Ever had a Killian’s Irish Red? I know I have. In fact, I can still recall sometime in the nineties seeing the beer show up on store shelves in Rhode Island, around the same Coors beers did. Then, as now, Coors took pains to avoid any association, though they had started brewing the beer in the eighties under license from French brewery Pelforth. Pelforth, for its part, had acquired the brand from the original Irish Brewery Lett’s, which opened in 1864 and closed in 1956 (reference cited-Wikipedia for dates).
Ever had a Killian’s Irish Stout? I know I hadn’t, until recently. Killian’s Irish Stout is a new Coors product, and states clearly on the label that it is brewed under license from Pelforth. This appears to be a Coors-designed brew, as I can’t find any evidence that Pelforth brewed a stout under the Killians brand name.
Here’s what I do know: George Killian’s Irish Stout has an alcohol content of 4.9% by volume. It’s brewed in the US by Coors and is supposedly distributed in a limited number of states as I type. It’s a bargain brand at $5.98 and is available at many grocery store chains as well as liquor stores here in Georgia.
George Killian’s Irish Stout pours to a dark black but not fully opaque color with a thick creamy tan head formation and a light roasted malt nose. Taking a sip, the beer immediately seems thin in body to me, and that will go on to be the defining flaw here. It’s a touch creamy, though only a touch, and it does have some definite roasted notes of chocolate, coffee, and even a little licorice. Toss in a little dark fruity raisin while you’re at it. In the finish, I get a nice balancing roastiness that leaves the beer drinkable. The problem is that the beer is just too thin, even slightly watery, and that serves to cancel out some of the roasty flavors going on.
George Killian’s Irish Stout isn’t a bad beer by any stretch of the imagination, and if I were offered one at a friend’s house I would surely drink it. To be sure, it’s not an exceptional beer either, and with so many other great stouts on the market, probably not one I would buy again on a regular basis. But at the bargain price I would be open to picking it up again, and I can say it’s worth your time to try it. 3 stars.
And remember, try a new beer today, and drink outside the box.
*Pricing data accurate at time of review or latest update. For reference only, based on actual price paid by reviewer.
(B)=Bottled
(D)=Draft