I was recently in Kansas City for a wedding, and grabbed a variety pack of beers by Weston Brewing Company out of Weston, MO. Never heard of them. It was the O’Malley’s ISB that got me interested. I am no expert on English Bitter, but I know I like Goose Island’s Honkers Ale. You don’t usually see a lot of Bitter marketed in the US of A … not saying it isn’t out there, just saying it’s not a style you’ll find at every brewery like Pale Ales, IPAs, etc.

I know that Bitter is a drinkable, hoppy yet fairly well balanced beer. Not super high in ABV. This is what I’m using to guide my way through O’Malley’s ISB.

The beer pours a nice copper with a slightly off-white, frothy head. The nose is not super powerful, but bears some basic hop and malt notes … slightly fruity. The hop presence in the nose is less than, say, Honker’s Ale, and it makes me think this beer is going to be a little closer to 50/50 in the hops-to-malt ratio.

After one sip, I decide this is a good, solid beer. Tastes great chilled, bears what I will call a medium gauge flavor, and walks a comfortable line between bitterness and sweetness. It’s slightly less carbonated than I would prefer, but I think it delivers as a Bitter. I can barely detect the alcohol: it is very minimal. This is a beer one could drink a few of.

I wish Weston gave more information about what distinguishes this as an Irish-Style Bitter. Hops or malts used? Probably, but I have no idea. I wish this beer was local to Chicago, as I’d love to hear more perspectives on it. I do have one more in my fridge if anyone wants to give it a go…

6/9/10: I heard from the Weston rep that what they say makes this beer “Irish style” is the “deeper red malt character.” Everything else is modeled after the English style. Also, ABV has been updated.

ABV: 4.5%

Grade: B