Kilgubbin Red Ale - Goose Island Beer Co.

northyorksammy

Ontario (Canada)

3.83/5  rDev +3.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Amber with lace. Slight floral aroma. Easy drinking malty transition brew, with a sample of spice, nuts, chocolate malt, roasted barley, and slight pine bitter hop. More sweet than bitter, and malt on aftertaste. Medium mouthfeel. I never had a bad brew from Goose Island, and Viggo's ladyfriend, who brought it, is a native from there was with us in this session.

Serving type: bottle

03-29-2005 14:18:50 | More by northyorksammy

BuckeyeNation

Iowa

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

Orangish amber with just a hint of red (Kilgubbin Orange Ale doesn't sound quite as good). The head is bone white and looks to be fairly sticky. The fact that a fair amount of it ends up on the glass in ragged sheets bears that out. The aroma is rather nice and is more hoppy than expected. It's orange peel fruity and a little spicy as well.

The flavor is enjoyable if not overly impressive (the beer improves as it warms and I've bumped the taste score to reflect that). The major elements are lightly toasted caramel malt, spicy rye and orange fruity hops. The malted rye is a nice touch, but I would have preferred more of it.

The beer stays pretty evenly balanced between malt and hops throughout the mouthful. The finish is short and is neither sweet nor dry. How about neutral? The body/mouthfeel is merely okay; I'd like something a bit bigger and more mouth pleasing.

Kilgubbin Red is a good, drinkable red ale. A few well-chosen tweaks from Goose Island could ease it into 'better than good' territory.

Serving type: bottle

03-30-2004 18:07:50 | More by BuckeyeNation

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

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

BEERchitect

Kentucky

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

A very good Irish Red. Red's are usually a boring style for me, but this beer is solid. Not a standout with any beer quality, just balanced to perfection. An obvious ruby color, clear, with a mild trace of head retention. Aromas of bread, toast, yeast and barley malt. Tastes quite malty for such low gravity (expected), and hopped for balance and a little spice. Remains bready and yeasty well into the taste and finish. Moderately bitter and malty finish. Not dry and not overly alcoholic. Solid, but not a standout.

Serving type: bottle

03-10-2006 00:19:53 | More by BEERchitect

oberon

North Carolina

4.3/5  rDev +16.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours a deep copper with reddish highlights aroma caramelly sweet with some light nuttiness.Taste is just about everything like in a beer biscuity and some caramel malt along with a great nuttiness.Way to drinkable I might have all six before the day is over the best Irish Red beer I have had to date.

Serving type: bottle

03-24-2004 21:28:42 | More by oberon

TMoney2591

Illinois

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

Served in an imperial pint glass at the Clybourn brewpub.

Man, sometimes I wish I spoke Gaelic (or whatever it is). This stuff pours a clear sunset amber topped by a finger of cream foam. The nose comprises toasted caramel, very dark greens, cocoa, dark wheat, and toasted rye bread. The taste holds notes of toffee, cocoa, sharp greens (mostly dark grass), rye spice, and black pepper. The body is a light-leaning medium, with a light moderate carbonation and a sorta/kinda dry finish. Overall, a nice Irish red, but not something I would make a habit of drinking regularly.

Serving type: on-tap

01-04-2012 19:04:17 | More by TMoney2591

feloniousmonk

Minnesota

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

Color is very red, nearly brown in color, lighter around the edges. Head is smallish, white. Aroma is pleasant and pleasing, earhty and herbal, richly malty, with notes of copper, which continue through the palate, the finish, the overall flavor profile.
Smooth malty flavor, with hops low to nil. Shiny, and substantial finish. A servicable ale that seems to perfectly fit the profile for an Irish Ale. Very tasty, and drinkable, but nothing to scream about.

Serving type: bottle

04-16-2003 23:22:15 | More by feloniousmonk

zeff80

Missouri

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

A - Poured out a reddish/brown color with a foamy, off-white, one-finger head that left some lace.

S - It smelled of malt and yeast. There was also a slight hop nose.

T - It tasted of a burnt toast-like malt. It has a good dose of bitter maltiness.

M - It was crisp and smooth on the tongue. A light to medium-bodied beer.

D - This is an okay red ale. It has a good kick of bitterness and would certainly be a good session beer on St. Patty's day.

Serving type: bottle

08-14-2007 18:55:55 | More by zeff80

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

emerge077

Illinois

3.9/5  rDev +5.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Sampled on-tap at Goose Island Clybourn.

Pint arrives with a creamy foam head that laces the glass. Nice red tone, good clarity. Smells pleasant, mostly malty.

Mild maltiness in the taste, hint of puffed wheat/rice cereal, spicy rye & mild hop on the tail end. Smooth and easy drinking, a good session candidate.

Not a bad local alternative to the dominant macro taps in Chitown.

Kilgubbin is the original Irish name for the Goose Island area in Chicago, named by local Irish immigrants at the time.

Serving type: on-tap

04-05-2007 14:10:07 | More by emerge077

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

rhoadsrage

Illinois

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

(Served in a Nonic)

A- This beer has a deep reddish-brown crystal clear body that is a bit opaque. There is a creamy off-white head that last and last with a gentle carbonation to keep it going.

S- The smell of fresh malt and fresh green hops come through in this beer. A hint of dry lightly toasted malt comes through as it warms.

