Kilgubbin Red Ale - Goose Island Beer Co.

AtLagerHeads

Ohio

3.6/5  rDev -2.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

This is a very pleasant, slightly above average red amber that is served at the Claddagh Pub in the Newport, KY location and at the north Claddagh in Columbus. Decent enough appearance if a bit light on the beige-ish head and also light on lacing, but the body is a slightly hazed mid amber with nice reddish hues.

The nose has a slight hop sense. but impresses more of the malt. The flavor is clean and has a nice edge to it, finishing nicely sweet, but the feel is only moderately beyond thin and watery. The overall tastiness and relative ABV make this most drinkable.

Serving type: on-tap

09-06-2003 17:43:39 | More by AtLagerHeads

Dogbrick

Ohio

3.38/5  rDev -8.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

On draught at The Claddagh in Columbus, OH (as Claddagh Irish Red). Pours a dark amber-brown color with a medium thin light beige head. Thin lacing. The aroma is lightly malted and a little nutty. Medium-bodied with a fair amount of malt, as well as some caramel and nuts. The finish is not very lasting, I felt it could have been more drinkable in the long run if it had more pep. Not a bad attempt at the style, and it is drinkable.

Serving type: on-tap

07-14-2003 06:29:11 | More by Dogbrick

tavernjef

Minnesota

3.63/5  rDev -1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

On tap:

Color was a deep amber with a great reddish glow, small white head with some tight lace. Has a faint toasted malt, slightly sweet and citrusy, but faint and soft on the nose. Taste has a bitter sweet hop bite, not dry, hint of clover in there. Very clean, crisp, fresh, and is light to medium bodied. This was a smooth, fresh, and drinkable Irish amber.

Serving type: on-tap

03-30-2003 10:14:15 | More by tavernjef

mikesgroove

South Carolina

4/5  rDev +8.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

light brown color, 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

11-23-2011 02:54:08 | More by mikesgroove

doughanson78

Washington

3.45/5  rDev -6.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

On cask at Goose Island brew pub. Poured into a pint glass.

A: Golden copper in color, with great clarity. One finger off white head, that is super creamy, with good retention and awesome lacing.

S: Very light in the nose. A light toasted caramel comes through. Also a touch of graininess.

T: Sweet caramel upfront. Toasted notes come through in the middle. Overall a very light taste. Product of the cask conditioning?

M: Medium light body. Light carbonation. Super creamy.

O: Decent beer. Nothing special by any means. Not a huge fan of cask conditioning.

Serving type: cask

11-08-2011 21:28:08 | More by doughanson78

philosobeer

Illinois

3.73/5  rDev +1.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

On tap at the clybourn brewpub.

A \\ Nice color of red/brown. Clarity is pretty fantastic. White head. Not much lace, and head retention is only available apparently on cask.

S \\ This has some decent grassy notes. I got some disappointing soapy notes, and I have no idea what that was about. Roasty coffee and biscuit both detectable.

T \\ It's breadiness and roastiness combine very well. It makes for a pretty nice glass, if not overly complex. The hops are low in flavor and aroma, but that isn't improper. Despited the roasty character, there's some lingering sweetness.

M \\ A beer in this style goes fantastically on cask and it's mouthfeel this way is a strongsuit.

This and the honkers are both really nice selections with a snack in the middle of the day. Nothing that I'd rave about, but not to be dismissed at all.

Serving type: cask

05-20-2011 00:54:46 | More by philosobeer

BeerAdvocate

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev +8.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Review from BeerAdvocate Magazine March 2007.

First, Goose Island gets marks for presentation. Clear, reddish brown color, with some killer head retention! This beer really wants to stick to the glass in a very appealing way. Very aromatic, with fresh and redolent floral hop, and dark, watery, caramel malt. A bit nutty too, with a rousing, spicy, rye note. Impeccable smooth- ness throughout. The creamy, medium body really holds things together, and makes this brew insanely drinkable.

Medium hop bitterness and flavor. A kiss of hop oil with a mild bitterness keeps this beer in proportion. Hints of steely grain and soft malt sweetness. Soft, chocolaty notes; hearty breadiness, and a distinct spicy, rye malt flavor. Nice semi-steeped tea character. Finishes relatively dry, with a bit of grain tannin in the linger.

