National Homebrew Club Ireland

General Discussions => The Beer Board => Topic started by: irish_goat on June 24, 2017, 02:45:53 PM

Title: O'Hara's Stout - Discussion
Post by: irish_goat on June 24, 2017, 02:45:53 PM
Something we tried previously, which I think went down well, was an open discussion of a beer as we were all drinking it. Previous thread HERE (http://www.nationalhomebrewclub.ie/forum/members-only-area/brown-bear-of-connemara-ipa-discussion/).

The purpose of the discussion was to breakdown the beer identifying what's good and what's bad about it, and trying to bring across the good positive things and identify the poor ones so that they are in/excluded in our own beers. Plenty of BJCP judges chipped in and I think it was a worthwhile exercise.

Selection up north in the offys tends to be skewed towards nordie and UK beers but I've chosen O'Hara's Irish Stout. Everyone should be able to get their hands on a bottle handy enough. 

Discussion will kick off on Wednesday 28th at 9pm and should only last 20-30 mins.
Title: Re: O'Hara's Stout - Discussion
Post by: BigDanny84 on June 24, 2017, 03:52:11 PM
Sounds good.
Title: Re: O'Hara's Stout - Discussion
Post by: Skittlebrau on June 24, 2017, 09:27:18 PM
The beer discussion is a great idea. From talking with people about some of the more established Irish beers the term "Its not the same beer it used to be" keeps cropping up. In many cases the beer may have changed. The beer reviews could serve as a reference point for where beers are at now, it could be interesting to review the same beer in 3-4 years to see what's changed.
Title: Re: O'Hara's Stout - Discussion
Post by: irish_goat on June 27, 2017, 07:01:51 PM
Reminder we're doing this tomorrow night.  :)
Title: Re: O'Hara's Stout - Discussion
Post by: BigDanny84 on June 28, 2017, 04:02:14 PM
I have a bottle ready.
Title: Re: O'Hara's Stout - Discussion
Post by: Qs on June 28, 2017, 05:02:14 PM
Couldn't get a bottle in Tesco or the local offie. Tescos had pretty much every other O'Haras beer.

Had to settle for a couple of cans of Obrother Bonita instead  :P
Title: Re: O'Hara's Stout - Discussion
Post by: Slev on June 28, 2017, 05:24:09 PM
Was just in Lidl. Assume this is the one. Hope to join in later.
Title: Re: O'Hara's Stout - Discussion
Post by: molc on June 28, 2017, 05:31:40 PM
Will pick up a bottle later and throw me oar in sure :)
Title: Re: O'Hara's Stout - Discussion
Post by: irish_goat on June 28, 2017, 05:47:36 PM
That's the one. The Aldi O'Sheas Irish Stout is also remarkably close to O'Hara's Stout. Carlow Brewing Co claim it's a different recipe but I'm not sure. Must do a side by side tasting someday as there is a good €1 to be saved per bottle.
Title: Re: O'Hara's Stout - Discussion
Post by: brian_c on June 28, 2017, 06:11:16 PM
One bottle of O'Hara's stout picked up, despite the 40 or so bottles of homebrew dry Irish stout I have to hand.

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Title: Re: O'Hara's Stout - Discussion
Post by: DEMPSEY on June 28, 2017, 06:14:48 PM
I'm in the porterhouse tonight to meet the brewer. Will be quizzing him on wrasslers and when he does not answer my questions I will ask, " how come ye can't make stout as good as O'Hara's can. That'll  get him answering :D
Title: Re: O'Hara's Stout - Discussion
Post by: Bazza on June 28, 2017, 07:17:25 PM
Don't know if I've ever seen it in Belfast.

There's a 5-year-old can of Guinness behind some stuff in the garage, if that's any good?

-Barry
Title: Re: O'Hara's Stout - Discussion
Post by: irish_goat on June 28, 2017, 08:52:19 PM
Alright folks, 15B - Dry Irish Stout style guidelines here (https://beerrecipes.org/BJCP-2015-Style/47/15b-irish-stout.html).

BJCP sample scoresheet (https://www.bjcp.org/docs/SCP_BeerScoreSheet.pdf).

