I picked up a six-pack of this “Irish Pale Ale” at a Harris Teeter store.  That was a mistake.

I think when I saw the word “Irish” I was thinking an Amber or a Red Ale (something similar to the very nice Sam Adam’s Irish Red).   However, when I poured it, I was disappointed.  Let me first say that this beer is drinkable.  It could definitely qualify as a session beer if all you wanted was something to drink while doing something else.  However, if you want to savor this beer, you will be disappointed.  When you look at the reviews and then taste it, you will see what I mean.  It is bland.  It doesn’t seem to fit any style and it just sits there in the bottle and then in the mouth.  You will think later, yes I drank a beer … but it wasn’t what I expected.  Hopefully the brewery can tweak this one and bring out some characteristic to make it good.

Oh, and for my subject, the Pub (McSorley’s Ale House) is one of the oldest (if not the oldest) Ale House in New York City.  The bottle has a good presentation on this pub.  I would love to visit this pub just for the history.  I have it down on my list of places to visit.  Hopefully you see it on this blog in the near future.

Beer Mentor