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

KYGunner

Kentucky

3.28/5  rDev -14.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25

Carrot orange in appearance there was a swiftly fleeting and wispy head.

The scent favors iced tea more than roasted malt. Very weak, this is missing any real character.

Touches of roasted malt with hints of nut and caramel sweetness, the taste is light and so is the feel.

Huge disappointment from one of my favorite breweries.

Serving type: on-tap

04-06-2013 20:56:12 | More by KYGunner

NiceTaps

New Jersey

3.78/5  rDev -1.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

On tap in a pint glass.

A-Reddish copper color, vivid. About a 1-finger head, some lacing.

S- Raisin bread.

T- Dry toasted malt, dark fruit, cinnamon-raisin.

M-Good body and carbonation, long dry finsh.

O- A good beer that I'd drink again, this one may have suffered from sloppy barkeeping.

Serving type: on-tap

03-22-2013 00:22:38 | More by NiceTaps

RblWthACoz

Pennsylvania

3.65/5  rDev -4.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

This is an easy drinking, if not very challenging Irish ale. Minimal amounts of that mildly fruity and leafy thing that seems prevalent in the style. Decent enough to drink, though not overly interesting or mind blowing. I hope this is an accurate sample of this beer. Really, I just tried it because it was one of the Great Lakes beers I had yet to check out. Next!

Serving type: on-tap

03-18-2013 21:25:47 | More by RblWthACoz

dbrauneis

New Jersey

3.7/5  rDev -3.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

Served on-tap at the Doubletree Cleveland Downtown Lakeside in Cleveland, OH

A: Pours a clear deep amber in color with some heavy amounts of visible carbonation and light ruby red highlights. The beer has a finger and a half tall dense light beige head that very slowly reduces to a thin film covering the majority of the surface of the beer with a thick ring at the edges of the glass. Moderate amounts of lacing are observed.

S: Moderate aromas of toasted and caramel malts with a hint of toffee sweetness. There are some light fruit notes from the yeast and just the faintest hint of citrus/orange peel hops.

T: Upfront the malts really take center stage with some toasted malt flavors that have notes of caramel and toffee sweetness followed by a slight hint of breadiness (which still has a bit of the toasted flavors). There are light hints of fruit and just a touch of citrus/orange peel hops. Lightly bitter in the finish which does not linger.

M: On the lighter side of medium bodied with moderate to heavy amounts of carbonation.

O: Easy to drink and enjoyable for folks that enjoy the malt forward style (I do). Alcohol is well hidden and this beer is almost sessionable. Pairs well with food.

Serving type: on-tap

03-06-2013 12:39:01 | More by dbrauneis

claytri

Maryland

3.6/5  rDev -6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

The beer pours a nice amber with a good white head leaving a nice lacing. The aroma was a pleasant light malt. The taste was a very satisfying bit of malt with a peppery finish. The feel is medium and dry. This is a very pleasant beer. It is well put togethet and could easily be consumed en masse.

Serving type: on-tap

06-04-2012 02:05:41 | More by claytri

TheBrewo

Michigan

2.98/5  rDev -22.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

This brew was served from the tap at MacGregor’s Grill and Tap Room in Canandaigua, NY. It arrived in a flared pilsner glass. This beer glowed a solid reddish gold, holding a one finger tan head of creamy bubbles. This showed moderate retention with spotty sheets of lacing here and there. No sediment was noted, and carbonation appeared moderate. The aroma was strong with white and red grapes, which showed with a juicy sweetness and light tartness. The malts were paler in aroma, with clean steel. Finally, baker’s yeast rounded out the back and softened things up. Our first impression was in regards to the huge grapey flavoring. As we sipped, red grape and bright strawberry sugars hit first. These mixed with softer pale malts, but really dominated the palate. The middle moved forward with more chalky, grainy malts, and gritty pepper at the peak. Here the balance was better, with the sweetness cut significantly. We were pulled to the finish on a wave of even more toasty, deeper malts, and a tonic water sourness, but that grape was persistently in the background. The aftertaste breathed of copper, grassy hops, and light peppery booze. The body was light to medium, and the carbonation was high and prickly. There was a light coating around the mouth with a brief astringency before all traces of the beer were gone. The mouth was cooled with decent slurp, but cream and froth were poor. The abv was appropriate, and the beer drank nicely.

Overall, what we enjoyed most about this brew was how fresh and easy drinking it was. The fruitiness was overbearing at first, and was still quite strange by the end, but the balanced through the middle saved it. It was nice for the style, but seemed to be lacking just a bit in every category.

