Conway's Irish Ale
Great Lakes Brewing Co.

Conway's Irish AleConway's Irish Ale
Beer Geek Stats | Print Shelf Talker
From:
Great Lakes Brewing Co.
 
Ohio, United States
Style:
Irish Red Ale
Ranked #10
ABV:
6.3%
Score:
86
Ranked #20,088
Avg:
3.8 | pDev: 11.32%
Reviews:
570
Ratings:
1,692
Status:
Active
Rated:
Sunday at 05:18 PM
Added:
Jul 28, 2002
Wants:
  102
Gots:
  345
A pint for Pa Conway! Our co-owners' grandfather who'd likely uphold that an Irish Ale with full-bodied caramel malt flavors is just the ticket.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by fullmoonbeer:
Photo of fullmoonbeer
Rated by fullmoonbeer from Ohio

3/5  rDev -21.1%

Apr 30, 2013
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.65 by loch8534 from Illinois

Sunday at 05:18 PM
 
Rated: 3.84 by Catalinmunteanu from Romania

Mar 09, 2024
Photo of Brook82
Reviewed by Brook82 from Ohio

3.88/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Amber hue with a tan head. Lacing was minimal. A bit malt forward aroma, albeit somewhat muted. Nice taste with a bit of spice in the background. Smooth drinking, pleasant feel. Another quality brew from Great Lakes.
Mar 07, 2024
Photo of Sabtos
Reviewed by Sabtos from Ohio

4.07/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Beautifully shimmering red-tinged amber with a densely level but airy khaki head.

My pre-2015, 2.87 review of this was funny, but, kind of accurate in some respects: "I thought I liked 'Irish Ales' until this. Oddly baked fruitiness, caramel, vegetal, a little warming. Just seems kind of stale and off to me. Dark fruits? Bleh." Still, it doesn't deserve that low of a score, and I also think some of the harsher elements are gone either out of refinement, or else this simply benefitted from having it on draft, as opposed to poured out of their shitty old bottles with rusty caps.

Anyway, in 2024 it delivers caramel malt, raisin and other dark fruits via a solidly fine carbonation. This is countered by a touch of toastiness that comes with a dark walnut or something of the kind, but also a little herbal and red grape.

It's such a rollercoaster of uniquely complex flavor for an Irish red.
Mar 04, 2024
Photo of Tolianych_Pivomnabuhanych
Reviewed by Tolianych_Pivomnabuhanych from Vermont

3.72/5  rDev -2.1%
look: 5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4
It's a gorgeous looking ale. Clear, translucent amber color is super inviting.

It's also very smooth for a 6.3%er. I noticed some light and pleasant maltiness. 3-4 of those and it's time to switch to whiskey! Oofta!

Had to go way out of my way to find this one. Good thing motorcycles were invented a while back.
Feb 28, 2024
Photo of mpruden
Reviewed by mpruden from Ohio

3.81/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Poured from a 12-oz bottle within its date range into a pint glass.

Look: Reddish-amber, with a 1” beige head that dissipated gradually leaving a foam cap and generous lacing.

Nose: Not much; a little cracker, a little biscuit?

Mouthfeel: Medium, lightly coats the tongue nicely. Adequate carbonation.

Attack: Malty, some caramel, and crackers (follows the nose in that aspect).

Finish: Light hop bitterness to balance.

Overall: It’s a good beer. I think it will be the perfect addition to the brine I’ll be making to corn several venison sirloin tip roasts for ourselves and friends for St. Patrick’s Day, and I think it’ll make for a very good pairing for that dinner.
Feb 24, 2024
 
Rated: 3.79 by HarlotBronte from District of Columbia

Feb 18, 2024
 
Rated: 3.74 by farmboy21 from Illinois

Jan 30, 2024
Photo of prh14thsps
Reviewed by prh14thsps from Ohio

4.91/5  rDev +29.2%
look: 4.75 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
This is my go to brew in season...can't wait for it to be released next week here in Ohio {January 2, 2024}. It used to come out in March but now right after the first of the year and sticks around the stores for 4 months or more...I always stock up extra and keep in the basement man cave for some summer drinking and enjoying.
Dec 28, 2023
 
Rated: 3.96 by Iggy88 from Ohio

Nov 07, 2023
Photo of jjamadorphd
Reviewed by jjamadorphd from Florida

3.59/5  rDev -5.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Decent Irish ale...

Great coloration with foamy head, the smell is light, but mouthfeel is carbonated and crisp with a full-bodied flavor. I definitely enjoyed this one...
Oct 28, 2023
Photo of mpk2020
Rated by mpk2020 from Illinois

4/5  rDev +5.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Bottle
Apr 02, 2023
Photo of daliandragon
Reviewed by daliandragon from Maryland

4.03/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
This one was a no brainer for a St. Patty's day sixer. Solid malt base with good balance and above average abv. Nose is expressive but clean and the aftertaste has legs. I am not sure if I can find this year round but you could certainly do much worse.
Mar 17, 2023
 
Rated: 4.06 by TimDixon1964 from Maryland

Mar 17, 2023
Photo of jkblr
Reviewed by jkblr from Indiana

3.77/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
12oz bottle bb 4/4/23 poured into a tulip pint glass at fridge temp 6.3% ABV. The beer pours reddish amber with khaki colored head. The head recedes to a splotchy ring and single layer of bubbles. The aroma is mild with sweet caramel and toasted malt. The taste is more of the same with toasted malt and minimal bitterness. Mouthfeel is thin to medium bodied with average carbonation and a mostly dry finish. Overall, good for a style I'm not wild about.
Mar 16, 2023
Photo of defunksta
Reviewed by defunksta from Wisconsin

3.79/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Appearance: Pours a completely clear, medium bronze, deep golden, to brown color with a mild tan head. SRM of 14-15. (3.75)

Aroma: Mild aromas of bread, amber malt, a faint honey sweetness. (3.50)

Flavor: Strong flavors of bread, caramel, some red Amber note. Some dark caramel and even into molasses. Some honeyflower lingers off the end. (4.00)

Feel: Medium-bodied, leans sweet. (3.75)

Compared to Titletown Johnny Blood Red 3/2023: Pours lighter, stronger aromas. More dark caramel, molasses. Less amber malt. Sweeter.

Compared to Saugatuck Maggie's Irish Ale 3/2023: Pours darker, milder aromas. More caramel, molasses, honeyflower. Less cherry, berries, citrus. Similar floral notes and sweetness

Overall: Pretty decent Irish Red here. Nice honey and floral flavors. Leans sweet with a touch of amber notes. Not my favorite style and not quite as good as some other Great Lakes beers, but still pretty darn good. (Rating: 3.79)
Mar 13, 2023
 
Rated: 4.55 by MFJB

Mar 10, 2023
 
Rated: 3.6 by QuintusHorace from California

Feb 26, 2023
Photo of Noahoxley
Rated by Noahoxley

4.76/5  rDev +25.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
You need to taste it to believe it. Malt development is unbeatable and delicious.
Feb 24, 2023
Conway's Irish Ale from Great Lakes Brewing Co.
Beer rating: 86 out of 100 with 1692 ratings