Killarney
Bayern Brewing, Inc. / Edelweiss Bistro

KillarneyKillarney
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From:
Bayern Brewing, Inc. / Edelweiss Bistro
 
Montana, United States
Style:
American Amber / Red Lager
Ranked #33
ABV:
5.7%
Score:
83
Ranked #23,638
Avg:
3.64 | pDev: 15.38%
Reviews:
26
Ratings:
44
Status:
Active
Rated:
Apr 11, 2023
Added:
Mar 14, 2006
Wants:
  1
Gots:
  6
Brewed for St. Patrick’s Day, Killarney was created to honor the Irish influence on Montana’s culture. Brewed first in February of 1988, before any other American breweries came out with their versions of an Irish Red style beer, Killarney is Jürgen’s invention of the beer style and one of his favorite Bayern beers. It is brewed with two-row pilsenser, caramel, Munich, wheat and German Dunkel malt. Bayern Killarney has an alcohol content of 5.7% Alc. by Vol. (14.2% Plato o.g.) and is available seasonally in draft and bottles.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by elglueckert:
Photo of elglueckert
Rated by elglueckert from Montana

3.75/5  rDev +3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Apr 22, 2016
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.59 by Iamaskier from Idaho

Apr 11, 2023
 
Rated: 3.6 by shelby415 from Oregon

Feb 25, 2023
Photo of StonedTrippin
Reviewed by StonedTrippin from Colorado

3.57/5  rDev -1.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
if this is actually a lager it seems to be more so for the yeast flavor than for any textural contribution, like to the extent this isnt that dry or crisp or anything, not that it needs to be in a red lager i guess, but its almost like some irish ale yeast aspects are appreciable too, and this drinks confusing to me in that regard. that said, the malt profile rules, european and old world for sure, and the body is right there with the flavor, up front creamy and later a tad bit sweet. i think there is some amount of old world appeal and authenticity here, but where it so easy to place in their other beers, it is deceptive here, not readily apparent, and only in part because this is somewhat generic and homogenous, even though it is certainly well made. bready and balanced, the flavor matches the color just fine, and i think it serves well this time of year around the green holiday. not among their best for me, but not a miss either, reliable and steady and evened out and drinkable. an easy one but not picking it again for my second...
Mar 23, 2022
 
Rated: 3.94 by DownyIsHungry from Minnesota

Feb 04, 2022
 
Rated: 3.5 by NickMunford from Wyoming

Jul 16, 2021
 
Rated: 4.48 by superwho24 from Arkansas

May 27, 2019
Photo of Squire
Reviewed by Squire from Mississippi

3.69/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Beautiful deep rose gold color with white cap and lacing.

Aroma of rich, sweet malt with caramel up front back by a dryer toffeeishness both of which combine in a pleasant way.

Taste on entry is caramel but less sweet than in the scent. Quickly joined by a deeper toffee flavor which is even dryer. Hops are listed as 23 IBU which is sufficient to balance the malts which seems to be their main purpose. Finish is clean with a malty aftertaste. Reminds me of a fresh German Marzen.

Medium texture with balancing carbonation.

Altogether a very pleasant beer. I've had some reds where the brewer used roasty malt for color resulting in an underlying burnt bitterness, but there's none of that here. A grown up rich amber beer that's right at home with good company.
Mar 13, 2018
Photo of Libeertarian
Reviewed by Libeertarian from Montana

3.43/5  rDev -5.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
From notes taken 05/20/16:

Quite clear copper topped with tall, fluffy, cream-colored head of good retention. Toasted grain, bread, caramel aromas, with a dash of spiciness. Mostly caramel and slight malt-tartness on the taste but showcasing toasted grains, nearly harsh with light floral hopping. Fuller light-bodied. Sudsy, soft, and abundant carbonation.
Jun 07, 2016
 
Rated: 3.88 by Superheatnsubcool from Washington

Jun 02, 2016
 
Rated: 4.29 by Flathead_Monster from Montana

Mar 03, 2016
 
Rated: 3.68 by zestd from Idaho

May 08, 2015
 
Rated: 3.71 by sporklift87 from Colorado

Mar 01, 2015
Photo of Darkmagus82
Reviewed by Darkmagus82 from Texas

3.83/5  rDev +5.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Poured from bottle into a pint glass

Appearance – The beer pours a deep amber color with a small fizzy white head. The head fades almost instantly, leaving a lighter level of foamy lace on the sides of the glass.

