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Hen, Cock and Pigeon Rock

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Named after three summits of the Mourne Mountains, this Irish red ale is punchy: bittering and aroma hops in balance, caramel flavours, a rounded backbone of dark malts and ripe berry fruits on the finish. 4.8% ABV, brewed in Castlewellan and sold in 500 ml bottles.

ABV
4.8%
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
carameldark fruitberry
caramel
dark fruit
berry
malty
hoppy
Aroma
The nose opens with a balanced interplay of bittering and aroma hops, offering a subtle herbal and floral backdrop.
not found:juicy,roasted,fruity,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Hen, Cock and Pigeon Rock

◎ Appearance

A warm copper-red hue dominates the glass, with good clarity and a fine, persistent head that leaves delicate lacing on the walls. The carbonation level is moderate and well-integrated, lending a soft visual presence without aggressive bubbling.

copper-redclearpersistent headmoderate carbonation

◌ Aroma

The nose opens with a balanced interplay of bittering and aroma hops, offering a subtle herbal and floral backdrop. Caramel and toffee notes rise from the dark malt bill, underscored by ripe berry fruit esters that add complexity and invite further inspection.

herbal hopcaramel maltripe berrybalanced, approachable

◐ Taste

Entry is clean and inviting, with caramel sweetness from the malt backbone immediately apparent on the palate. Mid-palate shows structure from the dark malts—a rounded, slightly bittersweet character that evolves into a well-defined hop bitterness of moderate intensity, finishing dry without harshness.

caramel sweetnessdark malt backbonemeasured bitterness

◑ Finish

The finish is crisp and of medium length, with ripe berry fruit notes persisting on the aftertaste. A lingering, gentle bitterness provides closure without overwhelming the palate.

berry fruitdry aftertaste
78
hopIQ score
Aroma
77
Taste
79
Appearance
78
Finish
77
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 Hen, Cock and Pigeon Rock

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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, dark fruit, berry character as Hen, Cock and Pigeon Rock 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 United Kingdom beers →