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

evanackerman

Minnesota

4.3/5  rDev +12.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

finally found some of this at a local store.

Beer pours a beautiful amber with a thin head that dissipated quickly (this may have been due to my glass). moderate carbonation.

aroma is fruity hops and bready malt mixed with a tinge of alcohol.

taste is delicious toasted malt with a nice kick of hop bitterness. this would go great with a hearty stew.

mouthfeel is a bit thin but still pleasant.

drinkability is extremely high, a nice easy drinking ale here.

overall, i really enjoyed this beer, an all around well balanced winner, my favorite Irish Red to date. I'm not sure this brewery can do any wrong, hands down the best all around brewery in America.

Serving type: bottle

02-18-2006 19:23:34 | More by evanackerman

Clydesdale

District of Columbia

4.3/5  rDev +12.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A: Pours a deep, clear copper-orange. The tall, similarly-tinted head has a densely frothy texture and very strong retention. Sticky curtains of lace cling to the glass very nicely as the head slowly fades.

S: Firm caramel-sweet aromas are prominent. Strong toasty notes as well - some crusty breadiness is definitely going on here. Measured hop aromas are mostly herbal. A bit of fruitiness is also present.

T: Big, sweet, almost chewy caramel flavor up front. Toasted malts add a nice character that keeps an overall sweet beer from becoming overwhelmingly so. A bit of honeyish flavor. Some tealike flavors are also available, but they're relatively minimal behind the robust malt backbone. Subtle fruity notes persist throughout. Herbal hop presence provides a mild bittering balance.

M: Fairly full-bodied. Some moderately chewy sweetness. Carbonation is smooth and medium. Overall mouthfeel is a bit creamy and silky.

D: A robust, very tasty Irish red from Great Lakes. Fairly heavy hitting for the style, but it manages to avoid being too sweet or too alcoholic at any point. No surprises here from Great Lakes - a polished, delicious spring seasonal.

Serving type: bottle

02-11-2011 02:13:10 | More by Clydesdale

frazbri

Ohio

4.28/5  rDev +11.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Poured crimson-golden and clear with a short creamy white head, good lace. Floral, citrus and bread aromas. Malty, bready, with a citrus tang and mild bitterness. Medium-light body, moderate carbonation and a dry finish.

Conway's is another solid brew from Great Lakes. It stands on the sweet side of the balance scale. This would be a great selection for your St. Patrick's Day celebration. I've also gotta say this might be a good transition beer for your buddies. It is an easy drinking beer. If it was a tad lower in alcohol, it would be an ideal session beer.

Serving type: bottle

03-16-2005 01:41:33 | More by frazbri

chilidog

Ohio

4.25/5  rDev +11%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A great looking ruby-red, medium bodied beer that pours to give a nice off white head and lace.It carries a stronger malt flavor with a fruity overtone, almost cherry-like. It drinks very smooth but leaves the mouth dry. The bottle credits a 1995 world beer champ on my 02 sample, I can't beleave im the first review. I got the end of this years run on this seasonal, Jan--March St. Pats, brew. It will be a good find next winter.

Serving type: bottle

07-28-2002 14:16:39 | More by chilidog

PBRstreetgang

Ohio

4.25/5  rDev +11%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Pours a crystal clear bronze color. One finger head quickly falls to a thin but dense cap. Mild spotty lacing. Toasted amber malt nose with background spicy hops. Sweet caramel and dextrin taste, followed by a very evenly balanced german hop bitterness. Medium body and carbonation, very smooth and almost creamy. Finishes a touch sweet, with the hops more apparent; but mostly clean. easy to knock back a few of these. Once again, GLBC nails the style AND produces an outstanding beer.