Smell – The aroma is heaviest of a caramel smell along with some other aromas of a fruity nature of apple, grape and pear. Along with these aromas comes some lighter smells of a doughy and bready nature as well as some hints of a light citrus and herbal smell.

Taste – The taste begins with a caramel taste with a little bit bready taste. Some fruit flavors of a cherry taste as well as a little bit of apple are there as well, with the cherry getting stronger and stronger in nature as the taste advances. Along with these fruity flavor increases comes some hop flavors of a light citrus and more grassy nature are there more toward the end, leaving one with a nice sweet but still rather crisp taste to linger on the tongue.

Mouthfeel- The body of the beer is on the slightly thinner side in terms of thickness and creaminess with a carbonation level that is rather average. For the sweeter tastes of the brew the body is quite nice and makes for a very easy drinking and enjoyable feel.

Overall – A rather tasty red ale and one that is packed with a good sweet taste, but yet still very easy drinking.
Feb 23, 2015
 
Rated: 4 by a77cj7 from South Dakota

Nov 18, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by Birdlegs from Washington

Sep 16, 2014
Photo of mactrail
Reviewed by mactrail from Washington

3.02/5  rDev -17%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
This pours a handsome coppery red color in the tall tulip. It's clear and sports a fine white head. Moderately carbonated on the tongue. Sweet and rather fragrant with caramel malt.

So who decided this should be an American red ale and not the Irish style? This has barely a hop note, unlike every other hop circus in the Red/Amber category. The Irish style reads "A bit sweet, with a lightly hopped tea-like flavor" and even the "drying finish." This is precisely that. Or flabby and sweet, if you prefer.

There is just a woody hint of bitterness at the end, once the Long Island Ice Tea flavor wears off. Slightly drinkable if you don't let it warm up. From the 12 oz bottle purchased at Special Brews in Lynnwood, Washington.
May 30, 2014
 
Rated: 3.5 by neckbeered from Montana

May 12, 2014
Photo of willsail4beer
Reviewed by willsail4beer from Montana

5/5  rDev +37.4%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
This is my absolute favorite beer, year in and year out. I'm told it has been done seasonally since 1988. Bayern Brewing is a very traditional German brewery, and pride themselves on their consistency. The owner and his master brewer both are graduates of Doemens' Masterschool for Brewing and Soft Drink Technology in Munich.

It is a dark rich red/amber color and is one of the most flavorful, easy drinking lager beers I've ever enjoyed. It is also available in bottle, however it can become inconsistent in flavor if it is more than 30 days old, or if it becomes room temperature. If you are lucky, they do a number of local wooden barrels locally, especially at the brewery tap room, usually on St. Patrick's Day. I wish they would make this beer year-round.
Mar 14, 2014
Photo of BowserBrewing
Reviewed by BowserBrewing from Montana

2.9/5  rDev -20.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25
First let me say this beer has been different every year, not a very consistent brew but when it is on it is a great beer.

Presentation- From a bottle I got at the local grocery store.

Appearance- Nice amber and light copper color with nice white head.

Smell- Really malty and sweet smell

Taste- Tasted exactly like it smelled, extremely sweet malty flavor to this beer with a thick molasses finish.

Mouthfeel- It was a little heavy for a Lager which I wasn't used to but it had great carbonation and a lot of flavor all the way through.

Drinkability- Like I said it is different every year, some years it is better than others but it is defiantly worth a try. I am yet to try it on tap at the brewery but I would go to Missoula to try it out.
Jun 20, 2013
Killarney from Bayern Brewing, Inc. / Edelweiss Bistro
Beer rating: 83 out of 100 with 44 ratings