Serving type: on-tap

04-25-2012 14:16:35 | More by TheBrewo

SolipsismalCat

Pennsylvania

3.9/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Served in a pint glass.

A: Clear amber with one-finger, white, cream head that lasted several minutes. Okay lacing.

S: Subtle citrus and floral hops with bready caramel malt.

T: Moderate sweetness and moderate bitterness. Caramel malt and and subtle hops.

M: Medium bodied with fizzy carbonation. Smooth and slightly dry. Nice and crisp.

O: This is a very drinkable and delicious beer from Great Lakes. I've had it several times on tap and would recommend it.

Serving type: on-tap

03-29-2012 01:14:38 | More by SolipsismalCat

thecheapies

Pennsylvania

3.55/5  rDev -7.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Red-amber brew with an inch of loose head.

Semi-sweet grain nose with a subtle dose of citrus/earthy hops. Clean smelling, but dumbed-down.

In the taste is much more of a toasty malt taste with a similar hop profile from the nose. A little grapefruit, a little chalk. Grassiness is evident, and balances well with the cereal sweetness. Not a bad Irish Ale.

Mouthfeel is full for the style. Feels great. Some heft and ensuing carb.

I'm enjoying my pint just fine, but I may not order another anytime soon. Good brew, but I can pass.

Serving type: on-tap

03-04-2012 01:18:50 | More by thecheapies

merc7186

New York

3.9/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I had this beer on tap at Mammosers in Hamburg NY, poured intoa pint glass.

A: Amber/Golden Straw Hue, Passes Most Light, White Head Ring, Some Lacing

S: Caramel, Sweet Malts, Mild Toffee

T: Toffee, Sweet Malts, Caramel

M: Decent Carbonation, Medium Bodied, Malty, Mildly Dry

Overall, a decent Irish Ale, definitely fresh when I had it.

Serving type: on-tap

02-29-2012 22:31:59 | More by merc7186

VncentLIFE

North Carolina

4.08/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

First on draft. Thanks Amanda!

Pours a on orangish red color.

smell is about what an Irish red should be. Slightly roasted malts, no real hops. smells drinkable.

The taste is really about exactly what an Irish Red should be. Malt driven, not too balanced.

Serving type: on-tap

02-22-2012 01:55:00 | More by VncentLIFE

TMoney2591

Illinois

3.55/5  rDev -7.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Served in a shaker pint glass at The Firkin.

Somehow this guy got swept under the rug following my recent jaunt to the Firk. Ordered last, to compliment my share of a burger (tasty stuff, I tells ya). It pours a clear copper topped by a finger of off-white micro-foam. The nose comprises caramel, light greens, oak, and a light-ish dash of orange peel. The taste follows fairly closely, with notes of orange peel, light caramel, sweet rice, and a sort of celery-type flavor. Everything has a vague sweetness to it, though a similarly vague bitterness pervades as the finish nears. I'm still not sure if they go together all that well. (I'll get back to ya.) The body is a rather light medium, with a light moderate carbonation and a dry-ish finish. Overall, a decent brew, especially in the capacity of accompanying the burger, but frankly nothing all that special. I can't really knock any part of it per se, but I also can't rave about them either. You know what I mean.

Serving type: on-tap

04-01-2011 01:18:29 | More by TMoney2591

Kelly88

Kentucky

3.53/5  rDev -7.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Had on tap at the dilly deli, served in a pint/pilsner glass hybrid.

A- dark ambrosia with a dirty white dog head. Clarity is about medium and bird of lacing cling to the glass.

S- almost a sweet and sour type smell. Sweet malts and a sort of stout cream type smell. Not bad but different.

T- alcohol fuses with the malts to create a sort of sweet tannin type taste. Hops balance This at the end to make for a nice finish

M- a little heavier than expected. Low carbonation That weighs on the palate. A bit of tingle on the way down

Overall a good red ale that isn't very sessionable for me.

Serving type: on-tap

03-17-2011 18:04:28 | More by Kelly88

JLeege

Illinois

4.15/5  rDev +8.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

On draft, into a pint

Appearance- Pours a clear amber/copper color with a creamy just off white head. Good retention and lace left behind.

Smell- Strong bready/doughy malts. Some caramel.

Taste- Very smooth. Slightly citrus hop notes and caramel. A bit earthy even. With loads of bready/doughy/toasted/biscuit malts. It goes beyond your typical breadyness, like thick, chewy, fresh; not quite all the way baked bread. On the sweet side overall. A tad dry on the finish.

Mouthfeel- Medium body and carbonation, smooth.

Overall- Excellent beer, my favorite St. Pattys beer by a long shot. You will be hard pressed to find an Irish Red better than this. Highly recommended.

