Great Lakes Conway's Irish Ale - Great Lakes Brewing Company

falloutsnow

Illinois

3.74/5  rDev -2.3%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

From: Binny's, Champaign, IL
Date: Best by 03/21/2013
Glass: US pint glass

A solid Irish Ale, interestingly malty and hoppy, easily appreciable by those able to enjoy beers in the maltier spectrum.

Pours a 1cm tall mass of foam, composed of small to medium-sized bubbles, slightly off-white in color, with average retention of a bit less than a minute. The head leaves very small bits of lacing along the sides of the glass, a few dots and thick lines scattered here and there. Body is a dark orange-brown-red color, transparent, with light bringing out orange and yellow hues. Carbonation is visible, though modest and not particularly vigorous.

Aroma is sweet, toffee-like, with lightly toasted malt and dried leaf-like, earthy hops.

The flavor of the beer is generally sweet with toasted and toffee-like malt components that verge on nuttiness as well. Some choice hop additions add what comes across to me as dried leaves, furthering the complexity. Opens with modest sweetness from toasted malts with hints of toffee. Mid-palate of sweetness from toasted malts, caramel malts with hints of faint cocoa, then balanced by faintly dried leaf-like hop accents. Back of palate picks up continued toasted malts and toffee-like sweetness with mild bitterness and dried leaf-like hops. Lingering aftertaste of toasted and caramel malts with slight bitterness and dried leaf-like hops.

Beer is medium-bodied, with carbonation of moderate intensity, leading to a mouthfeel that is somewhat fizzy at first, then foamy, then a mix of creamy and slightly watery mouthfeels. Closes dry, with moderate stickiness lingering across the palate.

Serving type: bottle

02-20-2013 07:34:14 | More by falloutsnow

Photekut

Azerbaijan

4.25/5  rDev +11%

05-18-2013 22:30:15 | More by Photekut

mattsucks

Ohio

4/5  rDev +4.4%

05-18-2013 14:18:16 | More by mattsucks

GinsuDave

Michigan

3.5/5  rDev -8.6%

05-15-2013 10:22:37 | More by GinsuDave

atr2605

New York

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

A-pours a nice reddish amber color with an off white head with decent retention
S-bit of caramel, some slight biscuit and low hop aroma
T-a sweet and malty flavor that is dry and biscuity in the finish. Hops provide a nice balance and keep the finish short and clean
M-medium bodied
O-very well balanced and malty. Great example of the style

Serving type: bottle

05-13-2013 20:20:17 | More by atr2605

Kubrickx

Illinois

3.5/5  rDev -8.6%

05-12-2013 18:50:22 | More by Kubrickx

mtc23

Ohio

4/5  rDev +4.4%

05-11-2013 23:07:10 | More by mtc23

mjw1200

Ohio

3.5/5  rDev -8.6%

05-10-2013 23:51:20 | More by mjw1200

Artjsantos

Ohio

3.5/5  rDev -8.6%

05-10-2013 16:52:48 | More by Artjsantos

ncstateplaya

North Carolina

3.5/5  rDev -8.6%

05-09-2013 17:24:41 | More by ncstateplaya

dalepryor

Kentucky

3.5/5  rDev -8.6%

05-07-2013 20:58:22 | More by dalepryor

pcarney8

Virginia

4/5  rDev +4.4%

05-07-2013 15:09:29 | More by pcarney8

TheFightfan1

Pennsylvania

3.25/5  rDev -15.1%

05-06-2013 16:01:48 | More by TheFightfan1

kbrown

Ohio

3.75/5  rDev -2.1%

04-30-2013 22:18:20 | More by kbrown

fullmoonbeer

Ohio

3/5  rDev -21.7%

04-30-2013 01:52:43 | More by fullmoonbeer

Jason1337

Pennsylvania

3/5  rDev -21.7%

04-27-2013 16:12:33 | More by Jason1337

gcamparone

Rhode Island

4.04/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Poured from a 12 oz bottle into into a snifter. Acquired from a friend who visited Ohio. Best by date is 4/15/13 but I've kept this refrigerated so it should be pretty fresh.

A- Pours a ruby red, ever so hazy body with a tiny white head that reduces fairly quickly. Leaves very little lacing.

S- On the first whiff I got some caramel and yeast, somewhat raw. Straining to smell more, I get caramel, toffee, sweet almost fruityness.

T- Toffee and sweet caramel upfront, progresses into a nutty and roasty flavor. The aftertaste is somewhat fruity, grapes and citrus. Subtle flavors but they work quite well.

M- Medium-light body, super refreshing with medium carbonation. Super drinkable.

I don't drink many red ales but was pretty impressed with this one. If this were distributed in my area it would definitely be in my refrigerator as a go-to beer.

Serving type: bottle

04-24-2013 01:12:56 | More by gcamparone

Bamarooster

Virginia

3.75/5  rDev -2.1%

04-23-2013 23:21:50 | More by Bamarooster

ChrisMon02

Ohio

3.75/5  rDev -2.1%

04-21-2013 21:25:45 | More by ChrisMon02

Adkins1203

Ohio

3.75/5  rDev -2.1%

04-19-2013 22:51:21 | More by Adkins1203

ally24al

Ohio

4.25/5  rDev +11%

04-19-2013 22:22:49 | More by ally24al

mpbrady320

Minnesota

3.75/5  rDev -2.1%

04-18-2013 22:17:13 | More by mpbrady320

randylangford

Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev -2.1%

04-18-2013 01:10:16 | More by randylangford

Kerrie

Michigan

3.5/5  rDev -8.6%

04-16-2013 02:54:52 | More by Kerrie

AlphaKingKegger

Ohio

3.75/5  rDev -2.1%

04-15-2013 04:55:23 | More by AlphaKingKegger