McSorley’s Ale – A Beer Review
March 20, 2009
“Brewed with Irish Spirit” is what the shamrock-laden label reads on the Irish-themed bottle of McSorley’s Ale. Wasn’t there a soap called Irish Spirit? …no, that was Irish Spring! Anyway, this beer review is to wrap up the St. Patrick’s day theme this week! This beer also says on the label that in addition to the infused “Irish Spirit” it is crafted with, its also “A Classic Ale Craft-Brewed in the Tradition of Olde New York.” Well, I guess if they are going to spell olde like that, who can argue? (I also think this is the first time we’ve posted twice in one day!)
So far, The Brew Club has reviewed Smithwicks, an Irish Ale made in London by the Guinnes people, Guinness whose name is arguably synonymous with Irish beer, and as a hat-trick, we’ll review an American beer. It qualifies because, as the label states, its “Brewed With the Irish Spirit!”
McSorley’s Irish Ale comes from McSorley’s Brewery which is located in Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania. Apparently though, this brewery is owned by the Pabst Brewing Company out of Wisconsin. That Irish Spirit from Olde New York sure does travel!
OK, enough already with the label and the spirits, right? How’s this American olde Irish-style beer anyway?
As you can see from the picture, this beer poured a rather large and foamy head that quickly fizzed out leaving a trace of foam on the surface of the beer. The ale is a very clear reddish color, very nice to look at through some light. It looks remarkably similar to the Smithwick’s in almost every sense. Very clear and very red – but is is very sucky like the Smithwick’s was?
Smelling this beer, there is a big difference between the two. The McSorley’s has a much stronger scent of hops as compared to the Smithwicks, which was more on the malty/plain side of the aroma spectrum. Strangely, the smell reminded me of the Redbridge gluten-free beer. Hmmm.
Tasting this beer, it isn’t anything like the Smithwicks at all. There’s at least some flavor to this beer, although its debatable if that’s really a good flavor or not. You can taste the hops and there’s a little hop bite that I think is a touch overdone. Hops beat malts in this glass.
This ale is light bodied, but it isn’t trying quite as much to impersonate beer-flavored water like the Smithwick’s seemed to do. There is a decent mouthfeel, rather clean with a smooth finish and just a little bit of bitterness in the aftertaste along with something of a bready flavor that lingered. Again, I am somehow reminded of that Redbridge stuff!
One thing I can say, is that as I continue to drink my almost 6% ABV American-made “Irish beer”, I like the aroma less and less. Something odd about it, but on the other hand, the taste remains consistently average. This would be a good beer with a burger or a steak, which I wish I had at the moment, but unfortunately don’t. A juicy steak would improve this beer immeasurably!
In conclusion, I would say that of the three “Irish” beers I had this week (Only one of which was really made in Ireland) I would rate the Guinness as the best, this McSorley’s, and then the Smithwick’s third.
Rating: 
for the McSorley’s Ale
What am I missing? The Guinness I had was rather dud-like, although Bob the Brit had a good pint to review from the tap. The Smithwick’s was painfully bland, and on top of that its not even brewed in Ireland! This McSorley’s was my last hope of a good Irish beer for St. Patrick’s day week, and I have to say I’m left a bit disappointed. I hope I can do better next year.
Other than Guinness, which everyone knows, what’s a good Irish made beer I should try?
Posted in 2 Star Reviews, Ales, American Beers
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March 20th, 2009 at 4:22 pm
It is a statement of the obvious but Beamish and Murphy’s are pretty good too. I like other stouts better though.
March 20th, 2009 at 6:25 pm
If your review is based on the ale that came from a bottle with THAT label as pictured , you have the old batch.
Find the bottle with the picture of Old John McSorley on the label – the recipe has been tweaked recently. You might like it better.
March 21st, 2009 at 1:33 pm
I haven’t had McSorley’s in a while though I will pick some up under the new label since I have also heard that he recipe has been tweaked a bit recently.
Years ago, McSorley’s was a pretty damned good beer. It was of course for years only available on draft at McSorley’s Old Ale House in NYC. The first version of it I ever tasted was there, in 1970. By that time it had been brewed by the Rheingold brewery for some years and a bottled version was available that was quite good, with a nice hop bite and a healthy hop aroma. It survived pretty well when Ortlieb’s and later, Schmidt’s of Philadelphia took over brewing it in the mid 70’s. Subesequent breweries making McSorley’s (two or three, by my count) have dumbed it down somewhat, though it is still better than a lot of similar products out there.
I’ll be quite curious to get a taste of what is being offered under the brand now if the recipe has indeed been tweaked.
My favorite McSorley’s story is one that I have told in one or two other forums, so pardon if this is a repeat, but it kind of sums up the whole “authenticity” issue:
McSorleys is a great place for a quick, cheap lunch in NYC…stay away from it on the weekends though. I still stop into the ol’ place now and again for a few short beers and a cheap feed, and enjoy the funky atmosphere which is usually quiet during the day.
About 15 years ago, I was there to meet a few friends on a Friday just as the place was beginning to get really busy, as is always the case on the weekends. Not having been there in a while, and instantly noticing a change in the beer, I asked the bartenter, “So…who is making the beer these days?” He just laughed heartily, looked me in the eye, and pointed at the now dense crowd packing the place, and in a very thick brogue he said (and I quote him directly): “Laddy, it don’t f—ing matter who makes the beer. We could pipe it in from the urinals and these s—heads would still buy it.” A classic New York moment, by way of Ireland.
I guess he was the customer service department.
March 23rd, 2009 at 11:00 am
Are you sure that they didn’t say brewed in the Irish spit and not spirit? I’m just kidding of course. Sorry about your bad experiences with this. I know that Bells from Michigan makes a pretty good Irish red beer (if I remember rightly). I’ve always much preferred Scottish beers to Irish and hoping for a McPatrick’s days. Let me know what else you spot and find…perhaps I can find a bottle of Bells and a couple others and send them your way.
Michael Reinhardt’s last blog post..Sip with us Saturday: Review of Brother Thelonious
March 23rd, 2009 at 3:30 pm
Thanks everybody for the comments! So I’m hearing that the brew has changed, maybe worth another try at some point, but I’m not going to go out of my way just to try it. Funny story from The Professor! Talk about taking customers for granted, right? Mike, you kill me! I really hope it was spirit and not spit, although based on the Professor’s story….
Scott-TBC’s last blog post..Beer Review – Draught Guinness
May 17th, 2009 at 5:51 pm
Just wondering where a Chicago boy could purchase McSorleys. I have had this brew at Irish fest in Milwaukee and would love to enjoy it on a regular basis. Thanks