Serving type: bottle

01-15-2006 05:15:29 | More by PBRstreetgang

sliverX

New York

4.25/5  rDev +11%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

poored a nice transparent copper color very little beige head that dissipated down to nothing but a ring around the glass
Smell is sweet caramel malts, some biscuit notes along with some toast notes
taste is perfect Irish red, big malts no hop presence just nice caramel maltiness
mouthfeel is light with decent carbonation, a string or 2 of bubbles constantly streaming towards freedom
drinkability is very high a good beer to session with

Serving type: bottle

02-17-2009 01:50:33 | More by sliverX

Infamous7100

Ohio

4.25/5  rDev +11%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Thoroughly enjoyed this beer.
A: Poured a copper/light red from the bottle with very little lacing.
S: Malts, Malts and more Malts. You can smell the sweetness. Just a hint of a nutty scent as well.
T: Very sweet across the palate. The hops are detectable but blend very well. The malts win out. You can also pick up on the nutty flavor as well.
M: Smooth and satisfying! Thick and almost creamy, which I find impressive. Finishes clean and dry.
D: Once you have one, you want another. ABV a little higher than your typical brew, but you really wouldn't notice by the taste.

Serving type: bottle

05-05-2009 00:33:41 | More by Infamous7100

stimulus

New Jersey

4.25/5  rDev +11%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a 12 oz bottle (6 pack) into a pint glass.

A: Pours a clear amber/red with a 2 finger cream head that slowly settles.
S: Toasted malts, toffee, and some light brown sugar.
T: Very much like the nose, this is big and malty, but nowhere near overpowering. Good for the style.
M: Light bodied, great carbonation, and a smooth finish.
D: I've been cherishing these, but they are definitely a sneaky session beer at 6.5% abv.

Serving type: bottle

03-23-2011 03:20:07 | More by stimulus

PhantomVodoo

Ohio

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

Clear reddish copper color. Off white head that fades to a thin coating. Aroma dominated by sweet, grainy malts.

Taste filled with sweet malt flavor that is hard to describe. Caramel, grainy, candied-apple, and whiskey all come to mind, but none seem to quite fit just right. Very smooth. Touch of sweet alcohol with a slight warming effect. Well-balanced. Hops provide a clean finish. Malts coat the tongue and leave a slight, lingering malt sweetness after the finish.

Good mouthfeel. Medium body.
Very drinkable for a beer with this much malt character.
Overall, a very good example of the style.

Serving type: bottle

02-07-2003 20:11:31 | More by PhantomVodoo

Ricochet

Ohio

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

It's been awhile since I've reviewed one from my hometown. For a red ale, this one scores on all bases. Dark amber with little head and full, dark malt smell with hops to spare. Mouth seemed light, with little to no bite and smooth when swallowing with a creamy finish. You can taste the hop bitterness, with the roasted malt flavor and alcohol making a balance that only beers that really nail thier style. Very dry from the bitterness and a slight wine note.

So, what can I say, this is great stuff. Another homer from the hometown brewery.

Serving type: bottle

02-19-2006 05:54:13 | More by Ricochet

scruffwhor

Illinois

4.22/5  rDev +10.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

I see a bright yet deep ambery/copper. Very little head, but a cool column of tiny bubbles spewing from the bottom center of the glass. Very uniform. The aroma is a pretty inviting baked then quickly toasted, old fashioned white bread. It just smells warm and comforting. The first sip is great toasted malts, bread with a smooth light caramel finish. The palate is very upfront, nt a lot of stuff lurking in the shadows. No real nuances. Just great malt and a hint of caramel. Very easy to drink beer.

Serving type: bottle

03-15-2008 00:52:45 | More by scruffwhor

bigbluebeerguy

Kentucky

4.22/5  rDev +10.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

12oz bottle into a pint glass, looked like a dark apple juice, 1/4" cream head that receded quickly to a thin layer.

Smell was not overpowering, definite toasted malts, caramel, and nuts.

Taste elevates it a notch above the nose. For me, this is great. The malt is obvious, with a slightly sweet caramel-toffee, nutty kick. Just enough hop notes to balance things out. Much more flavor than the smell suggested.

Crisp in the mouth, just the right amount of carbonation. Coats the mouth well.

Very drinkable brew, my personal favorite (of what I've tried) from Great Lakes so far.

