hopIQ
ENDE
Build your DNASign in

Great Craic

Tap to rate

An Irish red ale that takes its name from the Irish word for good times and easy company. The malt bill leads: toffee and caramel up front, a biscuity middle and a note of toasted bread at the edge, with the faint roast that gives the style its reddish-brown cast. Hopping stays in the background, leaving a soft bitterness and a clean, moderately dry finish that keeps the sweetness in check.

ABV
5.4%
Bitterness
Noticeably bitter
Roasted bitterness
SRM
amber14
PaceA Few

AWARDS

Gold · 2025
Canadian Brewing Awards
Irish Red Ale
★Gold — Canadian Brewing Awards (Irish Red Ale)
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
Balance
malt-forwardhop-forward
What makes this beer itself
caramelbreadymalty
caramel
bready
malty
toasty
clean
roasted
Aroma
The nose opens with pronounced caramel and toffee notes from the generous malt bill, supported by warm biscuit and gentle toasted bread aromas.
not found:hoppy,chocolate,fruity,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Great Craic

◎ Appearance

Great Craic presents a deep reddish-brown hue, clear and bright with good light transmission. A dense, off-white head forms readily and clings to the glass with visible lacing as the beer is consumed. Carbonation is moderate and well-integrated, lending a gentle visual liveliness without aggression.

reddish-brownclearpersistent headgood lacing

◌ Aroma

The nose opens with pronounced caramel and toffee notes from the generous malt bill, supported by warm biscuit and gentle toasted bread aromas. A subtle roasted character emerges at the edge, grounding the sweetness with a touch of complexity. Hop character remains restrained, contributing only a faint herbal whisper that does not intrude.

carameltoffeetoasted breadbiscuitsubtle roast

◐ Taste

The palate leads with smooth caramel and bready maltiness that fills the midpalate with a pleasant biscuity sweetness. A light toasted note and gentle roast provide textural depth without harshness. Bitterness arrives soft and measured, emerging late enough to balance rather than dominate, while maintaining good clarity throughout.

caramel forwardbreadybalanced bitternesstoasty

◑ Finish

The finish is clean and moderately dry, with the residual sweetness gently receding rather than lingering heavily. A faint toasted grain character persists into the aftertaste, leaving the palate refreshed and ready for the next sip.

cleanmoderately drytoasted grain
78
hopIQ score
Aroma
79
Taste
80
Appearance
80
Finish
75
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.

+ Sign in to add your tasting note

Food Pairing

What to eat with Great Craic

More from Smithers Brewing Company

Bootlegger Brown
Bootlegger Brown
English Brown Ale
4.8%·Noticeably bitter
Find matches →
Boyd's
Boyd's
Dark Lager
5.2%·Lightly bitter
Find matches →
Cloudwaters Witbier
Di Moda
Di Moda
Italian Pilsner
5.3%·Noticeably bitter
Find matches →
Feck Off
Feck Off
Irish Dry Stout
4.2%·Noticeably bitter
Find matches →
Halfling
Halfling
Micro IPA
3.3%·Strongly bitter
Find matches →
Hipster Fuel
Hipster Fuel
American IPA
6.8%·Strongly bitter
Find matches →
House of Commons
House of Commons
California Common
4.5%·Noticeably bitter
Find matches →

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, bready, malty character as Great Craic will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

Compare with another beer →