McSorley’s Irish Black Lager
March 12, 2010
So here we are again, approaching the week of St. Patrick’s Day which means some Irish and Irish-themed beer reviews! You can’t really call McSorley’s Irish Black Lager an Irish beer can you?
Its even debatable if popular beers like Guinness, Smithwick’s and Murphy’s are Irish either considering where they’re made or who owns them! (More on that next week.) Anyway…
Last year we reviewed McSorley’s Ale, and while it isn’t an Irish beer per-se, one might think it was by looking at its shamrock-laden label claiming that it’s brewed with ‘Irish Spirit’. Well, this year we’re checking out the 5.5% ABV (and newly labeled) McSorley’s Irish Black Lager.
The newer label tries to invoke images of the famous McSorleys Old Ale House that was established in New York City in 1854. The history is actually quite interesting, but its unfortunate that the beer has gone from being brewed on-site in the basement, to being brewed today in Wilkes-Barre PA. Hardly a NYC crafted beer as the label suggests, and even more dubious might be the ‘Irish Spirit’. Still, lets see how the beer is!
This is a new beer for me in the sense that I don’t think I’ve had a domestic ‘black lager’ before. I did try Negra Modello and San Migual dark lagers, and looking back it seems I enjoyed them both of them enough to give 3-star ratings!
The McSorley’s Irish Black Lager pours an almost black color, (really?) but when held up to the light one can see its really a nice and clear ruby red. The head is on the large side as you can see in the picture, but its very foamy and dissipated rapidly. In the glass, a nice looking beer.
The smell is not ‘lagery’ in the typical sense, and I suppose I should try and purge my impression of lagers while trying to do this review. Its not hoppy or crisp, but rather more ale-like with sweet malt and a hint of caramel in the aroma. Nothing special, but so far so good.
The taste is interesting and follows the aroma very closely. Its malty and has a caramel sweetness, but there’s something of a metallic thing that comes through in the finish. Perhaps its the hops finally making themselves known? I don’t know but it was the one thing that sort of turned me off on this beer. The other odd thing I noticed is that as the beer warmed up it seemed to get sweeter – like syrupy sweet. It wasn’t bad, but I think this beer (being a lager) is perhaps better tasting when its colder.
McSorley’s Irish Black Lager has a decent mouthfeel that is almost creamy and also doesn’t have a watery feel to it either. This characteristic also surprised me because I’m mentally referencing watery lagers as I drink it. I’ll admit, I need to get some more lager reviews under my belt!
Overall, its a drinkable brew, but its one of those beers that you can either take or leave and be no better or worse for trying it or not trying it. I’m curious if anyone who reads this review has had this beer on tap and has been able to compare it to what’s in the bottle?
So, based on The Brew Club’s beer rating system, I’m going to give the McSorley’s Irish Black Lager a 2 star rating. “Drinkable, and not unpleasant, but not something I’d take to a friend’s house either.”
Rating: 
What about you? What do you think of the McSorley’s Irish Black Lager, or any of their beers? What do you think of the marketing? Is it cool to look like grungy NYC when you’re from Pennsylvania?
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Posted in 2 Star Reviews, Lager
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March 12th, 2010 at 1:46 pm
I’ve not a fan of McSorley’s (well the former NY Ranger Enforcer was fun to watch) but what you discribed is fairly typical of a schwarzbier. It is like a stout except much thinner. The mettallic flavor would have put me off as well, but aside from that mettallic flavor, it soulds like a decent black lager.
.-= Peter at Simply Beer´s last blog ..De Ranke XX Bitter Golden Ale – Hoppiest Beer in Belgium =-.
March 12th, 2010 at 2:25 pm
@Peter – Thanks and that’s right, it was like a thin stout. I’ve have to do some homework unless someone chimes in, but does black lager = schwarzbier? I know literally schwarzbier means ‘black beer’, but its different than say Negra Modello or ‘Dark Lagers’ ?
This wasn’t too bad, but I wouldn’t mind trying another for comparison. Any schwarzbier suggestions anyone? Not sure what I think of the style yet.
.-= Scott-TheBrewClub´s last blog ..Founders Breakfast Stout =-.
March 12th, 2010 at 8:01 pm
I hate when people use metal hops. Brings on that metallic flavor every time! Thanks for the review Scott…I’ll stay away.
.-= Don´s last blog ..Craft Beer Has Come a Long Way, but Still Has a Long Way to Go =-.
March 12th, 2010 at 8:53 pm
@Don – good way to get your daily supply of iron though! It wasn’t too bad really, but still noticeable.
.-= Scott-TheBrewClub´s last blog ..The Strongest Beer In The World?! =-.
March 12th, 2010 at 10:33 pm
Never had their black lager, but if you ever have a chance to go to the original bar…it is a great experience…from what I remember!
March 13th, 2010 at 12:55 am
John’s right…if you’ve never been to McSorley’s Old Ale House on 7th St in the East Village you should _definitely_ go, take in some history, and breathe some of the original dust. LOL. They offer 2 beers, pale and dark (and offer no other alcoholic beverages), and you buy two small glasses at a time (usually quickly poured with a fair amount of foam).
