Nimbus OConnors Irish Red

Sampled on tap April 2006
Pours with almost not head, there is just a trace of a white, fine bubbled ring around the edges of my pint glass. The color is a deep red color. It is opaque unless one holds it up to the light, at which point it shows that it is also brilliantly clear. The aroma is sweet and malty with notes of caramel and raisins being prominent.

The tasted is fairly dry up front, but yields to a fruity, caramel-like sweetness that lingers on in the finish. A low level of carbonation, keeps this beer that has a light-medium heft to it quite quaffable. Malty notes dominate the flavor profile; I get notes of raisins, toffee, caramel, and lightly toasted grain that just falls short of being roast-like. There seems to be a bit of grain-like astringency, it is also tannic and adds to the structure of this beer. Also there are some noticeable hop notes; a firm, yet ultimately yielding bitterness in the finish and a solid hop bite throughout. Both of these notes add a restrained, yet evident, hop character to this predominantly malt brew. This beer is quite good, especially for the style, I would even consider quaffing this version of the style for an afternoon.

<font size=-4>Sampled: <a href=http://www.ratebeer.com/brewers/nimbus-brewing-company/1017/>Nimbus Brewing, Tucson, AZ<font size=-1>

On tap at Nimbus - Pours a beautiful deep red color with NO head. Very little aroma (hop or malt). The flavor has a light malt sweetness with just the right amount of hop bitterness. Medium body. Nothing special, but easy to drink.