I'D TAP THAT: Irish I had one now

Beer: Irish Dry Stout

Brewer: Brooklyn Brewery

Style: Irish Dry Stout

ABV: 4.70%

Description: Brooklyn's Irish Dry Stout pours a pitch black color with barely any head, but what does come through is a beautiful tan color. The scents that are emitted from this stout are that of coffee, chocolate, roasted malt, biscuit, and a slight earthiness from the hops, a very wonderful combination if I do say so myself. Upon the first sip, you will notice a slight smokiness from the malts, followed by a bitter coffee/chocolate flavor. After swallowing, this beer leaves a lingering coffee like bitterness on the taste buds, but this beer is certainly dry, and the flavor does not last long. The taste is fairly complex and wonderful, but what this beer does lack is body. Stouts are typically very smooth, slightly carbonated, and full-bodied; however, this offering by Brooklyn Brewery is slightly on the thin side with a fairly high amount of carbonation. Nevertheless, do not get the wrong impression – this beer is still very drinkable and makes for a great session beer.

Food pairing: Irish stouts, of course, are perfect pair for all Irish fair, so if you are sitting down to a delicious corned beef and cabbage (or ham and cabbage, as is tradition in my family), shepherd's pie, or even fish and chips, Brooklyn's Irish Dry Stout is the perfect accompaniment. Also, if you are a seafood fanatic, then you have a perfect dinner partner in this beer; this Irish stout has the perfect amount of sweetness to match with such wonderful seafood dishes as mussels, lobster, crab, and even clams. The chocolate malt flavor is also present enough in this beer to match with some lighter chocolate desserts, but be sure not to match this beer with anything too overly flavorful, as it will quickly become overpowered.

Is it worth trying? Yes, while there are certainly better stouts out there for consuming, Brooklyn's offering brings a very flavorful session beer to the table. The complexities are subtle, but they are present, and this is certainly an easy drinking beer for those new or old to the craft beer market. If you are a lover of stouts, then you will surely want to try Brooklyn's Irish Dry Stout, so be sure to get some and enjoy all the St. Patrick's Day festivities that seemingly last the entire month of March in our area! Sláinte!

Rating: W W W W

Where can I get it? Currently available in bottles at Krugel's Georgetown Deli & Beer, Wilkes-Barre; Wegmans, Dickson City, and J & H Beer, Wilkes-Barre.

Remember, enjoy responsibly! Cheers!

-Derek Warren is a beer expert, avid homebrewer, and beer historian. Derek can be reached at [email protected]