Brian Boru Old Irish Red - Three Floyds Brewing Co. & Brewpub

bierbrauer

Wisconsin

3.83/5  rDev -5.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

22 oz. bottle purchased locally ($8.99) at Whole Foods. Poured into a 5 oz. tasting glass.

A: Clear, light copper with off-white head that settles quickly and leaves a slick of fine bubbles across the entire surface. Some occasional effervescence. Lacing hard to assess in small glass.

S: Very strong hop-forward nose, full of fresh pine and citrus.

T: Sweet. Malt first, followed by more malt - biscuit, caramel and earthy rye. A whisp of citrus and very, very slight bitterness. No alcohol.

M: Light/medium carbonation and medium body; creamy; neutral finish; no heat.

O: Interesting contrast between the hops in the smell and the relative absence of them in the flavor. The aroma is its best characteristic. Quite extreme.

Serving type: bottle

03-22-2012 01:35:58 | More by bierbrauer

Florida9

Illinois

4.1/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Dark reddish amber in color. Forms a two finger head of very light tan colored head. Decent retention and some light lacing.

S: A fairly strong blend of caramel malts and citrus hops. Grapefruit and a little toast.

T: Toasty malts on the front end before turning to citrus and grapefruit happiness and a moderately strong bitterness. Some caramel malts and a lingering tastiness on the finish.

M: On the heavier side of medium with appropriate carbonation. Moderate bitterness.

O: A hoppy Irish Red with a restrained malt bill in the Three Floyd's style.

Serving type: bottle

03-18-2012 20:14:19 | More by Florida9

chanokokoro

Illinois

4/5  rDev -1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a 22 oz. bottle into a nonic pint glass

A: Pours a red-orangish amber with a off-white three finger head which reduces to heavy lacing

S: Caramel, malt and very slight citrus undertones

T: Opens with a slight citrusy hop bite,, transitions to tones of bread, malt, and citrus rind, and closes with a return to mild citrus bitterness

M: Well-carbonated, medium-light body provided by a perfect malt backbone, very slick

O: This brew is exactly what you might expect: an Irish Red with FFF's signature delivered by an added level of hoppiness. A very enjoyable brew. Slainte!

Serving type: bottle

03-18-2012 05:26:07 | More by chanokokoro

Rutager

British Columbia (Canada)

4.03/5  rDev -1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Hoppy St. Patrick's day and thanks to yeahnatenelson for the perfect timing in getting this one to me.

Appearance. Pours a glowing, clear amber-orange with a finger of pale amber head.

Smell. Nice toasty malts and caramel. Some piney hops too.

Taste. Big toasty malts, some piney, floral hops and just a little bit of soap.

Mouthfeel. Below medium in body with medium+ carbonation.

Overall. Nice amber here with some interesting flavours going on.

Serving type: bottle

03-18-2012 02:21:19 | More by Rutager

Jaycase

Illinois

3.45/5  rDev -15.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

a: dark copper. thick head

s: citrusy hops

t: citrus hops with malt backbone. some caramel

m: smooth. bit of creaminess to it. medium body

o: Don't have much experience with this style. Good flavor. Nothing extraordinary but good nonetheless. One to have on St Patrick's Day.

Serving type: bottle

03-18-2012 01:12:03 | More by Jaycase

Bakerwine

3.48/5  rDev -14.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

-orange copper with yellow/red-green streaks poured from 22 oz bottle, slightly dull/clouded core with moderate- CO2 stream

-nose gives red-fruited caramel with banana-y yeast - citrus and floral - hops are powerful and over the top - creme brulee, wet cement and sandalwood

-palate is more citrus (orange and dried) - hops take over - big attack - The bitter from the hop is balanced and pleasant - the flavor of the hop is dominant. finish is medium length and lacking complexity

-Festive with fun packaging and some overt flavors, but not necessarily interesting or exciting

Serving type: bottle

03-18-2012 00:09:54 | More by Bakerwine

kawilliams81

Illinois

4.23/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Served in a Jester King pint.

A- dark golden with a 2" off-white head. Nice amount of spotty blotches.

S- toast, spices, and citrus

T- toasted malts, lots of spices, rye, and citrus hop bitterness (of course)

M- medium body and carbonation. Very clean and easy drinking.

O- good beer and very good Irish red. Will have again around St. Paddy's for years to come.

