Gaelic Ale
Highland Brewing

Gaelic AleGaelic Ale
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From:
Highland Brewing
 
North Carolina, United States
Style:
American Amber / Red Ale
Ranked #62
ABV:
5.8%
Score:
86
Ranked #19,637
Avg:
3.81 | pDev: 11.81%
Reviews:
571
Ratings:
1,592
Status:
Active
Rated:
Feb 03, 2024
Added:
Jan 11, 2002
Wants:
  52
Gots:
  357
A deep amber colored American ale, featuring a rich malty body. Cascade and Willamette hops add a complex hop flavor and aroma. This ale is exceptionally balanced between malty sweetness and delicate hop bitterness.

Hops: Chinook, Willamette and Cascade

32 IBU
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by ArrogantDeadGuy:
Photo of ArrogantDeadGuy
Reviewed by ArrogantDeadGuy from Virginia

4.33/5  rDev +13.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
A hazy,deep plum color poured from 12oz brown bottle into New Belgium snifter. The head is a single finger and thick, though it dwindles in a minute or two leaving behind a descent amount to lace. There is freshness dating on the bottom ridge of the bottle. The aroma is initially sweet with alcohol quick to be noticed. There is an initial caramel malt flavor complimented by the advertised dry hop finish. The sweet maltiness is effectively balanced by the hop bitterness resulting in a nice dry finish. There is a pleasant dry fuit sweetness with a balance with hops. This is an even bodied brew that is in feel typical of its advertised style. Overall this is a good interpretation of style.

The carbonation in this brew was perfect and was a nice compliment ot the overall character of the beer. The density of this brew was also in great balance, not thin and not syrupy. This is a good brew cold a well above average as it warms. The fruit and malt slowly builds with temperature.red with a meal much more than standin alone.
Aug 10, 2009
More User Ratings:
Photo of DumbRunner26
Reviewed by DumbRunner26 from North Carolina

3.48/5  rDev -8.7%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Balanced. Great beer to watch your fav sporting event too. Or to just sit in the pub and enjoy over some good conversation. It’s not going to blow your mind but you don’t have to analyze or overthink it. Amber in color with a mild malty brown sugar aroma. Very balanced flavor with a slight lean of tbe scale to malt sweetness. Crisp light refreshing mouthfeel with a hint of an aftertaste. Overall a good beer.
Feb 03, 2024
 
Rated: 2.75 by SeanP99 from North Carolina

Jan 11, 2024
 
Rated: 3.54 by jroof1 from Massachusetts

Aug 05, 2023
 
Rated: 3.75 by bacher468 from Pennsylvania

Jun 30, 2023
 
Rated: 3.75 by bigred89 from Maryland

Apr 07, 2023
 
Rated: 4.03 by SicemWT from Texas

Dec 24, 2022
 
Rated: 3.81 by SViterileroux74 from Texas

Dec 23, 2022
Photo of 1BrewBacca
Reviewed by 1BrewBacca from Georgia

3.81/5  rDev 0%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Can you picture a very tall glass of Bourbon with a light head on it? How 'bout liquid Citrine? Then you have it.
Malty sweetness with a near perfect amount of carbonation.
Very easy to drink.Somewhat on the seltzer side.
Overall, this is a great brew to drink at a restaurant with a meal, maybe paired with a burger. But there are many more better bores out there.
Oct 29, 2022
 
Rated: 4.01 by sethtbeer from Texas

Oct 17, 2022
 
Rated: 3.69 by mojohawk21 from Missouri

Sep 22, 2022
 
Rated: 3.75 by Gerred from Missouri

Aug 06, 2022
 
Rated: 4.06 by StrangerTides from New York

Jul 30, 2022
 
Rated: 3.99 by kkazemi from North Carolina

Jul 01, 2022
Photo of md3kcn
Reviewed by md3kcn from North Carolina

3.93/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4
Purchased as a six-pack of bottles from Ingles for $11.99. Poured into a nonic pint glass.

L - Copper, with a clear body. A two-finger lightly tan head tops it, and stays awhile.
S - Toast, crackers, and toffee.
T - Same as nose, with the addition of some earthy notes. Well-balanced.
F - Medium-bodied, and with medium carbonation. Super drinkable. Smooth.
O - I've had this several times before, but this is the only time I've sat down to formerly review it! A true ale representative of the area. I'll definitely get it again, but it's objectively nothing to write home about.
May 26, 2022
Photo of NiceTaps
Reviewed by NiceTaps from New Jersey

3.9/5  rDev +2.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
On tap in a pint glass.

Deep amber color topped with a 1f dense creamy tan cap. Heavy web lacing. Nice look.

Rich caramel malt aroma with some earthy hops.

Caramel malt flavor, slightly sweet to start then hops bring some dry grapefruit rind into play.

Medium bodied and smooth. The 30 ibu balance out the malt sweetness.

Sweet like an Amber Ale with hops leaning it towards an APA.
May 26, 2022
 
Rated: 4.12 by coopdog1000 from Florida

May 17, 2022
Photo of Manta200
Rated by Manta200 from Kentucky

3.85/5  rDev +1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
6-pack from Food Lion on trip to Outer Banks
Apr 13, 2022
 
Rated: 3.9 by RichardOrmiston from North Carolina

Feb 24, 2022
 
Gaelic Ale from Highland Brewing
Beer rating: 86 out of 100 with 1592 ratings