light and smooth, with moderate carbonation
Finish: medium, with lingering coffee bitterness and a touch of vanilla
Serving Style: 500ml bottle
Mar 18, 2021
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
by YuriArtibise from Canada (BC)
OVERALL: A solid Irish Stout
Appearance: Beautiful deep brown with a mousse-like tan head. Lots of lacing with legs
Aroma: espresso with a hint of liquorice
Taste: espresso with a hint of liquorice. Well balanced maltiness
Mouthfeel: Light and smooth, with moderate carbonation
Finish: medium, with lingering coffee bitterness and a touch of vanilla
Serving Style: 500ml bottle
Mar 18, 2021
4.03 by Electros from Canada (ON) on Dec 31, 2020
3.99/5 rDev +3.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
by Truegent2004 from Minnesota
A lot of different flavors come out at first sip. Coffee, licorice, and a hard to define pale dryness. Its not your typical Irish stout but I keep getting it (when available) every so often.
Dec 27, 2020
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
by Truegent2004 from Minnesota
A lot of different flavors come out at first sip. Coffee, licorice, and a hard to define pale dryness. Its not your typical Irish stout but I keep getting it (when available) every so often.
Dec 27, 2020
4.06/5 rDev +4.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
by Treyliff from West Virginia
11.2oz bottle poured into a pint glass
A- pours black in color with a one-finger creamy khaki head that has great retention and leaves some lacing behind
S- roasted barley and rich chocolate, bitter cocoa, caramel, ash, a hint of floral hops
T- roasted barley with some sweet chocolaty notes up front are followed by some bitter charred malt and caramel. Finishes with some herbal, leafy hop undertones, lingers of charred malt
M- medium-light body with moderate carbonation produces a foamy mouthfeel that turns slightly creamy into a dry finish
O- a solid, full flavored and well balanced Irish stout
Nov 29, 2020
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
by Treyliff from West Virginia
11.2oz bottle poured into a pint glass
A- pours black in color with a one-finger creamy khaki head that has great retention and leaves some lacing behind
S- roasted barley and rich chocolate, bitter cocoa, caramel, ash, a hint of floral hops
T- roasted barley with some sweet chocolaty notes up front are followed by some bitter charred malt and caramel. Finishes with some herbal, leafy hop undertones, lingers of charred malt
M- medium-light body with moderate carbonation produces a foamy mouthfeel that turns slightly creamy into a dry finish
O- a solid, full flavored and well balanced Irish stout
Nov 29, 2020
3.87 by irishkyle21 from Canada (ON) on Nov 20, 2020
3.79/5 rDev -2.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
by Burgz from Canada (AB)
500ml bottle poured into a tulip.
Pours a dark brown, almost black coffee like with 2 fingers of puffy off white head that lingers.
The smell somewhat surprised be with sweet scents to it, almost citrusy if you will.
The sweetness is lost in the taste. Tastes of coffee and dark chocolate leaving a bit of a bitter aftertaste.
Nov 13, 2020
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
by Burgz from Canada (AB)
500ml bottle poured into a tulip.
Pours a dark brown, almost black coffee like with 2 fingers of puffy off white head that lingers.
The smell somewhat surprised be with sweet scents to it, almost citrusy if you will.
The sweetness is lost in the taste. Tastes of coffee and dark chocolate leaving a bit of a bitter aftertaste.
Nov 13, 2020
3.74 by SViterileroux74 from Texas on Oct 30, 2020
4.44 by Surf_rock from Ukraine on Sep 27, 2020
3.31 by Chuckdiesel24 from Illinois on Sep 11, 2020
2.53/5 rDev -34.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.25 | feel: 2.25 | overall: 2.5
by elnachooo from Spain
Una vez en el vaso se forma un dedo de espuma homogéneo de buena duración. De cuerpo ligero y carbonatación media. Aroma a café tostado. Hasta aquí todo bien pero una vez en boca es una cerveza de sabor tostado pero insípida.
Sep 08, 2020
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.25 | feel: 2.25 | overall: 2.5
by elnachooo from Spain
Una vez en el vaso se forma un dedo de espuma homogéneo de buena duración. De cuerpo ligero y carbonatación media. Aroma a café tostado. Hasta aquí todo bien pero una vez en boca es una cerveza de sabor tostado pero insípida.
