Church-Key House Red

Brewed by Church-Key Brewing
Style: Irish Ale
Pethericks Corners, Canada

On tap at Bar Volo. Orange red coloured body. Hoppy, above average mouthfeel. Well carmelized. The taste is of the malts, with some roasted malt. Above average for the style.

On tap at the Pub of Italians - clean amber colour with a.... strange looking head (huge bubbles instead of foam). Aroma is somewhat clean, but not many notes that stick out in any way. The taste sucks, plain and simple. Tastes like "tainted water" with cloying metallic notes, but I guess the only thing to save it is that it has some decent malty notes. It doesn’t really go down easy either. Good thing the barternder gave me a sample before I ordered it.

On tap at Pub Italia (Ottawa). Dark gold body with low carbonation and a thin white foamy/creamy head. Thin malty/hoppy aroma that lacks both strength and complexity. Malty taste lacks balance and is one-dimensioned. Ends with a short malty finish. Boring.

On tap at Pub Italia- Pours deep amber with a frothy beige cap. Fruity malt aroma with yeasty esters, bubblegum, a bit of cotton candy. This is a fairly flavourful interpretation of the style. Its sweeter than I expected. Quite fruity with sweet bready, dough. Yeasty and sweet candy and bubble gum once more. There’s just a hint of smoke on the finish. Quite good for sessions. I enjoyed it.

Satan’s Killer Red at Pub Italia: This was a nice change of pace after a few Belgians. Had a crisp nutty quality. Poured a nice amber/red color with very little head. Nothing to write home about, but a perfectly fine beer. Probably better on a hot day when the beer is nice and cold.

Two pints at the Pizza Factory. More amber than red, no head. Smells grainy/grassy, with a bit of brown sugar - like draught. Well carbonated. Taste isn’t bad - better than Rickard’s or Old Mick’s. Malt, brown sugar, and enough hops to give it a decent finish. I’ll have it again.

Amber in colour with a rather long lasting off white head, some lacing. The aroma is faintly of pale malts, some grains, lightly fruity. The flavour is light, some light caramel malts, floral and fruity. Light mouthfeel, light body, medium carbonation. Finishes quick, mildly bitter. Bland, they gotta stop using the Northumberland as their base beer.

Draught at Jake’s in Peterborough, Ontario.
Labeled as Phat Pastor.

Draft @ Pub Italia as Satan’s Killer Red. The name may be a bit big for the beer :) Red amber body, small white head and a smattering of lace. Fruity, yeasty house Church Key aroma alludes to Northumberland to me, pleasantly so. Light bitterness witha fruity character and light malt. Very muted notes of caramel. Average palate. Quite quaffable but underwhelming. I agree with the cold serving recommendation by others.