Irish Setter Red - Thirsty Dog Brewing Company

Groomsy

Kentucky

3.35/5  rDev -5.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3.25

On tap at Dewey's Pizza in Newport KY. Served in a pint glass.

This Irish Red pours a dark crimson, bordering on brown. There are highlights of dark orange in the light. It is topped by a thin cap of foam and leaves spotty lacing down the side of the pint.

While most Irish Reds are quite mild on the nose and present no real interest to most craft drinkers, Thirsty Dog's take on the style is quite nice. While the trademark caramel and roast is there, there's also a sturdy malt presence of toffee, nuts, and a little bit of malted milk chocolate. There's also some earthy, herbal bitterness to balance out the abundant malt profile. A multi-dimensional Irish Red.

This multi-dimensionality carries over into the flavor. Starting with a robust roasty note of nuts and toffee, the malt presence is very sweet and well-rounded. There is some earthy and tea-like bitterness in the middle of the palate, followed by a chocolate, sweet finish. For a very "standard" style, I'm impressed with how Thirsty Dog has brought some power to this style. Well-balanced and very drinkable.

The mouthfeel is a little flat and slightly watery, but has a well-placed carbonation and sweet finish. Not bad, but not totally fitting for the flavor.

This isn't bad by any means - I commend Thirsty Dog for taking a style like this and giving it a real dimension. For fans of amber ales and brown ales, check this if it's available to you.

Serving type: on-tap

04-07-2013 00:43:13 | More by Groomsy

WesWes

New York

3.9/5  rDev +10.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

The beer pours a dark amber/red color with a thick frothy off-white head that slowly fades to lacing. The aroma is decent. It has a rich malty scent that boasts of crystal and biscuit malts. It has a sweet caramel aroma with a mild bread-like character. The taste is good. It has a smooth crystal malt sweetness with a dry roasted malt finish. It goes down incredibly easy with tons of malt character, yet only a hint of residual sweetness in the finish. The mouthfeel is fine. It is a medium/full bodied beer with adequate carbonation. This is a very good red ale. It appears to be overly complex (aroma), yet it stays in check and drinks well.

Serving type: bottle

10-19-2012 22:22:26 | More by WesWes

smcolw

Massachusetts

3.35/5  rDev -5.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Huge head that subsides in a rocky fashion. Any lace slides down the glass. Mild haze on a deep amber with a dose of ruby color.

Biscuit aroma with some caramel, but not sweet. Light alcohol nose. No perceptible hop.

Sweeter flavor than the smell suggests. There's a berry flavor to this brew. Again, there's no notable hop. The body is watery with a high level of fine bubbles (so, it isn't too soda pop-ish).

Serving type: bottle

09-27-2012 23:27:03 | More by smcolw

BeerBuckeye

Ohio

3.68/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Pours as you would expect, a nice reddish amber color with small .5 finger head. Lots of carbonation coming up from the bottom.

S - Not a ton of smell here. Some caramel malt, breadyness, a tinge of sweetness.

T - A lot of caramel malt, with a bit of fruity sweetness, almost like a grape juice, finishes bready.

M - Very smooth, good body present.

Overall - For the style, a pretty solid beer here. I feel like Irish Red Ales can only be "so good" and Thirsty Dog has brewed a good one.

Serving type: bottle

03-24-2012 17:18:12 | More by BeerBuckeye

hustlesworth

Ohio

3.83/5  rDev +8.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Irish sample time. Not my favorite style of beer, but whatever.

A- clear reddish copper with golden highlights. Creamy lasting beige head. Lots of sticky lace, a TD trademark.

S- a little metallic, not a bad thing, sweet toasted caramel and brown sugar malt. Toffee, nutty, and some leafy hops. Meaty and a bit of tomato.

T- sweet and malty. Heavily nutty. Brown sugar, toffee, caramel, a savory quality, about zero bitterness (expected) but not so overly sweet and malty as other Ohio Irish reds. A hint of chocolate. Finishes well balanced.

MF- over medium, gently carbonated and definitely malty feeling.

D- again, not my style, but one of the better ones. Backin the home team, this one is pretty good.

Serving type: bottle

02-20-2012 07:13:51 | More by hustlesworth

WoodBrew

Illinois

3.48/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Was in Cleveland area and the local store had a bunch of Thirsty Dog brews...so I made my own six...if you know what I mean. The Irish Setter poured a clear red amber with sligthly off white head that left some lacing. Mostly malt on the nose with touch of sweetness. The taste carried a caramel malt base with some hop balance. The mouthfeel was light to medium body with good carbonation. Overall a very drinkable beer.

Serving type: bottle

01-22-2012 15:42:40 | More by WoodBrew

JoeyBeerBelly

New York

2.53/5  rDev -28.3%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

12oz bottle served in a standard pint glass.

L - slightly hazy burnt-orange color with a small off-white head that stayed as a thin layer.

S - buttery, what happened here?

T - something's off in the taste as well as it's kind of sour.

F - the sourness in the taste kind of killed things for me.

O - no date on the bottle - let the buyer beware.
If I try this again and it has improved I'll re-review it.