Serving type: bottle

03-18-2012 00:08:14 | More by kawilliams81

mayor55

Illinois

4.5/5  rDev +10.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

22 oz bomber in tulip glass. This is the 3rd time I've had Brian Boru. Thick off white head. I'm a pretty experienced beer drinker, but I overflowed this. Heavy lacing. Regular 3 floyds west coast citrus nose. FFF is the best. Classic Irish red with FFF signature. Happy St. Patrick's day. Bomber #2 ready in fridge.

Serving type: bottle

03-17-2012 21:57:01 | More by mayor55

Morey

Pennsylvania

4.43/5  rDev +8.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

22oz bottle with no freshness date. Come on FFF! I happen to know that this is a fresh bottle, but still. That being said, I couldn't think of a better beer to kick off my B-day (which also happens to be St. Patrick's Day). Cheers!

Pours an amber-red color with one finger of off-white head. The head has settled quite a bit after 7 minutes or so, but there's some pretty good lacing and retention. Pretty good clarity, although there is a slight haze to it.

Nice citrus notes in the aroma following the pour. I'm definitely getting orange and grapefruit along with a good amount of toasted malt and grains. Very impressive.

The malts actually hit the palate first, but it isn't long before that citrus from the aroma starts provide some bite and flavor. There's some bitterness, but it doesn't linger. The malts surface again near the back end making for a rather traditional Irish Red finish with the hops lingering just a bit.

Medium bodied mouthfeel with a carbonation that sits between medium and high.

Overall, this is the best Irish Red that I've ever had by far and away.

Morey's Bottom Line: Picked this up for $6.99 in Ohio because I wanted to drink an Irish beer on SPD. This is tasting better than the month old Nugget Nectar that I had last night...no joke.

Serving type: bottle

03-17-2012 19:15:05 | More by Morey

jsulko

Illinois

4.38/5  rDev +7.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Bomber poured into a tulip glass

Pours a reddish color with a large white foamy head.

Smell is malty and sweet.

Hops come through on the taste, more than most Irish Reds. Sweetness also present throughout.

Very smooth finish.

A style I had started to move away from but Three Floyds really hits it well and makes it one of the best.

Serving type: bottle

03-17-2012 04:24:59 | More by jsulko

alpinebryant

Connecticut

4.25/5  rDev +4.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Pours a bright copper orange color with heavy white lacing and a solid white head that stuck around for a few minutes.

S: Strong citrus aroma, plenty of caramel and roasted sugars, some irish yeast somewhat like a doughy soda bread.

T: Taste surprised me a bit. This is definitely the hoppiest Irish Red ale that I have had with a strong red malt backbone and a strong bittering presence. Bitterness mostly made up of early bittering hops without flavor and a strong citrus presence.

M: Light to medium body, just about right for the style, lighter than say Killians Irish Red. Medium to high carbonation.

O: This is a very good Irish red ale. I am sure that traditionally speaking, this is overhopped, but it really is an enjoyable beer for me.

Serving type: bottle

03-17-2012 00:13:22 | More by alpinebryant

Knapp85

Pennsylvania

3.9/5  rDev -4.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A big thanks to Billakowski for sending this one out my way! The beer poured out as a nice looking red/amber color with a light tan head on top. The smell of the beer was hoppier than I expected with some malt aromas coming off of it also. The taste of the beer gives off this really interesting musty/aged flavor. The flavors kept me guessing on what it was that I was tasting. The other flavors were of caramel and some bitter hops in the finish. The mouthfeel of this beer was smooth and lightly carbonated. Overall it's a good brew and I'm glad I got to try it.

Serving type: bottle

03-13-2012 04:40:00 | More by Knapp85

WillCarrera

Illinois

4.25/5  rDev +4.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A- Pours a clear reddish copper color, has a big inch-high thick, creamy head, has great retention and lacing.

S- Big hops, citric and also with some peat. Caramel, toffee malt.

T- Very hop forward again, juicy citrus and some bitter rind, also some herbal, peaty hops. Caramel and toffee malts are also prominent and have a chewy doughy feel.

M- Medium-bodied, good carbonation and a creamy feel.

O- I really liked this one, a really tasty hop-forward take on a red ale.

Serving type: bottle

03-11-2012 04:55:13 | More by WillCarrera

KyleVester

1.58/5  rDev -61.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 1 | taste: 1 | feel: 4 | overall: 1.5

Got a 22 from 3Floyds Brew Pub last night and it was just awful. May have been a bad bottle based upon the descriptions of other reviews.

