Sláinte!
Starting St. Patrick’s Day and continuing through the end of March, pints of our brand new Lucky Irish Red Ale are only $5 each!
This well-balanced, easy drinking pint features a slight caramel aroma and light toasted biscuit flavor.
Rochester’s Lucky Irish Red Ale leans into the traditional roots of Irish ales. Moderate measures of malt and roasted barley give Irish red ales their red hue and signature flavor.
Lucky Irish Red Ale History
Irish Reds originated in the early 1700s in Kilkenny, Ireland, though some claim St. Francis Abbey had brewed a similar ale as early as the 14th century. Daniel Sullivan’s brewery created the first official Irish ale in 1702. Business boomed, and by the late 1700s, County Kilkenny boasted a number of breweries and distilleries. Nearby farms yielded plenty of corn, wheat and barley for the burgeoning industry.
The grandaddy of Irish red ales is Smithwick’s, which traces its family tree to 1710 when John Smithwick established a short-lived brewery at St. Francis Abbey. Ireland’s turbulent history forced brewery empires to wax and wane, but Smithwick’s grandson, Edmond, revived the failed brewery in 1827. Smithwick’s name eventually became synonymous with red ales.
Coming to America
Irish red ales dominated the market overseas, but weren’t available in the states until the 1960s when Guinness acquired the brand and launched in in America. You wouldn’t hear the term Irish Red Ale used in Ireland, but it grew in popularity in the U.S., thanks in part to Coors. The established American brewer licensed Killian’s Irish Red in 1981, and the rest, as they say, is history.
Irish Red Ale Tasting Notes
Rochester’s Lucky Irish Red Ale features a malt-forward profile, with a light caramel sweetness and a dry finish. It’s the perfect beer to enjoy before Kansas City’s famous St. Patrick’s Day parade or relaxing with friends as the weather gets warmer. And as luck would have it, from St. Patrick’s Day through the end of March, full pours of our Irish Red Ale are only $5 all day, every day.
Stay apprised of what new beers are being tapped by subscribing to the blog here or check out our current tap list. Rochester is Kansas City’s first locally owned craft brewery and coffee roaster under one roof. Cheers!
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Rochester Brewing and Roasting is Kansas City’s first craft beer brewery and coffee roastery under one roof. We’ve created welcoming spaces to gather for the best of both worlds – a Kansas City brewery and Kansas City coffee shop – all in one place. Our head coffee roaster sources the best quality coffee beans, roasting each batch meticulously to bring out the coffee’s unique character. Our head brewer blends the art and science behind brewing beer to create a rotating slate of beer styles, focusing on tradition with an eye on innovation. You can find local KC coffee beans for sale here, and our current beer tap list online.
We would love to see you in person to pour you a cold one or whip up one of our popular specialty coffees. We also have a rotating menu of delicious sandwiches, breakfast burritos and fresh-made-in-house pastries and donuts. Stop by our spacious Kansas City brewery and coffee shop, located in the city’s vibrant Crossroads Art District. Or check out our charming Parkville coffee shop and brewery, located inside two vintage train cars. We also host public and private events at the Crossroads location ~ details on our spacious Kansas City event space can be found on our website. Both locations are open day and night, so come early for the coffee, stay late for the beer!