Murphys Irish Stout

Brewed by Magor (InBev UK - InBev)
Style: Dry Stout
Caldicot, Gwent, Wales

Dark red, almost black but not quite. It’s a bit lighter than I expected. A dense cream colored head forms after much churning down below, but it settles much faster than a Guiness. Aroma is faint. Almonds, vanilla, and cream. I’m only giving a 6 for flavor, because I’m a bit disappointed. It’s a bit too drinkable. Too mellow, if you know what I mean. I expect a stout to have a stronger taste. The flavors I detect are coffee, almonds and vanilla. Perhaps a hint of chocolate. I do like the mouthfeel. It’s like drinking air! Very light and smooth. Overall, it’s a more drinkable Irish stout, but leaves me wanting.

Dark pour with a thick dense white cap of a head. Aroma initially has some coffee and roasted malts. Coffee essence fades. Flavor is sweet with roasted malts a little coffee and slight burnt toasted malts.

Rich brown color; Heavy creamy body; Aroma of roasted malt and some spice; Flavor of sweet roasted malt, some caramel, chocolate overtones; Not as good as Guinness, but I do like it.

Draught @ Dronning Louise, Torvet 19, 6700 Esbjerg, Denmark.
Clear dark dark brown color with a large, creamy, good lacing, fully lasting, beige head. Aroma is moderate to light light heavy malty, roasted, coffee. Flavor is moderate sweet and bitter with a long to average duration. Body is medium, texture is watery to oily, carbonation is soft. [20091023]

On tap and 16oz nitro can. Pours a dark brown, nearly black body with great red highlights and a tan head that lasts through the finish. Sweet, lightly grainy roasted malt aroma with some light chocolate, coffee, and smoke. Taste is roasted malt with some nuttiness, chocolate, and burnt coffee. A creamy and smooth medium body.

Serving: 16 oz. can. Appearance: Black with wee ruby highlights and a creamy, tan head. Ah, the nitrogen! Good head retention and lacing. Aroma: A light nose with roasted notes, a little huskiness, and some sweet malt. Flavor: A sweet roastiness that isn’t all together enjoyable. Slight tin taste. Rather pathetic. Palate: Low (almost no) carbonation with a medium light mouthfeel and a short finish. Overall: In the great competition to beat out Guinness, Guinness wins this battle. I can’t say this beer is worth trying.

Nitro can. Black. Cream colored nitro carbonation. Nice roasted malt presence, but other than that, a typical nitro stout lacking in flavor and aroma. Texture is great though, real easy. Dry finish. Decent.

Draft at Danny Doolan’s in Greymouth, New Zealand. One of only a few non-Kiwi beers I had on my trip, and I somehow had never gotten to this before. This brew looks just like a Guinness on the pour- dark brown, cascading carbonation, creamy tan head. The aroma is also a lot like that of its peers (chocolate, roasted malt, coffee, a bit of smoke), but also had what initially smelled like a booziness coming through, which must have been something else based on the ABV, perhaps a chemical preservative. The flavor is more pleasant than the nose because of the smooth creaminess to it but the roasted malts, chocolate, and coffee are restrained by a somewhat watery quality. The palate is exactly what you’d expect for a nitro dry stout draft. Not bad, but I still think I’d pick a Guinness over this one.