Gems India Pale Ale
O'Griff's Irish Pub & Brewhouse

Reviewing a bottle of this, it was one of the few better beers in the sampler, and looking back i'm glad I got a sixer to go of the 3 best (IPA, Stout, Irish Red).

Pours a saturated orange with a finger of off-white foam, a collar of lacing left behind around the edges of the glass. 3.75

Smells like candied orange peel, sweet caramel malt and an odd hop bill. The label states 5 noble varieties were used, not sure why that would be a good thing necessarily. 3.25

Taste is actually not bad, caramel malt and cereal grains, some mild hop bitterness. If I was tasting this blind i'd say it was an English IPA, it has that softness and roundness, with a lack of punchy bitterness or carbonation. Nonetheless, it is drinkable and not bad all things considered. Probably the lesser of the 3 after the Irish Red and Muddy MS Stout. 3.5/3.5/3.75

 

 

A - pours a copper orange with a nice looking head on it

S - smells great - very grapefruity and piney, with the grapefruit being the most dominate

T - nice grapefruit sweetness with a tad bit of pine coming through. This is definitely more sweet than bitter, which is a good thing.

M - full and smooth...I haven't had a beer from here that doesn't have a good mouthfeel

D - Not going to lie, I am very surprised by this one. Very solid brew coming from a microbrew that has made some pretty mediocre/subpar brews. Unfortunately this was my last of the night, but I know I will order this next time I stop in...

Pours a cloudy amber color. 1/4 inch head with decent lacing and decent retention. Smells strongly of hops. Fits the style of an American IPA. Mouth feel is smooth and crisp with noticeable bitterness. There was an lower than average carbonation level present. Tastes of strong floral hops, with some slight sweet malt background. Overall, the best beer I tried at O'Griffs - strong and very filling.