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Celtic

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Celtic is an Irish red ale given an oak and whiskey treatment and brewed clearly stronger than the brewery's everyday red. Smooth caramel leads the flavour, the oak adds vanilla and woody notes, and the finish is warming with a touch of whiskey. At 6.5 % it stands between a classic red ale and the barrel-aged stouts of the house.

ABV
6.5%
Bitterness
Noticeably bitter
Malt-forward bitterness
SRM
amber14
PaceTwo or Three
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
Balance
malt-forwardhop-forward
What makes this beer itself
carameloakvanilla
caramel
oak
vanilla
malty
Aroma
The nose leads with caramel Malz sweetness, underpinned by subtle toasted grain notes.
not found:hoppy,roasted,fruity,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Celtic

◎ Appearance

Celtic presents a deep copper-red hue with excellent clarity and a bright amber undertone when held to light. The head is dense and long-lasting, with fine Schaumkleiden that cling steadily to the glass. Carbonation is moderate and evenly distributed, lending visual liveliness without aggressive bubbling.

deep copper-redbright claritypersistent head

◌ Aroma

The nose leads with caramel Malz sweetness, underpinned by subtle toasted grain notes. Oak aging imparts gentle vanilla and light woody character, while a whiskey warmth adds depth without dominating. The overall impression is balanced and inviting, with no sharp alcohol burn.

caramel Malzvanilla, oakwhiskey warmth

◐ Taste

The palate opens with smooth caramel richness that coats the mouth without cloying. Mid-palate reveals the oak treatment through subtle vanilla and dry wood tannins, while the whiskey influence provides a warming spice undertone. Bitterness is restrained at 28 IBU, allowing the malt sweetness and oak integration to remain the dominant voices.

smooth carameloak-vanilla characterrestrained bitterness

◑ Finish

The finish is warming and lingering, with whiskey and oak notes extending into a dry, woody aftertaste. A gentle heat builds without harsh alcohol sharpness, leaving the palate feeling satisfied and balanced.

warming finishwoody dryness
82
hopIQ score
Aroma
81
Taste
84
Appearance
80
Finish
81
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 Celtic

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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 caramel, oak, vanilla character as Celtic 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 →