O'Hara's Leann Follain

O'Hara's Leann Follain
Type of beer: Extra Stout
Container Type: 355 mL bottle
Alcohol by volume: 6.0%
Country of origin: Ireland
Rating: 73% (see below)
Number of times I've had this beer: 1st
Cost: $3.55
Tasted on: 6/4/09
Colours of label: Brown/Tan
Drank From: Glass

Label Reads: "Full-bodied Extra Irish Stout", "Laden with complex chocolate and coffee flavours, balanced by a robust bitterness and delicate spicy aroma, O'Hara's leann follain is a full-boided extra Irish Stout".

website: www.carlowbrewing.com
Best for: watching prairie dogs mate
Ratings:
Taste: 14/20
Flavour: 14/20
Buy again: 13/20
Aroma: 8/10
Satisfaction: 9/10
Complexity: 8/10
Intangible: 7/10

Handwritten notes: Oh, good, another stout. I guess in a way it is good because I can tell the difference between the few American Stouts I've had recently and this particular (Irish) stout. This stout is more smooth and less forthright. It asks permission to enter your stomach. All of the same choco-coff flavours are there, but with more of a mild and tinny delivery. Loverly.

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Beer #182 of 3,652

Curim Gold

Curim Gold
Type of beer: Heffe-Weizen
Container Type: 500 mL bottle
Alcohol volume: 4.3%
Country of origin: Ireland
Rating: 68% (see below)
Number of times I've had this beer: 1st
Cost: $4.50
Tasted on: 5/2/09
Colours of label: Yellow/Green
Drank From: Glass
Label Reads: "Bright and sparkling, Curim is lightly hopped resulting in a refreshing beer with a hint of fruit."
website: www.carlowbrewing.com
Best for: baking gingerbread
Ratings:
Taste: 13/20
Flavour: 12/20
Buy again: 13/20
Aroma: 7/10
Satisfaction: 7/10
Complexity: 8/10
Intangible: 8/10

Handwritten notes: (I nearly forgot about this one - I split the bottle with big fella and left the notes in the crevasse of my couch for 2 weeks). A very light tasting wheat beer, very good at what it does, but what it does is not that astonishing... very summery, and easy to drink, but leaves you feeling a little empty.

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Beer #143 of 3,652

Guinness

Guinness
Type: Stout
Container Type: 500ml can/pint
Alcohol volume: 4.2%
Country of origin: Ireland
Rating: 90% (see below)
Number of times I've had this type: 50+
Cost: $3.50 can, $7.00 pint
Tasted on: 4/7/09 and 4/9/09
Colours of label: Black/White/Gold
Drank From: glass
Label Reads: "Brewed in Ireland", "Beer-Serve extra cold".
website: www.guinness.com
Best for: smacking around the wife
Ratings:
Taste: 17/20
Flavour: 19/20
Buy again: 18/20
Aroma: 8/10
Satisfaction: 10/10
Complexity: 8/10
Intangible: 10/10

Handwritten notes: This includes a draft version at the local... how do I describe this in a way that hasn't already been described? That's like describing the taste of a Big Mac to a fat guy... smooth, tinny, coffee and chocolate... (nubile? Does that say nubile? I bet no one ever called Guinness nubile before.)... the draft version is infinitely better. This one time I went to some faux Irish pub and they were just pouring Guinness like they were pouring a Budweiser. I never went there again.
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Beer #114 of 3,652

O'Hara's Irish Stout

O'Hara's Irish Stout

Type: Stout
Container Type: 500 mL bottle
Alcohol volume: 4.3%
Country of origin: Ireland
Rating: 90% (see below)
Number of times I've had this type: first
Cost: $4.75
Tasted on: 4/4/9
Colours of bottle: black/brown/white
Drank From: cold glass
Label Reads: "Championship trophy and Gold Medal Draught winner of the Millennium Brewing Industry International Awards. O'Hara's Irish Stout is full-bodied and luxuriously smooth".
website: http://www.carlowbrewing.com/home.htm
Best for: bar-be-fucking-cue.

