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Garrison Irish Red

Garrison Brewing Company
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🌍 Canada · Irish Red · One of 7 Irish Reds in hopIQ

The beer Garrison opened with in August 1997. Munich and pale malt, rounded out with darker caramel malt, give a ruby-red colour and a malt-forward palate of toffee, light toast and a trace of dried fruit. Brewers Gold sits in the background at 20 IBU, adding a faint earthy, spicy edge that keeps the caramel sweetness from turning heavy. The finish is smooth and gently malty.

ABV
5%
Bitterness
Lightly bitter20 IBU
Malt-forward bitterness
SRM
amber14
How it drinks· Its pace, balance and relationship to the style.
Pace
sessionsipper
Balance
malt-ledhop-led
Taste structure· The backbone of the beer, regardless of style.
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
hopIQ take

Each axis lands close to the centre in a considered, even reading.

A profile in balance where the form comes from all sides, every layer speaks in turn.

Wider bands mean we're less certain about the exact position.
Character· What makes this beer itself — not just another Irish Red.
Hop character
earthy
Malt character
malty
caramel
toasty
Distinctive notes
spicy
dark fruit
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Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Garrison Irish Red

Appearance

A clear ruby-red hue, bright and inviting, born from the interplay of Munich and pale malts with darker caramel contributions. The head forms with modest density and holds with gentle persistence, leaving fine lacing down the glass as it settles. Carbonation appears moderate and well-integrated, suggesting a balanced pour.

ruby redclearfine lacingmoderate carbonation

Aroma

The nose leads with warm caramel and toasted grain—a soft, malt-centered profile without aggression. Beneath lies a subtle earthiness and faint spice from Brewers Gold, grounding the sweetness with herbal restraint. Light dried-fruit notes emerge on closer inspection, adding gentle complexity to an otherwise straightforward, inviting bouquet.

carameltoasted grainearthy spicedried fruit

Taste

Entry is smooth and malty, with caramel and toffee flavors immediately apparent on the palate. Mid-palate sustains this malt-forward character while toasted grain and light dried-fruit undertones provide textural depth. Brewers Gold's 20 IBU contribution emerges as an earthy, spicy frame that prevents the caramel sweetness from becoming cloying, maintaining balance throughout.

malt-forwardtoffeesmoothbalanced bitterness

Finish

The finish is clean and gently malty, trailing away with lingering caramel and toasted notes. No harshness or astringency intrudes; the aftertaste remains soft and inviting.

smoothmaltygentle fade
78
hopIQ score
Aroma
76
Taste
80
Appearance
78
Finish
76
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Serve & Enjoy

How to get the most out of Garrison Irish Red

Serve at 8–11°C
Refrigerate, then rest 2 min

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

Pint glass
Recommended for this style

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

Store in a cool, dark place. Check the best-before date on the label for guidance.

Food Pairing

What to eat with Garrison Irish Red

About Irish Red

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Irish Red?

Irish Red 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

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

Other Irish Reds in hopIQ

WHERE TO BUY

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