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Donovan's Red

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Named after Donovan's, a 19th-century Irish restaurant in downtown Waterbury, the village where the Alchemist began as a brew pub. This Irish-style red ale is medium-bodied, red in color and malty, brewed with Cascade hops, at a modest 5.4%. It is usually released in the fall.

ABV
5.4%
Bitterness
Noticeably bitter
Malt-forward bitterness
SRM
amber14
PaceA Few
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
Balance
malt-forwardhop-forward
What makes this beer itself
maltynoble hopclean
malty
noble hop
clean
caramel
Aroma
The nose leads with warm, toasted malt character—hints of toffee and graham cracker.
not found:hoppy,roasted,fruity,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Donovan's Red

◎ Appearance

Donovan's Red presents a clear, amber-red hue with bright translucency. The head forms as a modest tan collar that settles into light lacing around the glass. Carbonation is gentle and steady, appropriate to the modest alcohol and approachable character of the style.

amber-red, clearsoft head retentionsteady carbonation

◌ Aroma

The nose leads with warm, toasted malt character—hints of toffee and graham cracker. Cascade hops contribute a restrained citrus note, suggesting lemon zest and fresh grass rather than aggressive floral intensity. Beneath lies a subtle sweetness from the caramel malt backbone, inviting without being cloying.

toasted malt, toffeegentle citruscaramel sweetness

◐ Taste

The palate enters smooth and malty, with caramel and light toffee flavors building in the mid-section. Cascade hops deliver a soft citrus bite and herbal undertone that balances the sweetness without overwhelming it. The finish is clean and balanced, with bitterness lingering at a comfortable 28 IBU—enough to prevent flatness, not enough to dominate.

malty entry, caramelrestrained citrus hop bitebalanced, clean finish

◑ Finish

The finish is dry and relatively brief, allowing the malt sweetness to fade gracefully. A faint herbal-citrus note persists on the palate, complementing the overall sense of easy drinkability.

dry, moderate lengthherbal citrus echo
78
hopIQ score
Aroma
78
Taste
79
Appearance
77
Finish
76
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 Donovan's Red

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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 malty, noble-hop, smooth-drinking character as Donovan's Red will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

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