Doheny & Nesbitt-O'Hara's Irish Pale Ale

Doheny and Nesbitt was the perfect place to enjoy a pint this evening. It has the classic pub decor with dark wood and mirrored snugs, making it perfect for casual conversation. Additionally, Becky and I got a chance to chat with the barman. He was incredibly nice, and although he was hard to understand, he made us feel very welcome, asking us where we were from, what we were studying, etc. He even gave us postcards of the place, a nice memento to remember the night. The main thing I noticed about this pub is that it was better lit than most others. Usually, they are fairly dark with dim lighting, but this place was very well lit on the interior, which I personally enjoyed a lot. I will definitely be coming back here.

As for the beer, this one was very similar to IPAs back home. It poured slightly hazy and was colored just a bit darker than straw and lighter than gold. It had a half-finger head that lasted quite a while. The nose is of bready malts and tropical fruits. Surprisingly, the flavor was pretty different from the aroma. There was no tropical fruit and the strong hop flavor was much more like your classic American hops: grassy, herbal, and somewhat piney. There was a distinct honey taste coming from the beer as well. It has a lingering bitter finish that ends very dry, inviting you back for another sip. The bitterness of the beer is what stood out most to me. While not particularly bitter by American standards, it was far bitter than any of the other beers I have had in Ireland. Most of the pale ales and IPAs I've had here were not distinctly bitter, but this one was different. Overall, a very enjoyable pint, especially if you enjoy them on the dry side. A nice classic hop flavor with a good bitterness rounds out this beer.