I don’t see a general Irish beer thread on the first two pages of the UK forum, and I think that says enough given the last post on this regional forum came almost a month ago. Here’s what I’m drinking at the moment. All familiar names, though I very rarely see them posted in WBAYDN and NBW. Slainté
Sullivan’s Black Marble Stout. 5.1% vol. Barley, wheat, hops, yeast. Thin like a dry irish stout, but with a flavour that could rival any barrel-aged imperial.
Galway Bay’s Bay Ale. 4.4% vol. Maltier than Sullivan’s, nutty with a somewhat metallic aftertaste. Very good anyway
Galway Bay’s Bay Ale is one that I try to get a pint when I'm in Ireland. Maltings is okay, but I don't like the Sullivan's Stout. Wicklow Wolf Hoppy Red, Rising Sun Red and Stout are also very good.
Last up for now… O’Hara’s extra stout ‘Leann Folláin’ Dry, with some dark chocolat and… maybe a bit of alcohol bite? It’s only 6%. O’Hara’s stouts are very highly rated here, though they’ve never been my favourite. Nothing wrong with this one… perhaps I just get my expectations too high
440 ml nitro pour can, as Sullivan's Black Marble Stout, from Vinmonopolet, Nettbutikken. ABV is 5.1%. Black colour, creamy beige head. Aroma of roast malts and mild coffee, hints of dark chocolate. Smooth mouthfeel. Medium dry flavour with the same elements as the aroma, noticeable bittering hops.
500 ml bottle, from Vinmonopolet Madla. ABV is 6.0%. Black colour, moderate tan head. Moderate aroma of roast malts and coffee, hints of chocolate, a whiff of vomit. Medium dry flavour, roast malts and coffee again, also dark bitter chocolate, tar and unsweetened liquorice.
O’Haras are usually solid if not spectacular but they are a widely available in Ireland so always a decent option. Couple of beers from the weekend The Sequence from Wide Street Brewing. Wide Street usually specialize in mixed ferm beers but this is a solid Hazy. Afterglow from Galway Bay - the latest addition to their core range another solid beer from a very consistent brewery.
Guinness Foreign Extra 7.5% This one’s new to me. Im probably in the minority here in preferring the regular draught stout to most of their other products. I think this has it beat though. A hit of dark chocolat gives way quickly to dry roast and hop bitterness. Bitter aftertaste. Really just nothing sweet on this one. I’ll seek it out again in the future
My notes: 600 ml bottle, from a corner shop in London. ABV is 7.5%. Black colour, moderate tan head. Moderate roasty aroma, hints of tar, coffee and cigar box, also a touch of burnt rubber. Roasty flavour, notes of coffee, a certain acidity. Hoppy and roasty bitterness in the finish. Later note: Also sampled the version brewed in Cameroon (shared by abemorsten), which is not listed as a separate beer (same name and ABV, no special grains mentioned as ingredients). To me the aroma seemed more sweetish with notes of caramel, and the flavour was also somewhat sweeter than the Irish-brewed version.
Leann Folláin Irish Whiskey Barrel Aged Most of the flavour is from the whiskey barrels. Sweet, syrupy, raisins, cooked sugar. Then it gives way to a bitter dry stout finish.
Dungarvan Black Rock Stout They crammed a LOT of flavour in to a 4.3% beer; and with the simplest of ingredients. I’m not sure if the flavour profile was to my liking though. To try again some time…
