George Killian's Irish Red

In 1981, Coors acquired the rights from Pelforth Brewing of France to produce their own U.S.-made version of George Killian's Irish Red, which is still common to American beer outlets, usually in bottled form and occasionally on draft and in cans. At 5.4% alcohol, Killian's Irish Red is a lager beer, although, when it was introduced in Enniscorthy, Ireland in 1864, it was sold as Enniscorthy Ruby Ale. Pelforth had picked up the brand in 1956, when the original Irish brewery ceased operations. Interestingly, Pelforth (now, a Heineken subsidiary) continues to sell a European Killian's Irish Red, which is of a different recipe and label design.

According to the Miller-Coors website Killian's is a 5.4% abv lager, but the Molson-Coors website shows it at 4.9% alcohol, and it might be sold at variant abv levels. In 2006, George Killian's Irish Stout (4.9% abv) was introduced, and it is sold in select American states. George Killian's Irish Honey beer was sold in the 1990s, but this offering did not last.

Killian's has proven to be a consistent seller for Coors, and it is commonly available. One will not often see any sort of advertising for this beer, however. This lager has won a bronze, three silver, and two gold medals over the years at the World Beer Cup and the Great American Beer Festival, so it has a trophy case to back up its claims of quality and enjoyment.

It seems as though George Killian's Irish Red Lager will remain a strong contender in the beer world for years to come. This author has had much enjoyment from it, and it's stout variant for years.