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Ok, people might know that I am a fan of a good Irish Red (as if beggars can be choosers), and I know some people here don't really rate it much, but I must say me enthusiasm for Carlow's offering has really been renewed lately.

It goes back to when, in the Bierhaus in Cork, I, long with a few other ICBers, compared a pint side by side with Rebel Red. Previously I had been a fan, but my interest waned as I felt it was lacking, and it was well over-taken by both Rebel and Porterhouse Red. The side-by-side comparison really was a shock to me. If it had been a blind taste test I would have bet my house on the pint with the deeper richer colour, velvety mouthfeel, and rich, sweet malty taste being the Cork offering. How homeless I would have become.

Since then I have gone back to it several times (from the bottle; we don't all have the luxury of a Bierhaus or B&C on our doorstep), and I have not been disappointed.

So here's to Carlow Brewery, and, in particular, Molings

[img:3rta7mgd]http://www.carlowbrewing.com/images/molings.gif[/img:3rta7mgd]

Moling's is dead, long live O'Hara's.

They've rebranded their red to match the name under which they sell it abroad. So now we have O'Hara's Stout and O'Hara's Red.

At the moment it's a handy way of telling how fresh the bottle you're buying is.

You're right, of course. On tap in Cork it was O'Hara's Red, but there's still bottles of Molings knocking about the local off-licence.
I first assumed that the re-branding coincided with a tinkering of the recipe, but it's obviously just me, as even the Molings tastes so much better to me now.

&amp;quot;noby&amp;quot;:254q6db4 wrote: On tap in Cork it was O'Hara's Red[/quote:254q6db4]I don't think I've ever seen it on tap anywhere, even when it was Moling's. I must buy a rebranded bottle to see if it's changed <!-- s:) --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_smile.gif" alt="" title="Smile" /><!-- s:) -->

I'm really encouraged at how quickly my local Superquinn turn the Carlow beers over. Not that long ago it rotted on the shelves, though that was when it competed next to Dublin Brewing, Finian's, Biddy Early and Kinsale: all now gone.

&amp;quot;TheBeerNut&amp;quot;:jdh4t1wp wrote: I'm really encouraged at how quickly my local Superquinn turn the Carlow beers over. Not that long ago it rotted on the shelves, though that was when it competed next to Dublin Brewing, Finian's, Biddy Early and Kinsale: all now gone.[/quote:jdh4t1wp]
Probably also helped by the rearrangement of the store. The drink section is much more prominent. Remember it used to be off down one side in a slightly dim-lit aisle? I used to feel like a dirty old man wandering off down that side aisle scouring the shelves for something decent. Now they have a big open area with bright open-front fridges. They've some nice beers now, but their prices are a bit stupid on some of them.

I haven't had a Molings/O'Hara's Red in ages. I must give it a go again before I miss the chance.

I'm still not fussed with Irish Red Ale. Had a Rebel Red in the B & C last Thursday and was struggling to find any flavour in it. I just find it a style lacking generally. I'm surprised it doesn't sell more than it does because it's not challenging at all, and you'd expect more to drink it.