Porterhouse Oyster Stout

I’d like to introduce you to the first beer I ever drank in Dublin, Ireland. I walked into a pub my first day in the city looking to get my first taste of “homeland” Guinness, waltzed up to the bar and requested a pint of Guinness only to be told that they don’t serve Guinness there. I thought to myself that I must have found the only pub on the island that doesn’t serve Guinness, but realized that I was in Porterhouse, the largest microbrewery in Ireland. A blessing in disguise! This place became my one of my main hangouts during my year and a half in Ireland, and I continually returned for the Oyster Stout among other brews.

It looks like a normal Irish dry stout in the glass, with thick white/tan head, and a dark black color that may intimidate. Don’t let it though, because it’s much lighter than you would expect. The smell is chocolatey, with maybe just a hint of coffee.

The taste is burnt coffee at first but then transports you to a different time with it’s sort of smokey, malt flavor. There’s a great sort of side taste that makes you think you’re tasting oyster that is delicious, though you can’t ever quite nail it down as actual seafood (which is probably a good thing to be honest). There’s a hint of saltiness that might be the only true sign that it is seaworthy. It is dry in your mouth, and isn’t overly heavy, but has a nice drinkable feel that will keep you ordering more when it’s drizzling outside.

I’ve definitely been missing this one since I came back to Kansas.

Rating: 89/100

Style: Irish Dry Stout