Serving type: bottle

01-18-2012 22:36:47 | More by JoeyBeerBelly

thegodfather1076

Ohio

3.9/5  rDev +10.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This beer was served out of a 12oz. bottle dispensed into a glass....

Presentation - Always love Thirsty Dog Labels. Very eye-catching and appealing using a K-9 theme.

Appearance - Pours out an amber ruby red color with a 1 finger cream colored foam head that dissipates rather quickly into a thin foam ring. Very light carbonation rising from the bottom of the glass.

Smell - Smells of heavy caramel and sweet bready malts. Not much hopiness in the aroma.

Taste - Taste is heavily laced with sweet bready malts at the front end and finishes with a nice sweet caramel taste on the back end.

Mouthfeel - Light to medium bodied with a perfect amount of carbonation for this type of beer.

Drinkability - Very smooth and tasty with an excellent mouthfeel making this highly drinkable.

I thought this red was highly enjoyable and well crafted. Excellent taste and mouthfeel make this an excellent example of this style. Would be an excellent guzzling choice for St. Patty's Day!!!

Serving type: bottle

01-02-2012 00:06:17 | More by thegodfather1076

avalon07

South Carolina

4/5  rDev +13.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Poured from a bottle to a pint glass. Had an amber color and a hazy consistency. There was a huge, creamy, long-lasting head. Not much lacing.

S: A typically malty aroma with some traces of caramel.

T: Tasted of malt, caramel, and some hops in the finish. Not exactly what I'd call a groundbreaking flavor, but very enjoyable nonetheless.

M: A nice amount of carbonation with a somewhat slick finish. Medium-bodied.

O: Overall, this is a solid, well made, drinkable beer.

Serving type: bottle

12-23-2011 13:19:51 | More by avalon07

tdm168

North Carolina

3.9/5  rDev +10.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a dark amber with 1/4" of bubbly head that fades to a thin lacing. Caramel malts dominate the nose. The taste is similar to the smell; caramel malt with a sugary sweetness. The mouthfeel is medium bodied, smooth, and moderately carbonated.

This one's not bad. One dimensional, but rich and drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

10-29-2011 14:06:21 | More by tdm168

ne0m00re

Ohio

3.1/5  rDev -12.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 2

Review from sometime the past couple weeks... this one of a SOURED 12 oz bottle.
A: Brownish orange with a decent cream collar.
S: Caramel whipped cream with strawberries and some cherries... kind of murky.
T: Tart funky strawberries, caramel backbone... interesting. Tastes like biting a fresh strawberry.
M: Thinner, creamy.
O: Wish I had a good bottle. This version deserves the low score.

Serving type: bottle

10-21-2011 03:58:00 | More by ne0m00re

DrDemento456

Pennsylvania

3.98/5  rDev +12.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - A dark brown color with a half inch ring of head that offers some lacing.

S - Very sweet. Offers notes of roasted almonds and caramel breads but I could have sworn first pour I picked up a cherry like smell.

T - Wow a not so hoppy red I like. I get sweet cinnamon like bread with a touch of caramel and a nice nut brown goodness. Not very cherry in the taste and finishes sweet as well.

M - Light to medium I found it watery but tasty.

Overall again I find another great beer from this brewery. It almost makes me want to throw the 4 bucks down to try the Cerberus. Almost...

Serving type: bottle

09-13-2011 05:34:23 | More by DrDemento456

mikesgroove

South Carolina

3.5/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

hazelnut highlights are riddled throughout with a wonderful mix of colors. A smallish head of light tan then pops up from the bottom of the glass and reaches about a half an inch before settling back down again.

Aroma is of light caramel, roasted nuts, light touches of butterscotch like sugary notes. Warming brings out a very earthy and pronounced flavor to it. Really nice done but a touch light. This is my only complaint as it did not have the pop I was really looking for at the time. Smooth, even flavor really did not deviate much from beginning to end as the overall impact was nicely put together.

Serving type: bottle

08-31-2011 01:21:56 | More by mikesgroove

Hoptometrist

Oregon

3.1/5  rDev -12.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Poured from the bottle into my Thirsty Dog nonic glass

A- Pours a clear dark red color with high carbonation and a three finger fluffy off-white head. Left no lacing

S- Sweet malts, medicinal aroma, diacetyl, and some caramel. Not really that pleasant, but not as terrible as it sounds

T- Sweet bready malts, caramel, medicinal taste, diacetyl, and an almost cola like taste

M- A little overcarbonated, I like my Irish Red's a little more creamy and smooth.

O- A disappointing Irish Ale. A little bland, not overly medicinal tasting but the taste is definitely there. I had this on tap around St. Patrick's Day and while I was not blown away by it, I seem to remember liking it a little more than I did this time.

Serving type: bottle

06-21-2011 23:23:08 | More by Hoptometrist

tempest

Pennsylvania

3.53/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Had a bottle at Liberty St Tavern with a slice of pizza. Overall, this was a simple and smooth red ale with a velvety caramel bread character and medium body. It wasn't too thick, like some Irish reds, there was just enough balancing bitterness so the hops weren't too sweet. Just a fine pizza beer.

