Donovan's Red
The Alchemist

Donovan's RedDonovan's Red
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From:
The Alchemist
 
Vermont, United States
Style:
Irish Red Ale
Ranked #4
ABV:
5.16%
Score:
89
Ranked #10,815
Avg:
4.01 | pDev: 8.23%
Reviews:
23
Ratings:
59
Status:
Active
Rated:
Feb 27, 2023
Added:
Feb 22, 2004
Wants:
  24
Gots:
  2
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
 
Rated: 3.71 by ScaryEd from New Hampshire

Feb 27, 2023
Photo of Tucquan
Reviewed by Tucquan from Pennsylvania

3.92/5  rDev -2.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Had this on 2020-02-02 near Pittsburgh, PA from a very fresh 16oz can

A - Partially-clear ruby with a 3-finger light tan head and excellent lace.

S - Toasted brown bread with cherry jam. Caramel. Mild earthy spice.

T - Much like the smell initially with bread, cherry jam and caramel but then a big dollop of bitterness comes in quickly. While it lingers and fades, there's a light malt sweetness and earthy spice for a modicum of balance. Fortunately, the bitterness doesn't linger too long and clears after about 45 seconds; making way for the next sip.

M - Medium+ body and light-medium carbonation.

O - Reminds me of a cross between Troegs Nugget Nectar and Sierra Nevada Northern Hemisphere although more bitter than either of them. It's got a lot of flavor for 5.4%. For my personal taste, it was too bitter for what I expect in an Irish Style Ale. Well brewed and high quality though so I'm glad to have tried it and certainly wouldn't turn it down if offered again.
Feb 02, 2020
Photo of Chuckdiesel24
Rated by Chuckdiesel24 from Illinois

4.28/5  rDev +6.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Just a great balance of hoppy and malty
Jan 24, 2020
 
Rated: 4.03 by MDDMD from Pennsylvania

Jan 09, 2020
 
Rated: 3.75 by Bum4ever from California

Dec 20, 2019
 
Rated: 4 by grahuba from Connecticut

Dec 18, 2019
Photo of AyatollahGold
Reviewed by AyatollahGold from Indiana

3.91/5  rDev -2.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
From a 16 oz. can into a Willi Becher style glass, this beer pours out a dark, burnt amber. Looks like a dark tea. It forms over two fingers worth of khaki colored crown that leaves heavy lacing as it slowly recedes.

The nose brings piney hops mixing with a lightly bready/nutty malt and slight toasted caramel. Somewhat earthy in a way that’s reminiscent of black tea.

The taste brings a big bitterness, some clean resin. Bready/nutty, black tea.

The mouthfeel is on the heavy side for a red ale, but still light enough that it doesn’t feel like it sits too heavy.
Nov 10, 2019
Photo of Lone_Freighter
Reviewed by Lone_Freighter from Vermont

3.9/5  rDev -2.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Went through a Four pack and poured two cans into English pint glasses, one into a can glass and the last one into a mason jar.
The appearance seemed the same in all as far as color is concerned - a pure dark amber/red, light tawny brown. The head was always larger in the can glass and the mason jar with the same color in all glasses.
The aroma was the same in all of my glasses, a rich malty toasty caramel/earthy biscuit to bready and some crisp roasted nuts with a substantial amount of piney hops advocating for a wonderful balance.
The flavor leaned towards a rich semi-sweet to nurtured bitterness, somewhat sticky with the same aftertaste - that long piney "Alchemist" sort of way pushing those malts further back.
The mouthfeel was about medium bodied with a fair in between quality of being sipping and being sessionable. Good carbonation and some stickiness. Nice finish of mainly some nuts and piney bitterness.
Overall, well I like this one mainly for me but I don't necessarily see this as an Irish red ale. I'd rate this higher if it was labeled American red ale on here. Irish red ale should have way less hops in them with more of a 'heather/floral/earthy/grassy and even some herbal character' replacing the normal American hop levels.
Oct 31, 2019
Photo of BEERMILER12
Reviewed by BEERMILER12 from Maine

4.24/5  rDev +5.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
A: Pours a deep reddish mahogany with 2 fingers of head that fades down to a good cap that leaves plenty of lacing

S: Roasted malt, earthy hops, light spicy malt, and some caramel

T: Follows the nose. Starts off with the spicy and earthy malt/hop combo along with the lightly roasted malt. Caramel come along to give a light sweetness. Finishes with lingering spicy and earthy notes

M: Medium bodied with moderate carbonation

O: A very good Irish red that drinks super well. Plenty of body for 5.4%. A rare treat to get a malt-forward brew outside of the regular line-up and one you shouldn’t miss
Oct 24, 2019
 
Rated: 4.21 by Jbk81 from Massachusetts

Oct 23, 2019
 
Rated: 3.83 by fermentedbarley from New Hampshire

Oct 22, 2019
 
Rated: 4 by BEER88 from North Carolina

Nov 08, 2016
 
Rated: 3.75 by harpus from Alabama

Oct 16, 2016
 
Rated: 3.75 by Gkruszewski from New York

Jul 20, 2016
Photo of misternebbie
Rated by misternebbie from Pennsylvania

3.64/5  rDev -9.2%
look: 2.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Very taste brohiem
May 18, 2016
 
Rated: 4.69 by 31Sam13 from New Hampshire

Mar 06, 2015
 
Rated: 4.02 by NHbeerguy from New Hampshire

Dec 28, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by WesFoxlove from Massachusetts

Sep 01, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by yourefragile from District of Columbia

May 26, 2014
 
Rated: 3.5 by SpasmWaiter from Vermont

Mar 16, 2014
Donovan's Red from The Alchemist
Beer rating: 89 out of 100 with 59 ratings