Preston Irish Ale is a 5% stout beer from Preston Ale, based in Tochigi, Japan. It’s part of their all-year round range and can be found in both bottles and on tap at various locations. Like many other of the Preston Ale range of beers, Preston Irish Ale has also won some awards including, most prestigiously, the World Beer Award for the World’s Best Export sout in both 2009 and 2011, along with Asia’s Best Stout in 2015.
A damn good stout
Preston Irish Ale Aroma and Taste
My hopes were high for Preston Irish Ale – I’ve heard many a good thing about it and finally sourcing it down in bottles from the brewery store made me a happy little drinker. Right from the pour, Preston Irish Ale looked good – not as thick as say the Irish stout but it had a nice level of gloopiness to it. There wasn’t much of a head besides a few bubbles on top that faded to a slick oily ring on top of the beer. It had a strong chocolate and coffee aroma with hints of cream too. When Preston Irish Ale had warmed up, there was also some liquorice in the nose too. Right up my street for a stout.
Stouts are becoming more popular among beer drinkers in Japan, as at the time of writing, my local liquor store / off-license went from having only one in stock, to five, though only the macrobreweries’ efforts are on sale. Preston Irish Ale is much better than all of them. Much much better. It tastes like how a stout should taste. Coffee and chocolate flavours coming through with a subtle edge of creaminess coming through, possibly due to additions of lactose. Preston Irish Ale also had a thick body that could support and help the flavours once it warmed up – a rarity in Japan. It ended up with a slight bitter black aftertaste but still, the chocolate and coffee prevailed and won me over.
Preston Irish Ale The Bottom Line
Preston Irish Ale is one of the best stouts I’ve had in Japan. The only problem is trying to find it…
Where to Buy Preston Irish Ale
Preston Irish Ale can be bought online at the following places:
