O'Hara's Irish Lager
Carlow Brewing Company

 

Not sure what to make of this one. On one hand it's different, aromatic and herbal, but there's something in the taste and finish that just doesn't quite work for me. It's not unpleasant by any means, but not particularly nice either. A creamy lager doesn't really work for me, although it is nice to be challenged.

Appearance: Massive, finely-beaded snow-white head with superb retention crowns a slightly hazy medium-golden body. Large patches of fat bubbles cling to the glass wall beneath the surface, while many streams of smaller bubbles race to the top. Belgian-style lacing adorns the glass wall.

Aroma: The aroma seems understated, a little biscuit and cracker malt, and some grassy hops, there is a faint note of lemon, as others have noted. Overall, the aroma, while pleasant, seems restrained.

Taste: Opens with mild notes of grassy and herbal hops, followed by bread and biscuit malt. As the taste progresses, there are hints of lemon rind, and a slightly more aggressive herbal and medicinal hops, as well as a mild wave of light caramel. As the taste draws to a close, there remains a mild medicinal bitterness and a faint sweetness.

Mouth feel: Smooth and moderately fu6ll, with slight zesty carbonation.

Drinkability/notes: While not outstanding, O'Hara's Irish Lager is pleasant, inoffensive, and easy to drink. It also offers a gentle introduction to the wider world of beer for those new to craft and specialty brews, i.e. non-macro lagers.

Presentation: Packaged in a 335 ml (eleven point two ounce) brown glass Euro-style longneck bottle with a pry-off crown, served in a La Fin du Monde tulip.

 

look: one to two finger white head, nice bit of lacing, good head retention, nice looking amber coloured beer, lots of carbonation.

smell: all malt on the nose, which is pleasant, but the aromas are faint, it’s bready and biscuity and a little grassy, also some lemon flavours, a touch of bitterness perhaps.

taste: those malt flavours are much more potent in taste than smell which is good, really bready, grassy too, also a nice bit of caramel sweetness too, but it also has a decent hoppy finish, a snap of bitterness and some pink grapefruit and lemon and orange flavours as well, some earthy and floral flavours emerge too, slight lingering metallic flavour also.

feel: light to medium bodied, highly carbonated, somewhat of a creaminess to it, certainly crisp and refreshing as the style should be, maybe a bit watery and thin.

overall: not a bang on helles, but not a bad one either, and as irish attempts at the style go its probably above average.

 

 

 

 

Clean yellow. Bread, cereals, citrusy, floral. Looks excellent, drinks easily, great with roasted chicken and soured pickles. So glad that it's not expensive here in Croatia, like other very good Carlow's beers. This one is maybe even better than their Irish Pale Ale. And it's similar, too. Citrusy aromas and a bit more bitterness makes it though surely an unusual helles. Helles with American twist, I'd say.

500ml Bottle from Reilly's, Lisnaskea (£2.29):
This one wasn't too bad a lager at all, quite an well-balanced & enjoyable beer. One I wouldn't mind having again if I was in Ireland &in the mood for a decent session lager. Another good beer falling under the O'Hara's banner & one that I'm glad I picked up.