Conway's Irish Ale

Review Date 2/25/2023 By John Staradumsky

  Style: Irish Red   Brewery: Great Lakes   Country: USA   State: Ohio   $ Per OZ: N/A   ABV: 6.3%

Well hello, old friend! I am sure, dear reader, you are already aware that I’m talking to my bottle of Conway’s Irish Ale from Cleveland’s Great Lakes Brewing Company. It may not seem normal to talk to tour beer, but I think that as long as you don’t hear the veer talking back, you are OK. Conway’s Irish Ale and I do go way back, though I’ve never been able to get their beer in my market. That was as true when I lived in Rhode Island as it is now that I am a Georgia resident.

I did, though, recently get a few Great Lakes beers from Halftime Beverage, and one of those was Conway’s Irish Ale. Somehow, though, I found that I had never reviewed the beer here on good old Guruofbrew,com! How could that happen? I’m sure I don’t know. I went back to usenet and did a search. Surely there would be tasting notes there that I posted at some point? But no. I again came up dry.

I knew I had had the beer at the brewery, so I finally hit paydirt when I found my old Epinions.com review of the brewery. I had visited in the mid-90s and taken notes, but did not post a review. When I finally did in the early aughts, I said:

Great Lakes was founded in 1988 by Daniel and Patrick Conway, and the company hasn’t looked back since the doors opened, gaining critical acclaim for their brews and expanding sales into new territories from the get go.

I did not take notes on Conway’s Irish Ale, but I did mention it:

Conway’s Irish Ale: A mild and drinkable brew named for a Conway family police officer.

And who can pass up on the food at Great Lakes? I can still taste those wonderful pierogis today….

The cuisine here features local favorites with an emphasis on German and Polish cuisine. I ate some of the best pirogues (pasta pillows filled with cheese and mashed potatoes or shredded cabbage and spices, then boiled and pan-fried.) I’ve ever eaten in my life here, along with a delicious potato soup and fresh-made German sausages that were perfect with a Dortmunder Gold.

But back to Conway’s Irish Ale. Great Lakes says:

A pint for Pa Conway! Our co-owners’ grandfather and policeman who’d likely uphold that an Irish Ale with full-bodied caramel malt flavors is just the ticket.

Ingredients from the website:

uphold that an Irish Ale with full-bodied caramel malt flavors is just the ticket.

HOPS

Northern Brewer

Mt. Hood

Willamette

MALTS

2-Row Base Malt

Crystal 77

Conway’s Irish Ale has an alcohol content of 6.3% by volume with 25 IBUs. I paid $2.99 for my single from Halftime, and Total Wine sells it for $10.99 the six-pack bottles, but their best deal is a 12-pack for $17.99. The label of my bottle is stamped 03/19/23. I drank it about a month before that but it could have gone longer refrigerated.

Conway’s Irish Ale pours to a light golden-reddish color with a moderate head of foam and a nose of light toasty malt. Taking a sip, the beer is light to medium in body, about right for the style. It is gently toasty, softly fruity, and hints at dry roasted nuts. The beer is very malty and has hints of stewed malt. Grassy, earthy hops round out the dry finish.

A classic Great Lakes beer that I will certainly buy again. You should buy it too.

Glad I tried it?  T

Would I rebuy it??

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