Warbird Shanty Irish

Formerly brewed at Warbird Brewing Company
Style: Irish Ale
Fort Wayne, Indiana USA

I’ve been lucky enough to tour the Warbird brewery, and had a lot of fun doing it. As I was taking the tour, there was a mysterious tank that Dave Holmes, the brewmaster, said contained a brew made especially for the new Irish Pub opening in town, JK O’Donnells. We wanted to try it badly, but he stuck to his guns and didn’t let us. A few months later, I went to the pub and tried this beer. It was a good mix between Newcastle and Guiness. It was very pleasing. The only criticism I might have about it is that the aftertaste isn’t great. But hey, if I just keep drinking it, the aftertaste will never happen, right?

Draft: Finally Warbird has made a drinkable brew. This is only available on draft at the Irish Ale House here in town as far as I’m aware. Pours a dark brown/amber with a minimal head. Aroma of sweet dark malts and a slight citrus and floral hop profile. Very smooth mouth feel, again, finally Warbird made a beer with body. Sweet malt based flavor with some subtle fruit and a fine floral hop finish. Good work Warbird.

12oz bottle. reddish amber with a small off-white head. malty aroma with a toasty, fudgy note. the flavor is malty, nutty, moderately sweet, tootsie roll, caramel, brown sugar,, the re-occuring fudgyness . full bodied and smooth. almost creamy. tasty.

Bottle. Pours a creamy, dark brown, with a thick tan head. Malty aroma, with hints of raisin and toffee. Medium, almost heavy, body and sweet. Finishes quickly for the sweetness.

10/06/2009: "Shanty Irish" Irish-Style Ale... Aroma: Malty nose; full of caramel, toasted malt, bread crust, and raw sugar. Appearance: Shiny, clean, rich amber color with a lasting, densely packed, beige-colored head; ample carbonation; great shimmering lacing that coats heavly and slowly slides down the inside of the glass. Flavor: Much like the aroma, only slightly better: Toasted malt, lots of sugary caramel, bread crust, enough mild, earthy hops for balance, hints of darker and nutty-like roasted malts; event though this in an Irish Ale (March), it somehow tastes more like a great Autumn beer (like a really, really well-done Oktoberfest)... Palate: Medium to medium-full; smooth; hefty on the tongue and somewhat filling. Overall: Wow, this is an impressive Irish-style Ale; I wish I would have drank more Warbird; it’s a shame they are now out of business; I better head back over and grab a 6-pack of this!

12 fl. oz. bottle ( 4W1X2F) from Westside Liquor in West Harrison, Indiana. Rating #32 for this beer.

12 oz. bottle via trade with beastiefan2k - Pours a clear mahogany color with a one and a half finger thick light tan head. Light lacing. Has a bready, raw malt aroma. Flavor is lightly sweetened toasted malt and light herbal hops. Medium body. Has no lingering or unpleasant aftertastes. A very pleasant beer. Thanks Eugene.

Bottle. Sadly, Warbird has closed its doors, so it was with some reluctance that I cracked this open. This poured with a nice rounded body, deep ruddy red with a hearty head of foam. The aroma is big and toasty, with a definite caramel kick. This drinks with the same character, richly sweet with toasted caramel, a little apple butter, and woodsy bark. Good. (#3746, 11/20/2009)

I shared a 12 oz bottle with MereLikesBeer. Got it from Andersons in Toledo OH. This poured a reddish brown with a tan head. The aroma was sweet and caramely. I thoroughly enjoyed this first impression from Warbird. It’s definitely a proper session ale that I would get again. Cheers!