History
Killian’s Irish Red is a traditional lager with an Irish heritage, based on the recipe created at Lett’s Brewery in Enniscorthy, Ireland, in 1864. It was originally an Irish red ale. Coors acquired the rights to brew and market the product in America from France’s Pelforth Beer Company who currently owns the rights to George Killian’s Irish Red. Coors reformulated the Killian’s from an ale to a lager and introduced it to the U.S. in 1981.
Properties
Killian’s derives its color and taste from a special caramel malted barley (malts) that is roasted at a high temperature longer and more slowly than most malts. There are no coloring agents or artificial additives used in the brewing process. It is amber in color and produces a thick head on pouring, that goes away fairly quickly. It has a fruity yet hoppy aroma which seems to accurately describe the taste as well. It leaves a clean mouth feeling upon swallow and has an easy finish, with maybe a slight hops taste. In Europe the original formula served for George Killian’s Irish red is maltier and has a less pronounced reddish color than its American counter part.
Killian’s is available in bottles, cans and kegs. A 12-ounce serving of Killian’s has 163 calories and 4.9 percent alcohol by volume.
Killian’s was once available as Killian’s Irish Brown Ale. The bottle was identical, except it had a green label. This was before the newer label design. – Wikipedia