Serving type: bottle

03-14-2010 23:46:38 | More by bigbluebeerguy

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

lovindahops

New York

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

A- Conway pours a glowing red body with a clear appearance and thin head that disappear. A solid look that is spot on for an Irish ale

S- a light plum with some sweet caramel and oat scent. There is some dry scents as well

T- great toasted flavor that mingles with a sweet bready theme. Think apples with caramel followed by a crisp finish of grapes and plum. Very good flavor

M- crisp, refreshing, and tasteful. Furthermore it's the right body from the style

O- a perfect irish ale. I will make this brew always around for the beginning of spring

Serving type: bottle

02-03-2012 00:23:17 | More by lovindahops

cokes

Wisconsin

4.2/5  rDev +9.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Tarnished bronze with a healthy pale tan head.
Nose of toffee and earthy malts. Not overly expressive, but appropriate.
Taste begins in the buttery toffee direction, fading to a earthy malt domain that is minimal with the sweetness, except for a few residual caramelly sugars. When cold, there's a fanciful earthy tang that cues at peat. As it warms, more caramel grows, the peat-ishness begins to assert itself midway, and becomes a highlight. Full of earth and tang as the flowery hops enter, more brash than expected, but nowhere near obnoxious.
Medium-light in stature, with tempered carbonation.
I think it is safe to label this the best Irish-style Red Ale I've ventured across thus far.

However, I do believe they missed a vowel in the name. Call this Conaway's Irish Ale, and I'd be inclined to give it 5 stars.

Serving type: bottle

04-11-2003 14:52:28 | More by cokes

tedsox31

Illinois

4.2/5  rDev +9.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

I poured this from a 12 oz. bottle into a pint glass. The color was red with a beige head of foam that was small.

Aroma was toffee and caramel, some toasted malt in the background and just the slightest hint of hops in the background.

The taste really matched quite well with what I smelled. Caramel and toffee flavors are present up front, followed by some complexity from the malt.

Mouthfeel is not too heavy, and carbonated. It finishes dry, inviting another sip.

Overall, a very good beer. I can have several of these in a night as they taste quite good, and they won't leave me unable to function.

Serving type: bottle

02-20-2010 14:32:16 | More by tedsox31

keytown

Kentucky

4.2/5  rDev +9.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A - Pours a clear copper with thin off white lacing that sticks to glass as you drink it.

S - Smells of toasted malts, caramels & slightly fruity

T - Slightly sweet with tastes of caramel & malt

M - Creamy medium body with just enough carbonation

D - Easy drinkable beer, gets better as it warms up. Another good beer from the folks at Great Lakes Brewing Co.

Serving type: bottle

03-18-2010 02:12:58 | More by keytown

Scrapss

Pennsylvania

4.2/5  rDev +9.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Purchased from my local bottle shop, last two singles. A bit late in the season for it, let's see how it held up. Poured into a standard pint glass.

A: one finger of wispy carbonation that dissipates into a thin ring by mid-glass. Beatuiful light copper/amber color. Tasty looking.

S: Unreal. So well balanced and exactly what I would expect from an Irish Red. Hints of tea, malt, sweet smelling flowers.

T: smooth earthy flavors with toffee maltiness, nary an overpowering hop to ruin the sweet party, but there's definitely something under there.

M: So velvety and mouthfilling. Liquid silk. Carbonation is spot on. Finish is a semi-sweet fading good-by.

D: It seems quite sessionable...but don't even think about it. Dangerously mild for 6.5%.

Overall, this ranks up there with my favorite Irish Red's, if only it were available year'round.

Serving type: bottle

04-26-2010 22:15:25 | More by Scrapss

kraken6100

Illinois

4.2/5  rDev +9.7%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

A: Poured into a bulb glass, copper to a lighter gold towards the edges, with a nice thumb-sized bright white head.

S: Almost smells like a Pumpkin ale. Something along the lines of allspice or nutmeg, with a pretty forward caramel and malt aroma.

T: White bread with a bit of caramel sweetness. Super faint bit of hoppiness at the end. Great balance, as others have alluded to.

M: Very light, especially for clocking in at 6.5%. Great carbonation, finishes really light and crisp with no cloying or viscosity at all.

D: VERY. Definitely perfect for today, a nice 50 degree change of pace in suburban chicago. Could easily drink a six pack of this and not even break a sweat. Not my favorite by them, but certainly another above average beer that doesn't disappoint.

Paired very well with some orange chicken, fwiw. Nice work, GLBC.

Serving type: bottle

02-18-2011 00:13:42 | More by kraken6100

smakawhat

Maryland

4.2/5  rDev +9.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured from the bottle into a pint glass. Best before April 28th 2011, we are good to go baby!