This brew is an homage to Irish immigrants who came to Chicago and founded neighborhoods known as Goose Island and Kilgubbin, some 150 years ago. We think they'd be honored. The use of chocolate malts and rye is superb, and gives what can sometimes be a rather dull style tremendous appeal. As a result, this is one of the better Irish Style Red Ales to meet our palates. Pair it up with a traditional Irish breakfast or boiled dinner, or a nice Irish cheddar. Yeah, it's a no-brainer, but damn good. Sláinte!

Serving type: bottle

04-07-2010 19:59:12 | More by BeerAdvocate

BierFan

Michigan

3.93/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured from a 12 ounce bottle into a tumbler glass. Bottled on 1/11/08, so it's over 10 months old at the time I'm reviewing it.

Appearance: Red/brown body with a small off-white head.

Smell: Great malty aroma. This beer has definitely improved with a little age on it.

Taste: Some roasted malts are coming through in the taste. I've never had one of these fresh but I'm sure the extra time on the shelf has done nothing but good things to it.

Serving type: bottle

11-27-2008 03:14:44 | More by BierFan

Auslander

Ohio

3.53/5  rDev -4.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

I spotted this while making my weekly pilgrimmage to the area beer stores. I hadn't seen this before, so I picked up a couple bottles from the singles cooler. Pouring this beer into a pint glass, the color is a pretty auburn with a snow white head. The head does not stay long but laces nicely. Slight malt aroma. Clean mild malt taste that grows on you.
I wish I'd purchased more. Will definately drink this one again.

$1.69 for a single 12 oz. bottle.

Serving type: bottle

10-08-2008 15:15:26 | More by Auslander

BigJim5021

Indiana

3.35/5  rDev -9.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Pours amber as one would expect of a red. The head is off-white and none-too-impressive with very little lacing. It was, however, bottled back in January, so a loss of carbonation is not too surprising.

The flavor is fairly typical of what you would suspect from a red. Slightly malty and a tad sour, but in a good way. Aroma is much of the same.

Not too complex, and nothing that will knock your socks off, but it's a nice enough beer. And at $7 for a six-pack, the price is certainly right.

While it's not my favorite Goose Island brew, it's still a pretty decent beer.

Serving type: bottle

09-13-2008 05:50:00 | More by BigJim5021

happygnome

Minnesota

3.93/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

a: pours a nice amber color with about a half inch of head that dissapears fast leaving a little lacing around the edge of the glass as well as a pillowy lacing in the center of the beer
s: caramely malts, leafy crisp hops
t: caramely malts dominate the palate but there is a deffinate balance by a leafy/piny hop flavor
m: medium bodied beer with little carbonation

overall, this is a pretty solid beer very nice

Serving type: bottle

08-25-2008 17:14:03 | More by happygnome

russpowell

Oklahoma

3.68/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Review based on notes

Pours an effervescent amber with 2 fingers of pearl white head. Good head retention & lacing

S: Leafy hops, caramel & biscuitty malt

T: Leafy hops, caramel & toffee up front. More leafy hops, apricot, & dryness as this warms. Finishes with more leafy hops

MF: Medium bodied with low carbonation & good balance, maybe a bit too hoppy for the style

Drinks good, not a style I go wild about, but worth a try

Serving type: bottle

06-17-2008 16:02:50 | More by russpowell

morimech

Minnesota

3.65/5  rDev -1.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

An attractive reddish tinted amber beer with a one-fingered head that had some good retention. Moderate amounts of lacing left on the glass.

Toasted and biscuit malt are the aromas.

Mild toasted malt flavors with a hint of cinnamon or nutmeg are the flavors I detect.

Medium body with low carbonation.

A good beer but with low ABV makes it sessionable.

Serving type: bottle

05-09-2008 23:05:49 | More by morimech

Wasatch

Utah

4/5  rDev +8.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Thanks goes out to Monsone for this brew.

Pours a nice clean/clear golden amber color, nice carbonation, nice one-finger creamy off-white head, some nice sticky lacing follows. The nose is big and malty, with some very nice caramel notes. The taste is slightly sweet, malty, with some caramel. The finish is slightly dry/bitter. Medium body. Drinkable, this is a tasty one.