Smell was very harsh and kinda like BO. Taste was similar. Very harsh bitterness, some astringency, skunky (like Heineken), and a pleasant aftertaste was not left. No sweetness was detected.

Serving type: bottle

03-10-2012 15:30:34 | More by KyleVester

vester

Illinois

1.35/5  rDev -66.8%
look: 4 | smell: 1 | taste: 1 | feel: 3 | overall: 1

Tastes and smells like a cab driver after an 18 hour shift. Absolutely disgusting. Neither me or my companion could take more than a few sips.

I am not kidding about this. It smelled and tasted like body odor. I would rather drink Bud Light than this.

Serving type: bottle

03-10-2012 15:05:39 | More by vester

Rugglesby

Illinois

4.33/5  rDev +6.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Pours a crystal clear copper/red/orange with about 2 fingers of lingering, off-white head. Slight carbonation trickling from the bottom of the glass. Lacing is apparent.
S: Very hoppy, citrus, grapefruit with a hint of pine.
T: Hops up front, astringent, sweet middle with slight doughy/biscuit notes. Hops on the back of the tongue with caramel/toffee lingering notes.
M: Coating, lingering, somewhat chewy.
O: Surprisingly hoppy for an Irish red but that is no shocker coming from 3Fs. Very drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

03-10-2012 01:36:35 | More by Rugglesby

jmarsh123

Indiana

4.25/5  rDev +4.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours more of an orange than red although there is some copper hue in there. 2 finger frothy off-white head with good lacing.

Smells like a DIPA. Big citrus notes alongside some sweet caramel malt.

Same citrus flavor on the front of the palate. The malt asserts itself more in the flavor as there is a big sweet caramel presence. It finishes slightly piney/grassy and fairly dry. A good lingering bitterness on the back of the tongue.

Medium mouthfeel and carbonation levels. A bit thick without being cloying.

As usual with FFF the style is hopped more aggressively than normal which is how I like my reds anyway. I'd had a few that are better, but this one is up there.

Serving type: bottle

03-08-2012 21:50:22 | More by jmarsh123

thydarkprevails

Illinois

4.5/5  rDev +10.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

From a bomber in a duvel tulip. Clear amber red with a 2 finger white head that fades slowly. Aroma is Amarillo hops, tropical fruit, and some toffee. Taste is of caramel, toffee, orange, and mild grapefruit. This red has somewhat of a tropical feel to it. The mouthfeel is creamy and the flavor lingers. Awesome Irish red.

Serving type: bottle

03-07-2012 04:52:22 | More by thydarkprevails

mpcrump

Indiana

4/5  rDev -1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bomber bottle poured into a pint glass...twice....

A: Golden orange with a good sized head.

S: Like my other 3f favorites this has a good strong citrus smell. There is a hint of sweetness in the smell - caramel, cinnamon?

T: Starts a bit sweet with caramel that is followed by citrus hops. The caramel is light and the citrus is mostly grapefruit. Maybe a hint of honey. This beer is sweet but not overpowering.

M: Despite the sweetness and complexity this is a very light and drinkable beer.

O: A very good Irish Red. Some might argue whether it should be considered as such but it always seems that 3f can take a beer style and add an interesting twist. I wish it wasn't seasonal but it does make for a good spring and summer beer.

Serving type: bottle

03-06-2012 04:45:38 | More by mpcrump

areich6

Illinois

4.38/5  rDev +7.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Enjoying with my good friend pschul 4.

A: Very dark orange color. Lighter than other red ales I have encountered.

S: Smells like Alpha King by Three Floyds. Very hop-heavy.

T: Pretty hoppy with pleasant bitterness that gives way to a caramelly sweet characteristic. Very nice.

M: Slightly prickly carbonation, but overall very smooth carbonation.

O: Really good beer. The sweet and bitter qualities of the taste is kind of unique and also quite delicious. Also, the mouthfeel is very nice and the beer is highly drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

03-06-2012 02:22:57 | More by areich6

pschul4

Illinois

4.3/5  rDev +5.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Beer #2 on areich6 and my's night of the King!

A- Red? This looks like a dark IPA, a hint of amber I suppose but not much in the way or RED

S- Who sells hops to FFF? All of their beers smell pretty similar. That being said, all of their beers smell pretty great :)

T- Nice hop taste (warrior hops I'm assuming) but this has a malt backbone you won't find in other FFF beers, and I kind of like the change of pace.