Serving type: on-tap

03-10-2011 23:28:42 | More by JLeege

TheHoppiest

Ohio

3.75/5  rDev -2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

I had this on tap at Mavis Winkle's in Independence OH in a pint glass.

Pours a reddish amber color, with a creme-colored foamy head.

Has a nutty, malty smell, with hints of caramel.

Very malty, even creamy, and quite sweet. Tons of toffee taste, the sweetness begins to wear on you after a while.

Medium bodied, this has no bitterness to speak of at all.

Drinkable enough, though sweet and malty to the point where one or two of these is about all I can handle.

Serving type: on-tap

03-04-2011 02:03:39 | More by TheHoppiest

LordAdmNelson

Ohio

3.33/5  rDev -13.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Not a bad little beer here from GL. Look is a little 'meh'--color is fine, though nothing special, and there's very little head, even with some swirling. Nose is paler malts, a hint of hops to it, but pretty much a straightforward ale... the red malts don't make much of a play in the nose. Taste follows similar to the nose, and the red malts make a bit of a stronger play, though they are weak at best. Overall, the flavor is a bit lacking, though not necessarily 'off'. Decent full mouthfeel, easy drink. Pretty straightforward ale--it's not going to knock your socks off, but its not going to make you wish you had a BMC.

Serving type: on-tap

02-28-2011 21:19:57 | More by LordAdmNelson

Jesse13713

Ohio

4.43/5  rDev +15.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Sampled from a six pack as well as on tap at Ray's Place in Kent, Ohio.

Appearance - A very frothy and rich look encompassing the surface. Pours a cloudy ambery red with average lacing. Little head accompanies the surface.

Smell - Smells of slight hops and spices. I get a hint of light cherries as well. It is quite a unique smell that I haven't quite experienced before.

Taste - A very, very light and crisp carbonated start dwindling to a cherry and fruit like finish. Perhaps a sweet caramel note on the finish as well. Tangy on the tongue. An absolutely delicious red ale. I could see this being paired with carrots and potatoes, as described on the bottle.

Mouthfeel / Drinkability - This beer is dangerously addictive and is hard to stop drinking. It is an impressive red ale that I will be sad to see go out of season.

Serving type: on-tap

02-17-2011 15:50:34 | More by Jesse13713

bilyboy65

Colorado

3.5/5  rDev -8.6%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

This is being reviewed from the cleveland, oh airport. That's right trying new beers on the road. This is a nice tasting and smelling beer. Sweet and malty without a lot of hops. Smells brown sugar and nutmeg and tastes the same as well. What it's lacking in is presentation. Not a lot of head or carbonation. Almost trio the point where I'm wondering if it's fresh. They've served 3 glasses of it while I'm reviewing it, so it must be right? Either way the flavor, the noise and the mouthfeel make it an overall drinkable beer.

Serving type: on-tap

02-12-2011 00:40:19 | More by bilyboy65

Murrdogg

Ohio

3.5/5  rDev -8.6%
look: 5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A A deep brown and caramel appearance. Rather beautiful

S Toasted caramel was obvious, along with roasted hops. Slight woody back aroma, with maybe some hints of bread or yeast

T Roasted hops and malt smacked me first and were the most obvious, but it finished with an almost floral-y sweet hop finish

M Malty hops are strong and almost overpowering. Not bubbly at all, very smooth, and goes down well.

D Light, yet complex in taste. This would be (and was!) a great have-with-dinner beer, as it isn't tooo over powering, but still compliments many dishes and styles
Not my favourite GLBC brew, but it's up there!

Serving type: on-tap

02-03-2011 04:24:31 | More by Murrdogg

sixerofelixir

Ohio

4.22/5  rDev +10.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Sampled on-tap 1-29-10 at the only bar in town with GL on draft. Review from notes.

I've had many bottles of this as well, but Conway's is excellent as a draft. Pours a really nice clear copper color, nice small-foam tannish head. Smell is nice and airy, a bit on the bready side. Taste is malty, chewy, with an awesome sweetness that permeates. No tankard-taste. A sweet malt that blends perfectly with the mild hoppiness. Little hops to speak of, but the finish is smooth and drinkability is good. Imbibe with dinner... a "meat and potatoes" beer, indeed.

Serving type: on-tap

09-29-2010 16:23:23 | More by sixerofelixir

chaz01

Ohio

3.28/5  rDev -14.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Had this on draft at the local BW3's because, well that's about all they had for craft beer. 16 oz glass with my chicken wings.

A: Amber/Mahogany in color, nice head retains well.

S: I picked up very little aroma from my glass, maybe a faint grassy aroma.