Will kick off in a few mins.  :)

Topics; circa 5mins on each
Presentation of bottle including graphics and fill level.
Appearance
Carbonation
Malt and hop aroma
Malt flavour
Hops
Mouthfeel

Marks out of 10
Title: Re: O'Hara's Stout - Discussion
Post by: irish_goat on June 28, 2017, 09:04:33 PM
Caps off!  ;D

(feel like I'm talking to myself!)  :P
Title: Re: O'Hara's Stout - Discussion
Post by: BigDanny84 on June 28, 2017, 09:07:26 PM
I'm here.

Think the appearance of the bottle looks good. The black label with the gold design looks good on the dark bottle. For me O'Hara's labels are very easily identified.
Title: Re: O'Hara's Stout - Discussion
Post by: molc on June 28, 2017, 09:07:50 PM
Getting there! *Huff* *pant* *wheeze* :D

EDIT: Cock, I got Leann Follain!
Title: Re: O'Hara's Stout - Discussion
Post by: brian_c on June 28, 2017, 09:07:56 PM
I'm here too.

Title: Re: O'Hara's Stout - Discussion
Post by: irish_goat on June 28, 2017, 09:09:25 PM
Yeah, appearance wise it's good. I've noticed some of their seasonals have slightly downplayed the O'Hara's logo, Curim's new label and 51st State (NEIPA) in particular. The stout looks good and it's very recognisable when on tap too.
Title: Re: O'Hara's Stout - Discussion
Post by: BrewDorg on June 28, 2017, 09:09:45 PM
Also here, cap just came off
Title: Re: O'Hara's Stout - Discussion
Post by: irish_goat on June 28, 2017, 09:12:31 PM
Appearance of beer:

Pours a good dark chocolate colour, not quite jet black though, there's a bit of brownness. Good 2 fingers of white head but it took a bit of a heightened pour to get it.
Title: Re: O'Hara's Stout - Discussion
Post by: irish_goat on June 28, 2017, 09:13:50 PM
Quote from: molc on June 28, 2017, 09:07:50 PM
Getting there! *Huff* *pant* *wheeze* :D

EDIT: Cock, I got Leann Follain!

You had 1 job!  :P
Title: Re: O'Hara's Stout - Discussion
Post by: brian_c on June 28, 2017, 09:13:59 PM
Label has changed down through the years:
https://web.archive.org/web/20010306213448/http://www.carlowbrewing.com:80/home.htm (https://web.archive.org/web/20010306213448/http://www.carlowbrewing.com:80/home.htm)
Title: Re: O'Hara's Stout - Discussion
Post by: BigDanny84 on June 28, 2017, 09:16:08 PM
It has a darker head that I expected. Good head but dissipates pretty quickly.
Title: Re: O'Hara's Stout - Discussion
Post by: brian_c on June 28, 2017, 09:18:14 PM
It's hoppier than I remember.
Title: Re: O'Hara's Stout - Discussion
Post by: Slev on June 28, 2017, 09:19:23 PM
Sorry, Late to the party ( note to self - its not a party. It's a school night)
Title: Re: O'Hara's Stout - Discussion
Post by: irish_goat on June 28, 2017, 09:20:28 PM
Aroma:

Some chocolate (or is it cocoa?)...not quite sure. Bit of roast barley and grainyness.

Not getting a whole lot of hops? 
Title: Re: O'Hara's Stout - Discussion
Post by: helmet on June 28, 2017, 09:22:42 PM
Quote from: irish_goat on June 28, 2017, 09:20:28 PM
Aroma:

Some chocolate (or is it cocoa?)...not quite sure. Bit of roast barley and grainyness.

Not getting a whole lot of hops?
I'm mostly getting the coffee roastiness.

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Title: Re: O'Hara's Stout - Discussion
Post by: Slev on June 28, 2017, 09:23:00 PM
Pours very dark. Torch light from phone bearly shines through
Title: Re: O'Hara's Stout - Discussion
Post by: molc on June 28, 2017, 09:23:32 PM
I'm just trying the Leann Follain (I know :() and it's very hoppy and resiny - much more so than when I've had it before. The hop flavour and aroma is really coming to the fore - a bit strange for a beer like this.