Serving type: bottle

05-23-2011 00:26:06 | More by tempest

bluejacket74

Ohio

3.48/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

12 ounce bottle. Served in a pint glass, the beer pours a clear copper/red color with about a half inch off-white head that went away pretty quickly. There's a decent amount of lacing left on the glass. Aroma is caramel and bready malt. Taste is the same as the aroma, it's all malt. I don't notice any hops in either the aroma or taste. Mouthfeel/body is light/medium with moderate carbonation. It's smooth and easy enough to drink. It's a decent brew, it's not one of the best Irish Red Ales I've had but I still think it's worth a try.

Serving type: bottle

03-26-2011 23:19:05 | More by bluejacket74

WVbeergeek

Ohio

3.48/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Pours a dark caramel color burgundy amber brown color with a nicely formed off white tan head, fine speckled lacing scattered evenly. Aroma is roasted malt, caramel amber malts, and a touch of nuttiness. Flavor wise it's clean as far as hops go maybe a bit of underlying earthiness from the low hopped East Kent Goldings. Flavor is full of caramel breadiness all malt not filler here, solid drinking Irish Red. Mouthfeel is light to medium bodied with even carbonation light drinking complex Irish Red style ale from Akron. Drinkability overall is solid the type of beer that does well for the micro craft community during drunken holidays like St. Paddy's Day.

Serving type: bottle

03-12-2011 21:38:25 | More by WVbeergeek

TheHoppiest

Ohio

3.43/5  rDev -2.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Had on tap at the Winking Lizard in Independence, OH, poured into a Thirst Dog pint glass. Pours a jewel-like red, with 1/2" of off-white head.

Smell is close to non-existent, primarily due to WL's overchilling of the beer. There is a faint sweet malt smell.

Taste is smooth, if indistinct. Slightly sweet, faintly malty, and slight grains are present. There is virtually no aftertaste.

Light to medium bodied, this is a very smooth and easy drinking beer.

Pretty to look at, there's not much taste to this beer. That's not bad if you're looking for a forgettable session beer, but not so much if you want a tasty craft-brew.

Serving type: on-tap

03-11-2011 22:19:32 | More by TheHoppiest

sixerofelixir

Ohio

3.9/5  rDev +10.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On-tap at Winking Lizard, this was their glass-of-the-month selection. Poured a dark, brick red. A tan ring laced the glass. Smell was rich and malty, with a hint of bitterness. Taste was big and caramely, nicely balanced malty sweetness and a pleasing bitter base. Feel was smooth as a caramel too. Drinks well, a good brew.

Serving type: on-tap

03-06-2011 17:01:21 | More by sixerofelixir

HeightsEats

Ohio

3.78/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured a nice deep amber with an aroma of roasted malt and subtly floral hops. Flavor is a fairly typical but well-executed red ale, full bodied without being heavy with medium dark caramel overtones and a clean hop finish. The mix of interesting but not heavy-handed flavors makes for a very drinkable beer.

Serving type: on-tap

03-03-2011 01:01:32 | More by HeightsEats

wyattshotmaker

Ohio

3.7/5  rDev +4.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

on tap at the boneyard in broadview heights.poured with almost no head,however im guessing this was because the beer was served in a chilled pint glass.decent looking amber color.

nice firm somewhat caramel malt,finished slightly dry and clean.an easy drinking beer,light bodied mouthfeel.not my favorite style,but still worth a try.

Serving type: on-tap

09-23-2009 22:47:47 | More by wyattshotmaker

beergeek279

Pennsylvania

3.15/5  rDev -10.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Served as a sample at Thirsty Dog in Akron. The color was amber, with a ring of head. The smell was caramel malt. The taste was somewhat bitter with a slight malt. Mouthfeel was average. As for drinkability, could have a couple.

Well, not a bad beer but lacks compared to some of the bigger, more flavorful beers later on in the tasting rack. Though I'd likely go for a pint of those before this one, it's still not bad as a session beer.

Serving type: on-tap

03-15-2004 18:12:45 | More by beergeek279

AtLagerHeads

Ohio

3.25/5  rDev -7.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

This is a very nicely crafted beer with just a bit too much caramel malt sense to be considered a top offering. The nose is definitely caramel malt with little else impressing. The look is a reddish amber with an ivory head and decent lacing. There is grain in the finish but little hop sense is noticeable. Creamy with too little carbonation to put crispness in the feel. Good effort and enjoyable, but the style has better representatives - a lot better.

Serving type: on-tap

04-11-2003 18:31:59 | More by AtLagerHeads

Dogbrick

Ohio

3.1/5  rDev -12.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Light amber ale with noticeable malt flavor. Very red color and sweet carmel aroma. Light carbonation adds to the sweet flavoring. Somewhat lacking in flavor to be memorable though.

Serving type: on-tap

09-18-2002 08:17:57 | More by Dogbrick

Brent

Kentucky

2.35/5  rDev -33.4%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Described as "medium body with a freshly ground caramel malt flavor with no bitterness." That was the problem. No discernable hopping at all, and the malt was too bland to carry the beer.

Serving type: bottle

11-08-2001 13:11:51 | More by Brent