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Conway's Irish Ale

Great Lakes Brewing Company
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🌍 United States · Irish Red · One of 11 Irish Reds in hopIQ

Named for Patrick Conway, the founders' grandfather, who directed traffic as a Cleveland police officer for 25 years. The brewery releases it each winter ahead of St. Patrick's Day. Two-row base malt and a medium crystal malt make up the grist, with Nugget, Mt. Hood and Willamette hops. It pours a clear ruby amber. Biscuit, caramel and light toffee fill the nose and the palate, with a hint of red apple; earthy hops stay in the background and the fuller body ends in a gently dry finish.

ABV
6.3%
Bitterness
Lightly bitter25 IBU
Malt-forward bitterness
SRM
amber14
How it drinks· Its pace, balance and relationship to the style.
Pace
sessionsipper
Balance
malt-ledhop-led
Style expression
textbookdistinctive
Where this beer sits· Four axes, the same for every beer in hopIQ.
Body
Substantial body.
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
Off-dry finish.
drysweet
Bitterness
Soft bitterness.
mildbitter
Texture
Balanced mouthfeel.
crispcreamy

Even from Body through Texture, the taste structure is evenly distributed.

Harmony over emphasis — the beer is built for each note to sit at the same volume.

Character· What makes this beer itself — not just another Irish Red.
Hop character
earthy
Malt character
caramel
bready
malty
Fermentation & yeast
fruity

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Conway's Irish Ale

◎ Appearance

Pours a clear ruby amber with bright transparency and a resilient cream-colored head that settles into fine lacing along the glass. The carbonation is moderate and even throughout, presenting a vibrant, well-defined body without haze or sediment.

clear ruby amberfine lacingmoderate carbonation

◌ Aroma

The nose opens with warm biscuit and caramel notes from the crystal malt, underpinned by gentle toffee sweetness. Behind these malt-forward characteristics, earthy and herbal hop impressions emerge subtly, with a hint of red apple adding freshness and complexity to the overall bouquet.

biscuit, carameltoffee sweetnessearthy hopsred apple

◐ Taste

Entry is smooth and medium-bodied, with biscuit and caramel flavors taking the lead on the palate. The mid-palate develops gentle toffee and residual apple character, while the Nugget, Mt. Hood and Willamette hops provide restrained earthy bitterness that balances without dominating, finishing with a clean, gently dry character.

balanced malt-hopmedium bodygentle dryness

◑ Finish

The finish is crisp and moderately long, with lingering biscuit and light toffee notes gradually fading. The dry sensation persists without harshness, leaving a clean palate that invites another sip.

dry finishlingering caramel
78
hopIQ score
Aroma
77
Taste
79
Appearance
80
Finish
76
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Serve & Enjoy

How to get the most out of Conway's Irish Ale

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 Conway's Irish Ale

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 caramel, dry, full-bodied character as Conway's Irish Ale will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

Other Irish Reds in hopIQ

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