A three finger head off a golden pour. Head is an off cream brown color with tiny bubbles that fall away at a good rate. Very clear body of a burnt orange with some visible carbonation. Leaves a good collar but no lacing throughout the drink.

Bouquet is an interesting airy toasty grassy malt. Man Great Lakes beers smell so dang good. Very unique smelling with some sweet caramel like smell hidden in the back.

Taste is a grass malt backbone, with a small hop profile. Herbal tea like in sensation with grass, but also a little carbonated too. Somewhat of a drying finish also.

Another win for the Great Lakes, it may not be my favorite Irish Red Ale but it's a good one for sure.

Serving type: bottle

02-18-2011 22:08:18 | More by smakawhat

hosehead83

Ohio

4.2/5  rDev +9.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured from 12oz. bottle into a standard pint glass.
Amber-gold in color, with a moderate head of foam
Aroma-Toasted malt, caramel, subtle hop note
Taste-Toffee, toasted malt, caramel, nice little hop bite. Nice and tasty. ESB-like in its quaffability and balance. A good choice come March 17.

Serving type: bottle

02-21-2011 20:37:20 | More by hosehead83

Blakaeris

Iowa

4.18/5  rDev +9.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours clear copper with a frothy off white head.

Smell is invitingly sweet with toasted malt and fruit leading the way. Hints of caramel.

Taste is defined by the sweetness of the roasted malt, wonderful complexity is added by the fruit and earthy nut flavors that linger long on the pallet. Light hop character brings balance to the sweetness in an understated way. Very pleasant. Finish is clean but not sharp.

Mouthfeel is light to medium bodied.

Overall this is a good brew. I find it to be interesting with its array of flavors in harmony with each other. Balanced but complex.

Serving type: bottle

03-26-2006 16:37:51 | More by Blakaeris

uwmgdman

Wisconsin

4.18/5  rDev +9.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

This ale pours a brilliantly clear light copper color with a thin white head. A moderate-high malty aroma rises from the beer, toasty grains and some breadiness. The flavor is highly malty, toasty and bready--like the aroma. The hop bitterness is moderate with a bit of hop flavor at the swallow. The body is medium and moderate carbonation delivers an appropriate prick at the swallow. Overall a tasty brew, nice malt profile without being too sweet, slightly dry, toasty finish is pleasant.

Serving type: bottle

03-08-2008 04:54:39 | More by uwmgdman

BuckeyeSlim

Ohio

4.18/5  rDev +9.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

12 oz. bottle poured into a New Belgium snifter.

I was drinking this on draft earlier this evening and had a bottle in the beer fridge ready for tasting notes. Without being specific before opening the bottle, and working from memory, I found the drafts to be pretty tasty, with a nice balance between malts and hops. It was pretty easy to order another when the tall pint was empty.

A - 2&1/2 finger head of tight but loosely packed off-white foam that collapses quickly into pockets, leaving a cloud of foam on the surface and lace on the sides. Copper orange and clear.

S - Lightly toasted malts, soft sugars, and hints of citrus hops.

T - Very similar to the nose. Bready, toasted malts and caramels give way to a subtle but present finish of citrus hops that is nicely balanced. Toffee appears on the tongue in the finish as it warms. Yummy.

M - A tad creamy, but definitely not at all thick. Reasonable carbonation. Nice structure, although some might find it just a tad thin. Finish fades pretty quickly, leaving a memory of malts and hops on the roof of the mouth.

D - If this evening is any proof, several tall pints go down quite easily during games of trivia. Another very quaffable brew from GL. While the bottle is tasty, the drafts were even better. This is one drinkable beer.

Serving type: bottle

02-18-2011 07:21:08 | More by BuckeyeSlim

BierStein711

Illinois

4.16/5  rDev +8.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Toasty Irish Ale poured from bottle into pint.

Two finger head, amber body!

Smells of toast and bread

Tastes of malt, toast, bread, and floral hop at the finish.

Tastes of malt, bread, smoke, floral hop, and more bread at the finish.

Smooth mouthfeel!

Overall, this is not a bad beer. But, I'm not too fond of the style.

I'd have this again!

Serving type: bottle

01-21-2013 06:27:28 | More by BierStein711