Hook and Ladder Pipe & Drum Irish Ale

Had it on tap at upick6 in Erie P.A. I was surprised with the malty taste and mouth feel, almost like an American Brown, but was a good beer none the less. Some sweetness and a light nutty/hoppy finish, not quite a typical Irish, but drinking this I will go pick up a sixer of backdraft brown for sure.

Copper to umber in color. Moderate beige head with some rings of lace. Caramel with some mild bleu cheese scents. Interesting, but it doesn’t fit into my peg-hole of Irish ales. I am somehow thinking about a salad with a vinaigrette dressing. Sweet sugary start with caramel and light brown sugar. Mild acidity come in the middle. Lightly earthy in the finish and linger. Sweetness clings to the tongue and distracts. For me this is just another amber, and not necessarily a good one.

Reddish and tan with some caramelly hints, earthy splashes and some rosey hints. A basic Irish Red with some earthy notes on the finish.

Sweet candy malt aroma. Clear orange color with a very small white head. mild sweet beginning that gets a moderate tangy bitterness in the end.

Slightly red in the glass with a thin head. Aromas are lightly hoppy with a caramel element and some yeast. Typical of an Irish Ale, the beer is smooth, supple and rather light on the palate. Plenty of caramel malt. Slightly dry finish.

Overall a tasty brew, good malt backbone and very drinkable. good beer for a good value.

Bottle. Body is a beautiful reddish brown that is completely transparent and supports a thin head of dense foam. Aromas are very earthy with lots of nuts and a little bit of a darker malt presence... somewhat like cocoa or something... it seems out of place, so it is hard to identify. In the flavor it comes across more as a toffee type presence, but the nuts and wet leaves earthiness seems to rule the palate. This is pretty good stuff, and considering the heavy and sticky flavors, it sits lightly and is pretty refreshing.

Nothing offensive about it, nothing memorable. Pretty average. Smooth, malty, a typical irish ale, nothing to impress. What’s wrong with those irish?