Tom O'Brien's Stout
Review Date 7/16/2000
Try?
Re-buy?
Tom O'Brien is a lucky man. First
of all, he works in a brewery. He is a brewer and cellarman at the Long Trail
Brewery in Bridgewater Corners, Vermont. He has served in that capacity for
about the last ten years, most of the brewery's existence (they have been around
since 1989). More importantly, the guy has a beer named after him and his
picture on the label! Some people have all the luck....
Long Trail, formerly known as The Mountain Brewers, has become quite a successful brand. In 1995 demand for their beers fostered an expansion to new facilities. Their brewhouse sports a 60 barrel system, good sized for a microbrewery. They even incorporate Vermont-grown hops into their beers.
Long Trail Tom O'Brien's Stout is an Irish dry stout by style (no surprise considering the name). It has been around since 1988, and currently is only available in Vermont and some areas in Connecticut. The beer pours black in color with a fine tan head of foam. The nose is slightly roasty, the palate slightly thin bodied for the style and coffeeish with more roasted barley notes. These also provide some bitterness in the finish. Hop bitterness weighs in at 35 IBUs. This is a very good interpretation of the style, with appropriate roast character and bitterness. It would go very well as Guinness does with fried oysters, or just for gentle sipping in a pub. A welcome beer at the end of any long trail!
Long Trail, formerly known as The Mountain Brewers, has become quite a successful brand. In 1995 demand for their beers fostered an expansion to new facilities. Their brewhouse sports a 60 barrel system, good sized for a microbrewery. They even incorporate Vermont-grown hops into their beers.
Long Trail Tom O'Brien's Stout is an Irish dry stout by style (no surprise considering the name). It has been around since 1988, and currently is only available in Vermont and some areas in Connecticut. The beer pours black in color with a fine tan head of foam. The nose is slightly roasty, the palate slightly thin bodied for the style and coffeeish with more roasted barley notes. These also provide some bitterness in the finish. Hop bitterness weighs in at 35 IBUs. This is a very good interpretation of the style, with appropriate roast character and bitterness. It would go very well as Guinness does with fried oysters, or just for gentle sipping in a pub. A welcome beer at the end of any long trail!
And remember, try a new beer today, and drink outside the box.
*Pricing data accurate at time of review or latest update. For reference only, based on actual price paid by reviewer.
(B)=Bottled
(D)=Draft