T- The fresh pale malt has a nice dry biscuit note with some chocolate malt in the background. The green hops that finish have note of pine and pepper in them.

M- This beer had a medium mouthfeel with a creamy texture.

D- This beer has fresh well balanced hops and malts with a good complexity to the malt. The beer had an overall dryness that really enhanced the malt flavor.

Serving type: on-tap

03-09-2006 01:50:51 | More by rhoadsrage

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

ppoitras

Massachusetts

3.58/5  rDev -3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

12oz bottle obtained via trade with CRJMellor. Thanks for the opportunity...

Poured into an imperial pint glass, formed a 3/4" beige head over the reddish copper brew. Head lasts reasonably, and laces well. Aroma is lightly fruity grain husks. Taste follows the nose, although the fruit seems to turn almost into a tea-like flavor, with a dry close. Mouthfeel is a bit thin, even for the style, and drinkability is okay. A nice ale, just wish there was a bit more substance to it.

<edit> Got even thinner as it warmed up, pretty watery overall.

Serving type: bottle

04-17-2005 22:15:17 | More by ppoitras

Zorro

California

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

Pours a hazy red brown brew.

Smell is malty and smoky with a clear scent of dark roasted malts. Faint sour scent here that that I think is from the dark roasted malt.

Taste is fairly malty and faintly sweet with caramel and chocolate taste. Solid bitter hop edge in the after taste but this is pretty well balanced.

Mouthfeel is good.

Nice and drinkable. I have had better Irish ale but not many and none recently. A solid drinkable brew that I do recommend.

Serving type: on-tap

02-27-2005 02:12:40 | More by Zorro

Viggo

Ontario (Canada)

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

Pours a clear copper, nice offwhite head forms, laces well on the glass. Smells like rich malts, some chocolate, a hint of citrus. Wow, this is tastier than I remember it being. Smooth milk chocolate, lemon zest in the middle, hoppy bitter finish. I think the time this bottle spent in my kitchen brought forth some of the hoppiness. Nice carbonation, smooth and nicely dry, tasty beer.

Serving type: bottle

07-17-2005 22:24:20 | More by Viggo

Bighuge

Minnesota

4.35/5  rDev +17.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This clear dark amber brew throws out a slight off white head. Not only is there a nice dry woody aroma present, but also a fairly strong chocolate aroma reminiscent of a good porter. This tastes pretty dry. In a good way. The caramel maltiness in this red ale is there, but it is more in the background compared to a lot of red ales that I have tried in the past. The rye really adds a nice little spiciness to this brew. It seems like there are some slight cedar or oak notes. Almost like this brew was stored in wood barrels (although I don't know if that is true or not). I really like this one.

Serving type: bottle

04-04-2002 21:31:18 | More by Bighuge

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

ZAP

Minnesota

4.2/5  rDev +13.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A fine tasting red ale...I really like the nose..almost like sweet caramel rolls...bready...with a distance smokiness....Pours a cloudy brownish red....body is about perfect...feels nice in the mouth...taste is sweet breadiness....also a hint of smokiness on the finish...

This is a very tasty, quality red ale I would drink anytime...and I would definitely buy this again....I used to think Goose Island was slightly overrated but the more I drink of their beers, the more I appreciate their wares...

Serving type: on-tap

10-19-2003 01:46:14 | More by ZAP

dirtylou

Washington

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

12oz single, Woodman's, best by 6/26/06

appearance: pours a full mahogany-amber into a great dane imperial pint glass, full foamy beige head with, very strong retention, pretty clear body. an appealing irish red

smell: a surprising dose of fresh and alive green hops, sweet caramel malt presence, very earthy aromas, a touch of spice

taste: while the aromas were nothing tremendous, there is a lot going on in this beer....fresh green hops, sweet bready malt, rye, creamy caramel, a decent spice presence, a woody feel, a hint of smoke. A very good irish red from goose island

mouthfeel: medium body, adequate carbonation

drinkability: sessionable

Serving type: bottle

04-03-2006 20:45:14 | More by dirtylou

cokes

Wisconsin

2.58/5  rDev -30.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.5

Shadowy amber-brown with a vanishing beige head.
Dominating aroma of rye bread. Crusty and ever-so-slightly nutty. Attractive.
At the start, taste follows these footsteps, as rye bread is preceived from the get go. It turns a touch earthy prior to a big carbonation sting that vanquishes the mouth of all discernable flavor. Returns a bit later with some increasingly astringent hops and a miniscule lingering nuttiness. Oppressively dry, without even a glimmer of sweetness. Very wrong.
Thin, watery and over-charged within the mouth.
Worthless, but still drainable.

Serving type: bottle

03-10-2003 22:21:37 | More by cokes

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

AgentZero

Illinois

2.75/5  rDev -25.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Had on St. Patrick's Day at GI Wrigleyville.

A - A carmel colored beer with a small head that faded to a partial cap and a solid ring.

S - Mostly caramel malts, slight touch of butter, light sweetness. Mild hops.

T - Maybe I don't understand the style, but this just tastes like caramel water with a touch of honey. A very low hop profile.

M - Slightly flat, watery, lighter boded.

O - It's easy to drink, but it's not a fantastic beer, I'd put it at merely average.

Serving type: on-tap

03-18-2011 16:00:35 | More by AgentZero