Lots of dry roast, milk chocolate and espresso, but all the while the hopping rate is distracting.
Title: Re: O'Hara's Stout - Discussion
Post by: BigDanny84 on June 28, 2017, 09:24:18 PM
Not getting any hops either. A strong roasted aroma.
Title: Re: O'Hara's Stout - Discussion
Post by: BrewDorg on June 28, 2017, 09:25:46 PM
Appearance:

Black, pours a 2 finger slight off white head that lasted about a minute. Still retains a nice thin layer of head even after 5+ minutes.

Aroma:

Touch of coffee but mainly sweet milk chocolate aroma. Getting no hop aroma myself
Title: Re: O'Hara's Stout - Discussion
Post by: Slev on June 28, 2017, 09:25:50 PM
Agreed with the graininess.
And highly roasted....
Title: Re: O'Hara's Stout - Discussion
Post by: irish_goat on June 28, 2017, 09:26:23 PM
Getting some coffee aroma alright and a little caramel as it warms up. Probably should have had it out of the fridge for a while.
Title: Re: O'Hara's Stout - Discussion
Post by: BrewDorg on June 28, 2017, 09:27:41 PM
Exact same as me. Thought coffee straight out of the fridge but smells sweeter and sweeter as it warms up.
Title: Re: O'Hara's Stout - Discussion
Post by: irish_goat on June 28, 2017, 09:30:07 PM
Moving onto flavour:

A lot of coffee and then chocolate before a nice dry finish.
Title: Re: O'Hara's Stout - Discussion
Post by: Slev on June 28, 2017, 09:30:17 PM
I can see (wrong sense) were you are coming from with the caramel
Title: Re: O'Hara's Stout - Discussion
Post by: irish_goat on June 28, 2017, 09:31:47 PM
Quote from: Slev on June 28, 2017, 09:30:17 PM
I can see (wrong sense) were you are coming from with the caramel

It's mentioned in the guidelines under "flavour". Not sure if it's acceptable or not for aroma though?
Title: Re: O'Hara's Stout - Discussion
Post by: Slev on June 28, 2017, 09:34:54 PM
Initial taste - very much along the roasted coffee. Matches the initial aroma
Title: Re: O'Hara's Stout - Discussion
Post by: BigDanny84 on June 28, 2017, 09:36:34 PM
Taste - coffee and milk chocolate.
Title: Re: O'Hara's Stout - Discussion
Post by: helmet on June 28, 2017, 09:36:40 PM
I'd like a wee bit less carbonation. Good body, nice coffee kick and dry, slightly bitter finish.

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Title: Re: O'Hara's Stout - Discussion
Post by: BrewDorg on June 28, 2017, 09:36:58 PM
Taste is dry, roasted espresso flavour. I'm getting a pretty assertive bitterness for a stout at the end too
Title: Re: O'Hara's Stout - Discussion
Post by: Slev on June 28, 2017, 09:37:23 PM
Not getting past the roast on the first  two sips.  But eases afterwards. (as my palate gets accustomed? Not a coffee drinker)
Title: Re: O'Hara's Stout - Discussion
Post by: BigDanny84 on June 28, 2017, 09:38:35 PM
Carbonation is a bit prickly on the tongue. I'd prefer it a bit smoother.
Title: Re: O'Hara's Stout - Discussion
Post by: BrewDorg on June 28, 2017, 09:39:55 PM
I find it hard to disassociate roasted and coffee flavours from each other. If I think roasty, I think of coffee and vice versa
Title: Re: O'Hara's Stout - Discussion
Post by: irish_goat on June 28, 2017, 09:41:15 PM
Carbonation is grand for my taste. Body is medium to light, quite sessionable.

Quote from: Slev on June 28, 2017, 09:37:23 PM
Not getting past the roast on the first  two sips.  But eases afterwards. (as my palate gets accustomed? Not a coffee drinker)

Raises a question, would a non-coffee drinking judge score stouts completely differently?
Title: Re: O'Hara's Stout - Discussion
Post by: irish_goat on June 28, 2017, 09:45:21 PM
Overall impressions?
Title: Re: O'Hara's Stout - Discussion
Post by: brian_c on June 28, 2017, 09:45:49 PM
Sorry, away from computer and beer as my little girl woke up.