Serving type: bottle

04-24-2008 23:59:26 | More by Wasatch

TurdFurgison

Ohio

3.6/5  rDev -2.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a 12oz bottle, from a 6-pack left at my place from a poker game. It pours a dark copper color, nearly hazy, with a 2cm foam cover with long retention. The aroma seems to be mostly roasted malts, and the taste is malty and tasty (although too neutral to be called rich). Easily drinkable as the style should be.

Goose Island is reliable as always, but this beer could jump beyond average if they cared to do it. Still, a safe choice for an Irish Red.

Serving type: bottle

04-20-2008 23:53:38 | More by TurdFurgison

Gehrig

Illinois

3.95/5  rDev +7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A pleasant surprise, Kilgubbin is more brown than red in its body, very rich hazelnut. More complex nose than I expected, with chocolate malt emerging fairly strongly. It did also in the taste, melding with fruity hops and some caramel to produce a good, solid flavor. Smooth and pleasant, this is a nice, solid representative of the style.

Irish Red never jazzes me, but this is good and well worth returning to. Recommended.

Serving type: bottle

04-18-2008 04:47:00 | More by Gehrig

ybnorml

Rhode Island

3.88/5  rDev +5.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A clean dark amber beer. Has a small white head. The aroma has a light crisp grain character with hints of vanilla and coffee running through the background. There is a small battle between the barley and rye malts. Resulting in alternating sweet and dry/crisp malt notes. There is a nice herbal hop note on a lovely crisp finish.

Serving type: bottle

04-01-2008 03:21:10 | More by ybnorml

JDV

Texas

3.63/5  rDev -1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

bottle from archer liquors from the "freshest in house" section.

Pours slightly hazy dark red to maroon. Lasting creamy beige head sits atop. Smell is malty in the way a light lager is, at least initially. Taste is surprisingly satisfying. Malty, a hint zesty and nicely drinkable with a bit of balancing crisp hoppiness in the middle. Finishes with a lingering sweetness and has a nice body to it. This was definitely fresh, and I was extremely surprised how easy drinking it was and how much I liked it. What a fantastic session beer.

Serving type: bottle

03-26-2008 04:52:03 | More by JDV

giblet

Ohio

3.48/5  rDev -5.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

a solid irish ale. pours a nice reddish color. has very little head with a light carbonation. was wanting a little bit more of both. aroma was nice, sweet, malty smell. taste was quite nice and not as sweet as i expected - which for me is a very good thing. nice balance of taste.

suckem up and movem out!

giblet

Serving type: bottle

03-21-2008 12:48:11 | More by giblet

tmitch75

Illinois

3.48/5  rDev -5.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 4

Cloudy red color with thin head and tons of lace, at least at first.

Toasted english muffin smell with butter, cinnamon, & sugar. Sounds like a good breakfast! No hops that I can detect.

Tastes caramelly and a little nutty. Lightly floral hop finish.

Light to Medium body with nice carbonation and a dry finish.

A nice and drinkable session beer, but not as goo as I remember it. Very tasty though, and I will definitely buy again. It's a spring-time staple for me.

Tasted on 3/15/08.

Serving type: bottle

03-19-2008 05:30:44 | More by tmitch75

Jason

Massachusetts

3.9/5  rDev +5.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Reddish brown color, brightly glows in the light. Creamy colored lace is bubbly and randomly sticks to the glass here and there. Sweet highly toasted malt, smells of fresh baked dark bread with a hint of caramel as well in the nose. Moderate body with a creamy back, level carbonation that adds a lot of crispness. Toasted malt flavor creeps in slowly and brings it to the point of being close to roasted, slight nutty flavor from both the malt and yeast. Spiciness comes from a touch of malted rye though the hops are in there also. Faint smokiness comes out of no where, this might be from some floor kiln dark malt. Hops are light in bitterness yet they have no problem balancing. Fruitiness is trivial and the clean finish is full of residual toasted grain flavors.

Great stab at the Irish Red Ale style, very malty without the clinging hoppiness that some have. One the clean side with fresh malty flavors bursting within.

