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O'Hara's Irish Red

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A red ale built on malt. Caramalt brings caramel sweetness, crystal malt a drier counterweight, and a pinch of roast barley deepens the ruby colour and adds a small bite. The aroma is malty with a trace of roast and a fruity, almost herbal note from late Mt. Hood hopping. Bitterness is medium and crisp, the body very smooth, and the caramel stays through to the finish. Released in 1998 as Moling's Red Ale, one of the brewery's two opening beers.

ABV
4.3%
Bitterness
Noticeably bitter
Roasted bitterness
SRM
amber14
PaceSession
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
Balance
malt-forwardhop-forward
What makes this beer itself
maltycaramelroasted
malty
caramel
roasted
fruity
herbal
Aroma
Malt-forward nose dominated by caramel sweetness, with a subtle roasted undertone that adds depth without harshness.
not found:hoppy,bready,clean,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for O'Hara's Irish Red

◎ Appearance

Deep ruby red with excellent clarity and a bright, sustained head that clings to the glass in fine lacing. The color derives from a restrained addition of roast barley, lending warmth without opacity. Carbonation is moderate and well-integrated, creating a smooth visual presence.

deep rubyclearpersistent headfine lacing

◌ Aroma

Malt-forward nose dominated by caramel sweetness, with a subtle roasted undertone that adds depth without harshness. Late Mt. Hood hopping contributes a fruity, almost herbal character that plays gently against the malt base. The overall profile is inviting and approachable, with no aggressive or fermentation-driven notes.

caramel maltsubtle roastherbal hopfruity

◐ Taste

The palate opens with caramel sweetness from the base Malz, immediately tempered by a drier character from crystal malt that prevents cloying. Bitterness is medium and crisp, arriving cleanly in the mid-palate and building with measured restraint. The body is remarkably smooth and full-rounded for its modest ABV, with the caramel note persisting throughout.

balanced sweet-drymedium bitternesssmooth bodycaramel finish

◑ Finish

The finish is clean and moderately persistent, with caramel sweetness holding through the aftertaste without becoming sticky. A final whisper of roasted grain and herbal hop dries the palate gently, inviting another sip.

lingering caramelcrisp close
82
hopIQ score
Aroma
80
Taste
84
Appearance
82
Finish
80
Serve at 8–11°C

Serve at 8–11°C for the best flavour balance and aroma expression.

Pint glass

The classic — versatile, comfortable to hold and keeps the beer cool. No frills, no distractions: just the beer.

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Food Pairing

What to eat with O'Hara's Irish Red

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About Irish Red Ale

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Irish Red Ale?

Irish Red Ale is a distinctive beer style with its own characteristic flavour, aroma and colour. Discover what makes it unique and find similar beers on hopIQ.

Finding a similar Irish Red Ale

hopIQ matches by flavor profile — not just style label. A beer with the same malty, caramel, smooth character as O'Hara's Irish Red will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

Compare with another beer →Explore all Irish Red Ale beers in hopIQ →Browse Ireland beers →