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This week's Beer of the Week is Rinn Duin's St. John's Irish Red (4.90% ABV)

(David Gard/for The Star-Ledger)

While repeating styles in back-to-back Beers of the Week is generally avoided, St. Patty's Day certainly gives cause for an exception. While there are plenty of options (some of which I detailed last year), for today, we'll stick with a classic Irish Red brewed right at the Jersey Shore.

Rinn Duin, Toms River's two-month old brewery, is doing a lot of things right, mainly, brewing good beer. In an attempt to replicate traditional English and Irish styles, they make every effort to be spot-on, and that includes altering the Jersey water to have the same chemistry as the water found in Europe's most famous brewing cities.

The St. John's Irish Red is just one of their many good year-round beers (Lawnmower English Blonde, Sanpiper English Brown, and Trinity Smoked Scottish 70 are the other three), but when I first had it, there was just something about it that set it apart.

St. John's pours a deep, hazy amber red with a fluffy tan head. Lacing was on par, while retention was a bit low.

The aroma was spot on with the style. Roasted caramel malts, toffee, and a touch of sweetness, mixed with earthy European hops. There was no alcohol smell, which is to be expected from a 4.90% ABV beer.

The taste followed the aroma nicely. A touch of sweetness that gets quickly overpowered by roasted caramel and toffee flavors. A little fruitiness from the hops comes through, working nicely with the malty body for a smooth taste.

As for mouthfeel, again, everything was right on par. A medium, malty body with good, crisp carbonation made for a smooth mouthfeel, not too thin, not too thick.

Appearance: 8/10

Aroma: 4/5

Taste: 9/10

Mouthfeel: 5/5

Overall: 18/20

Total: 44/50

Rinn Duin is new to the game, but you would never know it. Sláinte!