Serving type: bottle

03-19-2008 05:28:18 | More by Jason

champ103

Texas

4/5  rDev +8.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A: A deep and clear red/amber color. A billowing and frothy white head forms and leaves a good coat of lace down the glass.
S: Burnt, toasted, caramel malt.
T: Lots of caramel malt, though not as sweet as I thought it would be. Toasty and bready flavors. The malt flavors work well with just a hint of hops as the taste lingers.
M/D: A fairly dry feel in the mouth that has a medium body. Creamy, well carbonated, and not watery at all. Very smooth and easy to drink. I can session this with no problem.

A very good red ale by Goose Island. This is a beer I would recommend and drink again soon.

Serving type: bottle

03-16-2008 03:46:36 | More by champ103

brentk56

North Carolina

3.98/5  rDev +7.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Appearance: Pours a hazy amber with a modest ecru head that fades with some haste but leaves some shards of lace behind

Smell: Almost graham cracker-like

Taste: Opens with a mouth full of cracker malt that starts to display the rye spice by mid-palate; after the swallow, the caramel flavors return to dominate through the finish, but are offset, very gently, by a tea-like hoppiness

Mouthfeel: Medium body with moderate carbonation

Drinkability: Not being a big fan of the Irish Red, this was an eye-opener; quite enjoyable between the impact of the cracker flavor, the rye and the hops

Thanks, brandoman63, for the opportunity

Serving type: bottle

03-11-2008 03:03:29 | More by brentk56

SMark

Illinois

3.63/5  rDev -1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

This beer was poured into an Imperial pint glass at 41° from a 12 ounce bottle. There was a bottled on date on the back label along with a note to serve in an Imperial pint glass. A 1 ½ finger head developed with the pour displaying slight carbonation and slight lacing as the head disappeared over the next four to five minutes. The beer was a medium brownish red and very clear.

There was a hint of malt attributable to the bouquet but not much else which I would attribute to the temperature of the beer. A more pronounced malt aroma developed over time but this too was not dramatic.

There was more malt taste than aroma and bitterness was sensed on the tip and sides of the tongue. Taste was definitely better than your average beer.

Best taste and feel was actually in the top of the throat and at the back of the mouth. Liquid went rather quickly through the mouth and then gained some focus.

I would try to drink this one a little warmer the next time unless I am drinking it in late spring or summer when the air temperature is more than 30°F. This is a satisfactory beer and could be considered as one of those session beers although it might be a little alcoholic at 5.2%. ABV on website says 4.5%.

Serving type: bottle

03-09-2008 03:30:42 | More by SMark

bluemoonswoon

Illinois

4.33/5  rDev +17.3%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

12oz bottle poured into an imperial pint glass.

A: Pours a slightly brownish shade of ruby rude with a mixture of loose clear bubbles resting on top of the tightly packed one inch head, the head fades away into a cap in a minute or so and leaves little lacing along the way to the bottom of the glass.

S: Smells a bit like Honkers Ale but with a bit more of a malty presence and a little less on the hops, which is to say there is a dextrose and sweet crackery aroma going on here with bits of green apple.

T/MF: Not as sweet as I was expecting, a bit on the dry side actually, that crackery aspect that was there in the aroma is very present in the taste, much less hop character in this one than the honker's ale and replaces it instead with a solid huskiness, don't get me wrong the hops are still there they just play a smaller role, this is evidenced in the slight bitting sensation I feel on my tongue after I swallow the beer with a nice tingling sensation around the roof of the mouth and the gums. The further I get into this beer the more balanced it becomes, in the opening the fruity hop aspects can be separated from the malt but then as the beer stays in the mouth longer the huskier and breadier aspects of the malt reappear. In the finish I get nice husky and light tobacco finish and the malts come strong and hard. Long and dry finish.

D: Incredibly well balanced, wonderfully complex taste and mouthfeel. A very very nice surprise and a wonderful representation of the style, I don't give it a 5 because of the appearance and the fact I haven't had enough beers in this style to truly be certain it earned a five, but damn if it does not come close. Also after drinking this I noticed it was past it's best by date, so I can't imagine how much better this one tastes fresh.

Serving type: bottle

03-05-2008 03:54:04 | More by bluemoonswoon