Aroma: coffee up front

Taste: coffee then chocolate, fading out to fuggles.
Title: Re: O'Hara's Stout - Discussion
Post by: Slev on June 28, 2017, 09:46:31 PM
Carbonation is fine. But the bitterness lingers on the tongue. Dark chocolate esque. While i am getting use to the roast flavour, wouldnt say i'm relaxed with it
Title: Re: O'Hara's Stout - Discussion
Post by: Slev on June 28, 2017, 09:53:29 PM
Definitely easing into it. The tart bitterness is still there, but the roastiness has given way to a more sweeter, less aggressive chocolate. Which is more pleasant for me
Title: Re: O'Hara's Stout - Discussion
Post by: Slev on June 28, 2017, 09:56:04 PM
Actually, just noticed their tag line at the cap label. Pretty accurate (which is unsual among beer self descriptions)

So to sum up - what they  said! 
Title: Re: O'Hara's Stout - Discussion
Post by: irish_goat on June 28, 2017, 09:57:40 PM
O'Hara's Stout has always been a nice beer in my mind. It was one of the first craft beers I drank and I still find myself buying it every so often. The O'Shea's Stout from Aldi (which I am convinced is the same beer) was a staple for me when I was at Maynooth.

Overall, a very pleasant beer. I would maybe like a tiny bit more body in it and a bit more complexity in the aroma rather than just chocolate and coffee. Costs £2.99 in Derry which is a bit steep compared to the offerings in Tesco and Sainsburys. Down in Dublin it tends to be only a bit more expensive than Diageo and Heineken's stouts.

8 out of 10 overall for me.
Title: Re: O'Hara's Stout - Discussion
Post by: helmet on June 28, 2017, 10:01:41 PM
Labels come off fairly handy.....bonus point!

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Title: Re: O'Hara's Stout - Discussion
Post by: BigDanny84 on June 28, 2017, 10:02:16 PM
I would like a bit more body too. It is pretty pleasant. I wouldn't seek it out but if it was my only option on a night out I'd be happy enough. 4 for €10 in SuperValu is good.

6/10 (for me anything over an 8 is exceptional)
Title: Re: O'Hara's Stout - Discussion
Post by: Slev on June 28, 2017, 10:05:46 PM
For me, and this is just coming at it as a uniformed by-stander, - i found it quite aggressive with the roast, and the tartness was just too much to get  over, even though the roast eased, i wasn't in a rush to take the next sip. While, undoubtedly a fine beer, its not something i would drink for a night. For me, it would be ideal for a slow drink. Would i order a second, probably not. But thats just personal taste
Title: Re: O'Hara's Stout - Discussion
Post by: irish_goat on June 28, 2017, 10:06:47 PM
I get the aggressiveness you'se are chatting about. I quite like that though.

I suppose from a judging point of view it's probably a bit much however.
Title: Re: O'Hara's Stout - Discussion
Post by: Slev on June 28, 2017, 10:10:42 PM
Good choice of beer though. Interesting to see the views of others. I can totally see why folks would go for that level of bitter roast taste. Especially if they were a black coffee drinker.
Title: Re: O'Hara's Stout - Discussion
Post by: BrewDorg on June 28, 2017, 10:14:48 PM
Enjoy the roasted and bitterness. I am a coffee drinker too. Will give a 7/10, pretty enjoyable
Title: Re: O'Hara's Stout - Discussion
Post by: Slev on June 28, 2017, 10:21:16 PM
Thanks folks. Enjoyed that
Title: Re: O'Hara's Stout - Discussion
Post by: irish_goat on June 28, 2017, 10:22:33 PM
Quote from: Slev on June 28, 2017, 10:21:16 PM
Thanks folks. Enjoyed that

Same here.

Happy for someone else to pick a beer for next week/fortnight. I'll be down in Dublin this weekend so can pick up pretty much anything then too.