Beer of the Weekend #521: Ould Sod

The beer of the weekend is Ould Sod, brewed by the James Page Brewing Company of Stevens Point, Wisconsin.


I have seen these JP brews for a while and have always been curious. Today I thought about buying the Casper White Stout but couldn’t do it. Before I try that I want to sample something else, something I am not so leery about. (Go ahead, call me a chicken.) Hopefully this will be a good experience. I have yet to have a decent beer brewed in Stevens Point.

Serving type: 12-ounce can. No freshness date.

Appearance: Poured into a pint glass. The color is amber with a light haze. Two fingers of thick, eggshell-colored, buttery head dissipates slowly.

Smell: The aroma is potent and offers a mix of malts and hops, though the hops predominate. Metallic, floral, and citrus scents lay on top of a solid bed of toasted malts, caramel, toffee, and butterscotch.

Taste: The hop/malt percentage seems to flip in the flavor. Caramel, toasted malts, toffee, butterscotch, and cherry licorice overpower the floral and citrus from the hops. Esters of strawberry and apple also emerge. As the beer continues to warm, the hops gain a little clout but are still relegated to bittering and minor flavor notes.

Drinkability: This is good stuff. Finally, a decent beer from Stevens Point!

Fun facts about Ould Sod:

-Style: According to the brewery, it is “Irish Red India Pale Ale.”

-Price: $7.99/per six-pack at John’s Grocery in Iowa City.

-Alcohol content: 6 percent ABV.

-Nerdiness from the beer’s website:

Ever hear of an Irish Red India Pale Ale? Neither did we. Expect the unexpected with JP's Ould Sod, inspired by the age-old Red Ales of Ireland. Decked out with a boatload of hops (Goldings, Fuggle & Hallertau) balanced with two-row and caramel malts. An adventure up for grabs on this road less traveled.

The Quiet Man’s grade: B.

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