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Shamrock Barrel Aged

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Shamrock Barrel Aged is the imperial version of the brewery's breakfast stout, aged for two years in Irish whiskey barrels and released as a special edition for St Patrick's Day. During ageing the beer developed a pronounced coffee aroma, which the brewery reinforced with an extra infusion of freshly roasted, ground coffee. At 14.8 % it is elegant, roasted and rich.

ABV
14.8%
Bitterness
Very bitter
Roasted bitterness
SRM
dark40
PaceSipper
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
Balance
malt-forwardhop-forward
What makes this beer itself
coffeeroastedoak
coffee
roasted
oak
dark fruit
chocolate
Aroma
Roasted coffee dominates the nose, displaying both freshly ground bean and darker charcoal notes layered with subtle cocoa powder.
not found:hoppy,caramel,fruity,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Shamrock Barrel Aged

◎ Appearance

Deep garnet to near-black in the glass, with a viscous, dark mahogany hue at the edges when held to light. The head is dense and tan-colored, settling into a persistent collar that clings to the glass with strong lacing. Carbonation is restrained, befitting the beer's age and weight.

deep garnet-blackpersistent tan headthick lacinglow carbonation

◌ Aroma

Roasted coffee dominates the nose, displaying both freshly ground bean and darker charcoal notes layered with subtle cocoa powder. Beneath lie warm whiskey oak accents—vanilla and light wood char—interwoven with dark roasted malt and hints of dried cherry. The two-year barrel maturation has softened any harsh alcohol burn, leaving an inviting, integrated bouquet.

roasted coffee, charcoaloak, vanilla, wood chardark malt, cocoawhiskey notes

◐ Taste

Entry is full and velvety, with the coffee character front and center, followed by waves of dark chocolate and roasted grain across the mid-palate. The 65 IBU bitterness anchors the sweetness without dominating; whiskey oak adds warmth and a subtle drying effect. Alcohol at 14.8% is present but elegantly woven into the structure, contributing body and a gentle heat that builds toward the finish.

coffee-forward palatedark chocolate, grainbalanced bitternesswarming alcohol

◑ Finish

The finish is long and textured, with lingering coffee and oak tannins slowly fading into a subtle cocoa and whiskey aftertaste. Warmth persists gently on the throat, a signature of both the high alcohol and barrel conditioning.

long, textured fadecoffee, oak tanninswarming finish
87
hopIQ score
Aroma
88
Taste
88
Appearance
84
Finish
85
Serve at 13–16°C

Slightly warmer than you might expect. 10–13°C lets the roasted malt, chocolate and coffee notes open up fully.

Pint glass

The classic — versatile, comfortable to hold and keeps the beer cool. No frills, no distractions: just the beer.

Can be cellared 2–5 years. Develops dark fruit, leather and port-like complexity with age.

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Food Pairing

What to eat with Shamrock Barrel Aged

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About Imperial Stout

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Imperial Stout?

Stouts are dark ales with roasted barley character, 4–8% ABV and IBU 25–45. Expect coffee, dark chocolate and toast flavors with a creamy body and dry finish.

Finding a similar Imperial Stout

hopIQ matches by flavor profile — not just style label. A beer with the same coffee, roasted, rich character as Shamrock Barrel Aged will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

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