T: Very malty with bitter rye notes.

M: Medium bodied with a bitter finish that reminded me of chocolate malt balls dipped in Irish Whiskey.

D: This actually went well with my hot wings. It's got a little bit of bitter/sour aftertaste that would prevent me from having more than one, but it's more than I expected for a place that doesn't normally serve craft beers.

Serving type: on-tap

04-21-2010 05:12:15 | More by chaz01

donteatpoop

Ohio

3.88/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

The menu had "Great Lakes Seasonal" listed so I asked which seasonal it was and she told me 'Burning River'. Since burning river is not at all seasonal I asked if she was certain that it was Burning River. She said she was.

So I bought it, expected a nice Burning River APA on tap. When I got it it looked about right, though not as red as I had remembered.

Then I smelled it and it wasn't at all like burning river or any apa I'd ever had. What the fuck though; my other options were Magic Hat #6, Red Stripe, Heineken, St. Pauli, some macros, and Sam Adams. Of all of those I'll take almost any Great Lakes beer over it so I went ahead and tasted it.

Conways. Very nice. (the receipt also was marked Conway's)

Poured a nice clear amber color with a cap of white foam. The foam lasted a decent amount of time, but didn't really have any longevity.

Smells of grain, earth, slight hope bite and mettalic taste.

The taste fits the style perfectly, a nince malty beer with a mild but present hop character. Glad to have it on tap despite the way it was presented.

Serving type: on-tap

04-19-2010 04:39:41 | More by donteatpoop

boatshoes

Colorado

3.4/5  rDev -11.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Had this on tap at the local bar yesterday evening. My first experience with the Conway's, and I believe it is the last Great Lakes seasonal I hadn't tried.

Appearance- Comes off the tap a slightly bronzed amber with about a half finger of white head sitting on top, that retreats to a ring almost immediately. Not much in the way of beading or lacing.

Smell- Not that easy to detect but with some bready malts and a faint graininess coming through from what I can detect. Not a lot going on in the nose department however.

Taste- Similar. Lots of bready malts with a touch of mild graininess on the finish. Very simple beer perhaps with the idea of making it sessionable, though it clocks in a bit high in ABV.

Mouthfeel/Drinkability- Mouthfeel is just a touch thin but okay on the whole with appropriate carbonation. Drinkability is decent as well but the beer got a touch boring as I drank.

Overall, an unoffensive but not particularly noteworthy beer I thought. Easy enough to put away but much more boring than I've found other Great Lakes beers thus far.

Serving type: on-tap

04-04-2010 22:45:03 | More by boatshoes

minterro

Michigan

4.03/5  rDev +5.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: head is a tan and thick. beer is a carmel color with hints of dark rusty red.

S: very hoppy and aromatic

T: diff hoppy and a after taste of wheat. a bit sweet and fruity also. with a dry finish

M: great carbonation and mid. body. very smooth to drink.

D: not too hard to drink for a mid body beer

overall: let it warm and enjoy. overall really liked it!

Serving type: on-tap

03-09-2010 05:52:48 | More by minterro

GoalieRon33

Pennsylvania

3/5  rDev -21.7%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Wonderful, deep color. Not quite ruby, but more reddish than brown. eggshell-white head, about 1 inch in size

smells of sweetness. matly as hell, but very balanced all around.

tasted of many irish ales... slight alcohol burn with a finishing maltiness. overall thick brew; very heavy beer with a strong malty flavor.

heavy bodied beer that is a slow drinker

an enjoyable beer that is fun to drink slow. Not an easy chugger; great dinner beer with chicken

Serving type: on-tap

02-14-2010 07:49:01 | More by GoalieRon33

bobsy

Ontario (Canada)

3.63/5  rDev -5.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

On tap at Coles.

Pours a wonderfully rich red with a smooth white head that dropped to a collar and film and left some nice streaks of lace. Spicy, bready, caramel heavy aroma immediately lets you know that that malt is in the driving seat. Taste is pretty straightforward - lots of caramel malt, some grainy breadiness and floral hops providing a nice light bitterness and depth in the tail. The body is decent, but not as great as other beers that these guys produce. Its pretty much medium feel and carbonation, but lacks the rich texture you'd expect from the Cleveland crew.

While never being a great fan of the style, I've always loved Great Lakes, and would probably rank them as the prime contender for my favourite brewery. They've done another good job here, though even their efforts won't win me over. Its just a little simple and plain. A pleasant beer for sure, but my complaint with the whole style has always been that its lacks the complexity to ever be anything greater than pleasant.

Serving type: on-tap

01-17-2010 19:52:39 | More by bobsy