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Kilkenny

Guinness
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🌍 Ireland · Irish Red · One of 10 Irish Reds in hopIQ

Kilkenny began in the 1980s as a stronger export version of the red ale from the St Francis Abbey brewery in Kilkenny and has been brewed at St James's Gate in Dublin since that brewery closed. The recipe uses malted barley, roasted barley, hops and yeast, and the beer is served with nitrogen. It pours copper-red under a dense pale beige head. The nose is fresh and malty with bread crust; the palate brings caramel, toffee, a faint coffee-like roast, raisin and plum, then a light bitterness and a medium-length finish. Low carbonation keeps the body soft.

ABV
4.3%
Bitterness
Noticeably bitter
Roasted 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
Medium body.
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
Off-dry finish.
drysweet
Bitterness
Moderate bitterness.
mildbitter
Texture
Balanced mouthfeel.
crispcreamy

Balanced backbone, with every axis close to the middle.

Nothing dominates, and that is the craft — each element gets room to be tasted.

Character· What makes this beer itself — not just another Irish Red.
Malt character
caramel
malty
bready
roasted
coffee
Distinctive notes
dark fruit
smooth drinking

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Kilkenny

◎ Appearance

Kilkenny presents a copper-red hue beneath a dense, pale beige head that clings persistently to the glass. The beer achieves good clarity while maintaining a soft, creamy character typical of nitrogen service. Low carbonation contributes to a gentle, sustained visual presence rather than aggressive bubbling.

copper-reddense cream headsoft carbonationpersistent lacing

◌ Aroma

The nose opens with fresh, inviting malt character accented by bread crust and a subtle grainy sweetness. Beneath the cereal notes lies a faint suggestion of roasted barley, adding mild earthiness without dominating the profile. The overall impression is clean and approachable rather than aromatic intensity.

fresh maltbread crustsubtle roastgrainy sweetness

◐ Taste

Entry brings caramel and toffee sweetness that develop into richer stone fruit notes of raisin and plum. The mid-palate reveals a faint coffee-like roast character that complements the residual sweetness. A restrained bitterness emerges in the latter half, balancing the malt-forward profile without asserting dominance.

caramel toffeeraisin plumcoffee roastlight bitterness

◑ Finish

The finish extends to medium length with a dry, slightly grainy aftertaste that fades cleanly. Bitterness lingers gently without harshness, leaving the palate refreshed.

medium-lengthdry grainyclean fade
76
hopIQ score
Aroma
74
Taste
77
Appearance
78
Finish
75
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Serve & Enjoy

How to get the most out of Kilkenny

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 Kilkenny

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, malty, smooth-drinking character as Kilkenny 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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