M- THIS is the best part. Silky smooth, I love it!

O- Didn't know what to expect with this one but really loving it. For the price I may grab a few more bottles. Can't beat it

Serving type: bottle

03-06-2012 02:03:11 | More by pschul4

Hoptometrist

Oregon

3.78/5  rDev -7.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Served from the bottle into a mug

A-Poured a clear dark amber color, looks more dark orange than red. Big soapy head that left lots of coating lace

S- Big aroma of pineapple, citrus, pine, toffee, and biscuit. Pretty astringent aroma

T- Light toffee and biscuit notes up front with pineapple and citrus flavors on the finish. Big pineapple aftertaste. Astringency is about the same as Zombie Dust, big for an Irish Red or Pale Ale but not IPA level.

M- Medium/lighter body
not very highly carbonated, refreshing, or dry on the finish
pretty average mouthfeel

O- Certainly not a traditional Irish Red, tastes like a hopped up amber ale. This beer actually tastes more malty at first, but further along this really tasted more hopped up, especially with the big pineapple aftertaste.

Serving type: bottle

03-05-2012 23:24:20 | More by Hoptometrist

VaTechHopHead

California

3.75/5  rDev -7.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A - Very clear dirty dark orange color with a thick everlasting white head. Tons of cascading bubbles as well.

S - Earthy hops are the first scent present with a light toasted malt aroma as well. A hint of nuttiness and just a tad bit of caramel can be detected.

T - Same with the aroma the taste leads with Earthy hops paired with a toasted malt flavor. There is a smooth caramel flavor in the middle and a drying nuttiness and bittering tea-like finish.

M/O - Medium body with great carbonation, chewy body and is soft of the palate. A little over-hopped for the style IMO but it is a "not normal" 3Floyds beer so that is to be expected but doesn't detract from how good it is. Either way it's a good beer and easy to drink.

Serving type: bottle

03-05-2012 00:42:43 | More by VaTechHopHead

DavoleBomb

Ohio

3.75/5  rDev -7.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured into a perfect pint.

4.5 A: Clear medium orange color. Two and a half fingers of off-white, dense creamy head. Retention is better than average and plenty of lacing is left.

4.5 S: This is hopped to hell and back. Mango and pineapple dominate the nose. Underneath there is a slight amount of toffee, oat, and caramel. Super clean. Not the most complex, but that's because the hops cover up mostly everything. Smells wonderful nonetheless.

3.5 T: Tasty, but it's lacking the typical red ale flavors for the most part. The hops again dominate, leaving little room for caramel and toffee to shine. Mild bitterness. Pineapple and mango hop flavor, but not nearly as intense as the nose. Oats are detectable, at least more so than the caramel and toffee. Surprisingly not very toasty.

3.5 M: Lighter medium body. Good moderate carbonation. Reasonably creamy for how light the body is.

3.5 D: This is more like Alpha King than an actual Irish Red Ale. Oh well, it's tasty, but I was expecting an Irish ale so I'm a bit disappointed.

Serving type: bottle

03-05-2012 00:06:34 | More by DavoleBomb

TwelveOunces

Kentucky

4.2/5  rDev +3.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

Bomber poured into a three floyds pint glass

2012 batch consumed fresh.

A- Clear golden orange with a 2 finger head composed of larger bubbles. Not as red as the "red" would imply.
S- Crazy citrus up front. This has strong notes of pineapple and mango. A sugary caramel toffee character. Strange cinnamon oats and grains. This actually kind of smells like apple jacks.
T- A sugary red caramel taste up front followed up by exotic citrus hops and a bitter but smooth feel. This tastes more red then it looks, A light toffee character and caramel. The Amarillo hops really shine in this baby, It has strong characteristics of pineapple and grapefruit and other citrus flavors. There is honey in this beer and is very subtle and not immediately noticeable but it adds to the sweetness.
M- This beer has a full body with complex flavors and depth but is still rather light and drinkable. I would not call it quite a session-able beer but its not far off. Leaves you mouth with some bitterness but with that comes a bunch of citrus flavors. A good beer for any occasion.
O- This beer was about as good as I expected it to be and more weird then I expected but I never really know what to expect from 3F. Its not physically red and has citrus notes that embarrass many big IPA's so don't expect to be drinking a typical red here. This beer is as unique as they come and really defines a new style of beer.

Serving type: bottle

03-04-2012 10:31:17 | More by TwelveOunces