O'Hara's Irish Red
Solid two fingers of light tan foam, somewhat delicate micro-bubbles, steady dissolve with much lacing, like froth lapping at the beach. Clean amber color with a little more brown than orange, excellent clarity and vividness. Bready nose with caramel, chocolate fudge, sugar cane and a hint of golden raisin and date alongside the pear, apple scents, the hops come across as mixed drink bitters with a pinch of green field grasses. Medium-bodied, the carbonation has an aggressiveness which comes out of left field, churns things up and favors the bitter, grassy element as well as sour grapefruit, lemon citrus. The maltiness more of a powdery texture here, hence less sweetness in the cocoa, milk chocolate, hard toffee flavors. Some raisin left, more green apple, bosc pear, apricot pit. Flash of cloves. Astringency and overall dryness builds through the finish. Curiously, the breadiness more or less absent. Interesting beer, throws a fair amount of curveballs.