Guinness & Co - Guinness Black Lager

Serving Type: 11.2 oz. bottle, poured into a plastic cup

Using the roasted malts found in the traditional Guinness beer, the brewer recently released the Guinness Black Lager employing lager brewing methods and traditional lager hops. The beer pours a dark brown body, deep in color like a regular Guinness, but without the nitro consistency. It features a ruby inner glow and is topped by a light foamy head colored in tan and moderate in size. The head retention is average and leaves light lacing as it recedes. The nose is tight and distinctly lagery with a minor hoppiness. It has a slight Pilsner-like aroma with the addition of toasted grains. Roasted barley is clearly present, but seem modest in their potency and modest overall.

The mouthfeel is quite crisp with plenty a carbonation. Toasted malts are comparable to a modest brown or red ale, falling far short of even the traditional Guinness. Lager notes are prominent and meet almost no smoke at all. Modest caramel notes provide some sweetness through the tight carbonation. Hopping is very minimal. The lager is sweet and crisp with nice color, but it lacks the punch of a solid black lager. It is certainly drinkable and perhaps even a bit adventurous, for the unadventurous.

Final Verdict: C-

McSorley’s - Irish Black Lager

McSorley’s - Irish Black Lager

Purchased From: Harvest Fine Wines & Spirits

Serving Type: 12 oz. bottle, poured into a pint glass

Interestingly enough McSorley’s, which advertises Latrobe, PA on the front of the label and some sort of publick house in New York City on the back, is actually brewed by Lion Brewery from Wilkes-Barre, PA (over 4 hours from Latrobe). Lion Brewery is also the brewer behind Lionshead Pilsner, a staple of cheap drinking in the region. Lionshead has also made at least one cameo appearance on the television show The Office, set in Scranton.

The Irish Black Lager lives up to its name, with a nearly black body and a thin, tan head. The head lasts a few minutes as it slowly fades away to a small layer on top of the beer. No lacing involved. The coffee aroma sits nicely with toasty lager malts. There’s a light charred scent, but the smoke isn’t pervasive on the nose.

When it comes to taste the smoke makes a much fuller showing. The mouthfeel is fairly creamy, but not too substantial. The flavor is pleasing, but a bit thin. The sweetness of the roasted malts works nicely with the smoke and reminds me a bit of Guinness Draught (if it were carbonated, not nitrogenated).

Final Verdict: B-