The beer is not bad, not bad at all…it’s gone through a few different suppliers over the years but the current brews are really pretty good. Stay away from the place on the weekends when it gets crazy crowded (unless you’re into that scene) and go during the week for a good, cheap lunch and a few rounds.
When I first visited McSorley’s during my college years, it was men only…no women allowed. Soon after, thanks to a class action suit, it was open to both sexes. However for the first 4 or 5 years of the new policy, there was only one restroom. Needless to say, it let to some interesting social encounters.
.
Anyway, glad to see the place is still there after so many years. I drop in as often as I can for fear of it disappearing. And the current iteration of the McSorley’s branded beers (especially the ale) seems to be coming back around to the character it had at least 40 years ago when I first tasted it (for the history buffs out there, at that time the beers were brewed by the Rheingold Brewery in Orange, NJ. And they were hoppy and delicious). By all means…visit the place at least once.
March 14th, 2010 at 9:32 pm
Thanks Professor for stopping in and sharing that. The place certainly has interesting history especially when they brewed their own beer in the basement! Times change of course but it is neat that its still there to see. I’ll have to make the trip sometime.
.-= Scott-TheBrewClub´s last blog ..River Horse Oatmeal Milk Stout =-.
May 15th, 2011 at 7:01 pm
I had the chance to try this beer recently and I will say I wasn’t too sure about this black lager on the first pint. However, by the time I had finished the second I was indeed a fan. Acquired taste.
May 15th, 2011 at 8:02 pm
@Casey – Thanks for sharing! Recently I tried the Sam Adams Black Lager, and thought it was much better than this one. Give that one a try if you can!
June 27th, 2011 at 11:28 am
Had this on tap at Meehan’s Pub in Vining, GA. Best beer I’ve ever tasted; I will have to say that I’m a lager guy and not an ale guy. However, I can’t find it ANYWHERE in Kentucky. If anyone knows a place I’d be glad to know.
rlhcca at gmail dot com
June 27th, 2011 at 11:46 am
@Lance – curious to find out if it was better on-tap as compared to the bottle (assuming you can find it!) I had it from the bottle and thought it was just OK.
July 3rd, 2011 at 1:54 am
I’m drinking this beer right now and have to say that the review was extremely accurate. I was hoping for something closer to a stout, this being Irish and all. I got a six pack at Wegmans after a very long time of looking at the multitude of beers there and saying “too expensive” and “that much for 4 beers?” a few too many times. This tastes good and goes down as quickly, but I would agree that it’s not something to tell your friends about. at the special beer price, it tastes too normal to merit the extra cash.
July 3rd, 2011 at 7:53 pm
@andy – thanks for sharing. Glad to know I’m not alone out there!
July 19th, 2011 at 1:28 pm
Scott,
I’m a beer newbie-I just know that I’ve not yet acquired a taste for heavy hops. I’ve really enjoyed certain beers when first tasting them (Killians Red, Amber Bock) only to be less than impressed the next time. Probably should be chalked up to my un-educated palate.
However, I’ve developed a deep appreciation for Sam Adams Black Lager and the McSorley’s I had at Meehan’s was outstanding. Like I said in the earlier post, you can’t get McSorley’s anywhere in Kentucky, so I can’t compare the bottled version to the draft version. In looking for the beer here in Louisville, it seems that the bottled version has gotten some very marginal reviews up until 3 years ago, but the brewer may have changed since these reviews.
To me, the Sam Adams Black has very similar qualities to a good cigar and good dark chocolate. YUM! Very nice chocolate wash right in the middle. Now I’ve gotta go get one.
July 19th, 2011 at 3:57 pm
@Lance – I just had a SA Black Lager last week and would agree that its a winner! Good thing about that beer is its pretty easy to find compared to others.
Thanks for coming back!
August 5th, 2011 at 10:56 am
There are a couple of places here in Memphis that carry McSorley’s on tap. One of my favorite places to go on Beale (the Blue Hall Juke Joint) sells it in their “Big Ass Beer” cup for $7 which is a bargain on this touristy strip.
I liked it. It didn’t rock my socks or anything, but it was an enjoyable beer.
August 11th, 2011 at 8:07 pm
Loved the taste. Great beer! My taste buds are too experienced to sense the metallic sensations the pros sense. I recommend without reservation. Doesn’t try to be a Guinness, …. much better the the Guinness you can obtain in this country. And much better than most national (even regional) “Porters” and “Stouts” you typically find..
August 11th, 2011 at 10:33 pm
@NeilK – Thanks for the comment! Only thing is its not a “porter” or a “stout” and of course it doesn’t try to be a Guinness because a Guinness is not a “Lager” like this beer is. Anyway, glad you liked it. A lot of people do which is great, I just didn’t think it was all that.
August 11th, 2011 at 11:48 pm
Thanks for your comments, Scott. BTW, if you re-read my original comments I did not call Mc’s Irish Black a porter or stout, but rather compared its taste to same, and apologized for having over worked taste buds that could not decipher the metallic problems you describe. PS Also like it better than the Sam Adams BL, but that’s just personal taste.
August 11th, 2011 at 11:56 pm
I know, it just seemed like you were comparing apples to oranges that’s all. My bad. Anyway, I think its cool that you like it. As I’ve discovered, many people do, and that’s good enough for me! (I still like SA BL better though!) Cheers.