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McCool

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McCool is a seasonal Irish red ale at 6.2% ABV, named after the legendary hero Finn McCool. It shows aromas of roasted coffee and nutty caramel, with fresh-baked biscuit and heather-sweet malts behind them, and a deep ruby color. Rhinegeist brews it in Cincinnati's Over-the-Rhine; the brewery closes its notes with "Sláinte!"

ABV
6.2%
Bitterness
Noticeably bitter
Roasted 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
roastedcoffeenutty
roasted
coffee
nutty
caramel
malty
bready
Aroma
The nose leads with roasted coffee and nutty caramel notes, creating a warm, inviting first impression.
not found:hoppy,chocolate,fruity,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for McCool

◎ Appearance

McCool presents a deep ruby hue with excellent clarity and a rich copper undertone that catches light gracefully. The head forms with fine carbonation and displays strong lacing as it recedes, clinging to the glass in defined rings. The visual presence conveys the beer's malt-forward character without opacity.

deep rubycopper undertonestrong lacingwell-carbonated

◌ Aroma

The nose leads with roasted coffee and nutty caramel notes, creating a warm, inviting first impression. Behind these lie fresher biscuit and heather-tinged malt aromatics that add complexity and dimension. The balance between toasted grain and subtle sweetness suggests careful malt selection and restrained noble hop work.

roasted coffeenutty caramelfresh-baked biscuitheather-sweet malt

◐ Taste

The palate unfolds with pronounced roasted and coffee-driven flavors that dominate without becoming harsh. Nutty, bready malt backbone provides structure and body, while gentle caramel sweetness rounds the mid-palate smoothly. Bitterness remains restrained at 28 IBU, allowing malt character to remain the primary voice throughout.

roasted graincoffee-forwardsmooth malt backbonegentle bitterness

◑ Finish

The finish is clean and medium in length, with lingering roasted malt and caramel notes fading gracefully. The aftertaste leaves a pleasant dryness without astringency, inviting the next sip.

clean finishroasted malt fadeinviting dryness
78
hopIQ score
Aroma
82
Taste
80
Appearance
83
Finish
72
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 McCool

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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 roasted, coffee, nutty character as McCool will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

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