Ratings:
Taste: 18/20
Flavour: 19/20
Buy again: 16/20
Aroma: 9/10
Satisfaction: 9/10
Intangible: 9/10
Complexity 10/10
Handwritten notes: caramelly roasted barbecue taste... would be perfect with smoked barbecue... pungent, yet smooth and complex... see you this summer, with a smoked brisket.
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Beer #50 of 3,652

O'Hara's Irish Red

O'Hara's Irish Red
Type: Ale
Container Type: 500 mL bottle
Alcohol volume: 4.3%
Country of origin: Ireland
Rating: 88% (see below)
Number of times I've had this type: first
Cost: $4.40
Tasted on: 4/1/09

Colours of bottle: Maroon/Yellow
Drank From: Mug
Label Reads: "O'Hara's Red has a traditional hop flavour to balance a sweet malty caramel finish"
website: http://www.carlowbrewing.com/
Best for: shomer shabbas
Ratings:
Taste: 18/20
Flavour: 19/20
Buy again: 17/20
Aroma: 8/10
Satisfaction: 9/10
Intangible: 9/10
Complexity 8/10
Handwritten notes: OH MY GOD... this is what dark ale should be... one of the best things I've ever had... wow... I like this more than the Marston's Oyster Stout which changed my life... This is why I do this, boys.
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Beer #47 of 3,652

Kilkenny Irish Cream Ale

Kilkenny Irish Cream Ale
Type: Ale
Container Type: 440 mL can
Alcohol volume: 4.3%
Country of origin: Ireland
Rating: 82% (see below)
Number of times I've had this type: 5+
Cost: $2.95
Tasted on: 3/25/09
Colours of can: Maroon/Tan/Green
Drank From: classick glass
Label Reads: "Brewed in Ireland", "Smooth & Distinguished"
website: none
Best for: Friday afternoons
Ratings:
Taste: 16/20
Flavour: 15/20
Buy again: 15/20
Aroma: 9/10
Satisfaction: 9/10
Intangible: 9/10
Complexity: 9/10
Handwritten notes: smooth as heck... coppery draught goodness... I would pour this on cereal.
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Beer #24 of 3,652

Harp

Harp Premium Irish Lager
Type: Lager
Container Type: 330 ml can
Alcohol volume: 5.0%
Country of origin: Ireland
Rating: 75% (see below)
Number of times I've had this type: first
Cost: $2.55
Tasted on: 3/21/09
Colours of can: Green/silver
Drank From: Bonny wee glass
Label Reads: "Harp is the world's best-selling Premium Irish Lager. Brewed from the finest barley and the purest water, Harp Premium Lager is a refreshment experience not to be missed!"
website: none
Best for: poundin' back a quick 'un before going home to the missus.
Ratings:
Taste: 16/20
Flavour: 15/20
Buy again: 12/20
Aroma: 6/10
Satisfaction: 7/10
Intangible: 8/10
Complexity: 10/10
Handwritten notes: what is that flavour?... sticks with you... unique flavour... the saving grace of a otherwise regular beer.
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Beer #16 of 3,652

Smithwick's

Smithwick's
Type: Ale
Container Type: 330 ml glass bottle
Alcohol volume: 5.0%
Country of origin: Ireland
Rating: 78% (see below)
Number of times I've had this type: 2nd
Cost: $1.95
Tasted on: 2/27/09
Colours of bottle: Gold/Green/Red/White
Drank From: Bottle
Label Reads: "An award winning Irish ale produced using the finest hops and barley", "Imported Premium Irish Ale"
website: http://www.smithwicks.ie
Best for: breakfast/before noon
Ratings:
Taste: 18/20
Flavour: 17/20
Buy again: 9/20
Aroma: 7/10
Satisfaction: 8/10
Intangible: 9/10
Complexity: 10/10
Handwritten notes: Irish... "draughty"... nice crisp... satisfaction - this is what I mean.
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Beer # 3 of 3,652

note: the downfall of this beer at my tasting was that I couldn't see buying it again. On the date of this post, I bought just one more. I agree with my previous sentiment.