Beer of the Day: George Killian's Irish Red by Coors

George Killian's Irish Red is a beer with an Irish heritage, allegedly based on a recipe created at Lett's Brewery in Enniscorthy,Ireland, in 1864.

The beer is named after George Killian Lett, the great-grandson of George Henry Lett, who founded the brewery in Enniscorthy. George Killian Lett died at the age of 84 in Enniscorthy, Ireland in December of 2010.   His middle name “Killian” honors the Irish Saint Kilian (or Cilian) who left Ireland and evangelized the Germans around Wurzburg.

It was originally an Irish red ale called "Enniscorthy Ruby Ale," and brewed from 1864 to 1956, when the brewery closed and it was discontinued. It is no longer sold in Ireland.^[2] 

The brand name "George Killian's" was purchased by the Pelforth Brewery in France. In the mid-1980s.

Coors bought the rights to use the brand name "George Killian's Irish Red" in America.

While the name is most often associated with a 5.4% abv amber lager which had become very popular, it was originally marketed by Coors as a 4.9% red ale, George Killian's Irish Red: Red Ale.