Kilkenny
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.
Tasting Notes
AI-generated sensory profile for Kilkenny
Serve at 8–11°C for the best flavour balance and aroma expression.
The classic — versatile, comfortable to hold and keeps the beer cool. No frills, no distractions: just the beer.
More from Guinness
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