Sep 08, 2020
4.03/5 rDev +4.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
by liberty-and-beer from Pennsylvania
Very dark, with delicate tan lacing. It smells primarily of deep, rich, toasted malt. It begins with a very bitter hit, like a dark coffee and hop. Lighter notes of vanilla and cream reveal themselves as well. Beautiful medium body and a pleasant smooth finish.
Sep 04, 2020
look: 4 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
by liberty-and-beer from Pennsylvania
Very dark, with delicate tan lacing. It smells primarily of deep, rich, toasted malt. It begins with a very bitter hit, like a dark coffee and hop. Lighter notes of vanilla and cream reveal themselves as well. Beautiful medium body and a pleasant smooth finish.
Sep 04, 2020
3.98 by Vyacheslav from Canada (ON) on Aug 29, 2020
3.56 by Eltrandos from France on Jul 19, 2020
4 by mpenske from California on Jul 10, 2020
3.58/5 rDev -7.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
by hogrider from Florida
I bought a four pack of this stout at my favorite watering hole. The color is spot on develops a creamy white head when I pour it in my snifter. Smooth in the palate nice and bitter in the down draft...my only complaint, and probably not valid for this style of beer is the low alcohol....but then again my favorite stout is Old Rasputin packing over 9% ABV. Continue to drink beer and support your local brewery. HOG
May 24, 2020
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
by hogrider from Florida
I bought a four pack of this stout at my favorite watering hole. The color is spot on develops a creamy white head when I pour it in my snifter. Smooth in the palate nice and bitter in the down draft...my only complaint, and probably not valid for this style of beer is the low alcohol....but then again my favorite stout is Old Rasputin packing over 9% ABV. Continue to drink beer and support your local brewery. HOG
May 24, 2020
4.09 by mistahmojoryan from Canada (SK) on May 13, 2020
4.38 by wc94wc from California on May 12, 2020
3.88/5 rDev +0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
by misteil from Ireland
look: tá sé an-dhubh. bubbly fizzy off-white head which immediately dissipates.
smell: rich dark chocolate aromas, little bit of coffee, roasted malt.
taste: rich and smooth chocolate is the dominant flavour, malty, smoky, little metallic on the finish but quite pleasant indeed.
feel: medium bodied, quite reasonably carbonated, somewhat sticky
overall: not as good as leann folláin, but still a very good beer.
Apr 04, 2020
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
by misteil from Ireland
look: tá sé an-dhubh. bubbly fizzy off-white head which immediately dissipates.
smell: rich dark chocolate aromas, little bit of coffee, roasted malt.
taste: rich and smooth chocolate is the dominant flavour, malty, smoky, little metallic on the finish but quite pleasant indeed.
feel: medium bodied, quite reasonably carbonated, somewhat sticky
overall: not as good as leann folláin, but still a very good beer.
Apr 04, 2020
3.83/5 rDev -1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
by Alexc11 from Canada (QC)
Pours a deep, brown (almost blackish) color. Straight deep. Looks like cola. Thin, cream-coloured head with low retention.
Interesting aroma of malt, fig, prune and coffee. Taste of toasted malts and coffee. This is where the robust characteristic comes in. Medium carbonation. Subtle bitter finish accompanied by a light, smooth touch. Pretty smooth for the style. Packs a little more of a punch than, say, Guinness and Murphy's I reckon despite similar alcohol level. If you like coffee, definitely give this a try. I enjoyed it very much.
Mar 18, 2020
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
by Alexc11 from Canada (QC)
Pours a deep, brown (almost blackish) color. Straight deep. Looks like cola. Thin, cream-coloured head with low retention.
Interesting aroma of malt, fig, prune and coffee. Taste of toasted malts and coffee. This is where the robust characteristic comes in. Medium carbonation. Subtle bitter finish accompanied by a light, smooth touch. Pretty smooth for the style. Packs a little more of a punch than, say, Guinness and Murphy's I reckon despite similar alcohol level. If you like coffee, definitely give this a try. I enjoyed it very much.
Mar 18, 2020
O'Hara's Irish Stout from Carlow Brewing Company
Beer rating:
87 out of
100 with
1053 ratings