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Kilgubbin Red Ale
Chicago, Illinois
BJCP Category: 9D Irish Red Ale
Goose Island Beer Co. <visit site>
39
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[expand]Total Score: 40/50
Kilgubbin is quite drinkable and largely accurate to the Irish Red Ale style. The dryness is a bit over the top and the deliberate spicy note from the addition of rye malt is very interesting. more >
[close]Total Score: 40/50
Aroma: Roasted barley and roasted malt aromas dominate on first pour. Light grassy hop note in the background. No DMS. No diacetyl. No alcohol. No off-aromas. Very much in the Irish tradition. (10/12)
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Appearance: Brilliant clarity. Reddish-brown color. Tight, light-tan head with excellent head retention. Very nice presentation. (3/3)
Flavor: Roasted barley and malt dryness up front and in the finish with caramel and toffee in the mid-palate. Balancing hop bitterness supported by bitterness from roasted barley. Little hop flavor although some grassy notes. Very low diacetyl. No DMS. No noticeable alcohol. Some clovey/peppery flavor that’s not appropriate for the style but contributes a distinctive character to this beer, accentuating the roast dryness. Dry, balanced finish. (15/20)
Mouthfeel: Medium body. Mouthfeel perception is lighter due to dryness and carbonation. Dryness prevents any perceived creaminess. No alcohol warmth. No astringency. (4/5)
Overall Impression: Kilgubbin is quite drinkable and largely accurate to the Irish Red Ale style. The dryness is a bit over the top and the deliberate spicy note from the addition of rye malt is very interesting but a distraction to the style. Still it’s very close to those I’ve had in Dublin with a meat pie and mushy peas. Very refreshing, similar to lighter and sour beer styles. (8/10) -
[expand]Total Score: 40/50
A very flavorful beer without the heaviness that some higher alcohol, fuller bodied, or highly hopped styles can present. more >
[close]Total Score: 40/50
Aroma: Low toasty, roasty malt with some light caramel notes and a hint of graininess. Also a whisper of diacetyl, as acceptable for the style. No hop aroma noted. Very clean. (10/12)
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Appearance: Burnished copper color with golden highlights. Fine off-white bubbles form a film of foam that persists, though not as a fully formed head. Brilliant clarity. (3/3)
Flavor: Malt forward with almost coffee-like roasted character, albeit at a very low level. Hint of caramel and butter, with a roasted flavor in the middle, and roasted dry finish characteristic of roasted barley. No hop flavor detected, however there is a low balancing hop bitterness in the finish, which does not linger. A bit of sweetness and alcohol emerge in the flavor as the beer warms. This beer is exactly balanced among all components, with all at subdued levels. (14/20)
Mouthfeel: Light body with prickly carbonation. No astringency or alcoholic warmth. Finish is clean and dry. (4/5)
Overall Impression: A very flavorful beer without the heaviness that some higher alcohol, fuller bodied, or highly hopped styles can present. Just the right amount of butter and toffee with a clean roast finish. The carbonation is a little higher than a pint in a U.K. pub, but this example has all the same flavors and quaffability. A lovely session beer. (7/10) -
[expand]Total Score: 37/50
This is a complex and well-made beer, and is probably a popular session beer where it is available. more >
[close]Total Score: 37/50
Aroma: First impression is raspberries, as odd as that may seem, with a faint roast character in the background. As the beer warms, the berry character gradually separates into a moderate fruitiness overlaying caramel and grainy malt. It could have more toasted malt with less graininess, but the aroma is intriguing. (9/12)
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Appearance: Reddish-copper with excellent clarity. The head is white in color with a mixture of foam sizes. The carbonation is appropriate for the style. (3/3)
Flavor: The malt provides some depth and fullness, and the desired caramel character is present but a little subdued. The raspberry notes are present here as well, with the combination of fruitiness, a slight sourness and a touch of astringency that I associate with that fruit. This is pleasant, but was not quite what I expected. The hop bitterness is sufficient to balance, and there is no discernible hop flavor—both of which are appropriate for the style. (14/20)
Mouthfeel: The body is light to medium, with just enough CO2 to make it refreshing without too much carbonic acid. There is a light astringency from the roasted malt, but at an acceptable level for this style. (4/5)
Overall Impression: This is a complex and well-made beer, and is probably a popular session beer where it is available. It does not quite nail my interpretation of the Irish Red Ale style, with the balance leaning a little too strongly toward fruitiness. A more rounded malt character, with a little less roast and graininess, would soften the edges. (7/10) -
[expand]Total Score: 41/50
A very nice example. It changes character as it warms, but it is very drinkable over a wide temperature range. I prefer it slightly warm, as the caramel is tastier to me than the grainy flavor. more >
[close]Total Score: 41/50
Aroma: Moderate grainy and toasty caramel malt with the barest hint of roast. Moderate fruity esters. Medium-light earthy hops. Hint of alcohol. The esters are somewhat high for style. The grainy character dominates with esters a close second. As it warms, the toasty and slightly roasty malt character becomes dominant. (10/12)
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Appearance: Tall, frothy, off-white head. Crystal clear. Light copper color. The head retained very well for this style. (3/3)
Flavor: Caramel/grainy malt flavor. Slightly watery palate with a dry finish tasting of barely perceptible roasted grain. Medium-low bitterness allows the malt to stand out in the balance. Medium to medium-high esters. Deep caramel malt flavor is most dominant. Some carbonic bite. As it warms, the caramel develops a rounder flavor with a toasty toffee flavor. Very light alcohol flavor. No diacetyl. As it warms the roast also becomes more apparent. (16/20)
Mouthfeel: Medium-high carbonation. Medium body, seems a bit lighter due to the carbonation level. No warming despite the light alcohol flavor. (4/5)
Overall Impression: A very nice example. It changes character as it warms, but it is very drinkable over a wide temperature range. I prefer it slightly warm, as the caramel is tastier to me than the grainy flavor. The malt flavors and balance are great. The esters seem fairly high, otherwise it’s clean. The hops are nicely restrained. The bit of roast is at the upper end of the style. A little less esters and roast would make this beer nearly perfect. (8/10)
