Caffrey's Irish Ale is a beer that combines the smoothness of a stout, the refreshment of a lager, and the flavour of an ale. It was first brewed in Dublin in the late 18th century, with the modern brand being relaunched in 1994 based on an original 1897 recipe. While it seems to be unavailable in some countries, it can still be purchased in the UK and Europe, with some pubs stocking it and several online retailers offering home delivery.
Characteristics | Values |
---|---|
Availability | Currently unavailable on Amazon.co.uk and DrinksDirect.com. Available in some local supermarkets and pubs in the UK. Available in Portugal, Poland, Switzerland, Gibraltar, Netherlands, France, Norway, and Cyprus. |
Packaging | 24 x 440ml cans |
Taste | Smooth, creamy, and refreshing with a hint of banoffee pie, rich malt loaf, and juicy red apples balanced with savoury notes. |
Alcohol Content | 3.8% |
Serving Temperature | Best served chilled |
Producer | Molson Coors |
What You'll Learn
Where to buy Caffrey's beer in the UK
Caffrey's Irish Ale is available to buy in the UK, although it may be challenging to find in pubs. You can purchase it from several online retailers, including Amazon and Drinks Direct, and some supermarkets, such as Iceland.
Online Retailers
Caffrey's Irish Ale is available for delivery from Amazon UK, with a range of pack sizes, including 24 cans of 440ml each.
Drinks Direct also offers the option to buy Caffrey's Irish Ale online. However, at the time of writing, it appears to be currently unavailable on their website.
Supermarkets
Iceland offers Caffrey's Premium Irish Ale in packs of 4 x 440ml cans.
Pubs
Although it may be harder to find, Caffrey's Irish Ale is available in some pubs across the UK. Some suggestions include:
- Waxy O'Connor's Irish bar in London
- Ttonic and Chaplins in Sunderland
- London Road Inn in Buxton
- Corby Irish Centre in Corby, Northants
Tennessee Beer Laws: Labor Day Shopping
You may want to see also
Where to buy Caffrey's beer in Ireland
Caffrey's Irish Ale is available in the United Kingdom and Canada, but it is no longer brewed in Ireland. It seems that it is also hard to find in pubs in the UK, although some supermarkets still stock it.
According to a Tripadvisor forum, Caffrey's was available in Ireland for a while but appears to have been withdrawn from the market. One user says they can still buy Caffrey's in their local supermarket, but only in tins. Another user says they will be in Galway, Dingle, Killarney, Kilkenny, and Dublin and asks for suggestions on where to find Caffrey's. Unfortunately, the forum does not offer any suggestions.
Caffrey's is available for purchase on Amazon UK, but it is currently unavailable and it is unclear whether it will be back in stock.
A thread on Reddit about pubs in the UK that sell Caffrey's mentions Waxy O'Connor's Irish bar on Rupert Street in London and Ttonic and Chaplins in Sunderland.
If you are looking to purchase Caffrey's in Ireland, your best bet may be to check local supermarkets, particularly for tinned Caffrey's.
Trillium Beer: Where to Buy and What to Know
You may want to see also
Where to buy Caffrey's beer in the US
Caffrey's Irish Ale was launched in 1994 and is currently owned by Molson Coors. It was marketed as a beer that combined the best features of lager, stout, and ale.
Coors acquired the US distribution rights to Caffrey's in 2001, but in 2002, it ceased the importation of the beer into the United States. The decision was made to avoid interference with the branding of Killian's as Coors's premier Irish brew.
While Caffrey's paraphernalia may still be found in many Irish bars across the US, the beer itself is no longer sold there. However, it is still available in the United Kingdom and Canada.
Henry Weinhard Beer: Available in Colorado?
You may want to see also
Caffrey's beer history
Caffrey's Irish Ale was launched in 1994 by Bass Brewery and is currently owned by Molson Coors. However, the Caffrey family's history of brewing beer goes back to the late 18th century when they first brewed beer in Dublin, about thirty years after the founding of the Guinness Brewery. The Caffreys also set up their brewery on the River Liffey, a few hundred yards east of the Guinness site.
In the mid-19th century, Nicolas Caffrey, a wealthy silk and linen merchant, decided to set up his own brewery in central Dublin to compete with the famous Guinness beer. Nicolas's son, Thomas Caffrey, joined him in the brewery business ten years later. However, competition with Guinness was fierce, and Caffrey's beer struggled to capture the attention of the Irish, who were loyal to the leading Dublin stout brand.
After Nicolas Caffrey's death, the Dublin brewery was closed due to its lack of success. Thomas Caffrey then sold the premises and established another brewery in County Antrim, naming it the "Thomas Caffrey Brewing Co." This new brewery continues to produce quality beers distributed throughout Ireland. While Caffrey's has never achieved the sales records of Guinness, it has endured and established itself as a well-regarded stout in Ireland.
Caffrey's Irish Ale was re-launched in 1994, combining features from different types of beer. It could be served as cold as lager, had the smoothness of a stout, and the taste of an ale. Priced at the top end of the market, it was made available in over 7500 pubs, targeting "the ageing lager drinker...looking for a mature pint."
Superior Beer in Texas: Worth the Money?
You may want to see also
Caffrey's beer taste and ingredients
Caffrey's Irish Ale is a beer that combines the smoothness of a stout with the refreshment of a lager and the flavour of an ale. It is currently brewed exclusively in England and owned by Molson Coors. It is available in several countries in Europe, including Portugal, Poland, Switzerland, Gibraltar, the Netherlands, France, Norway, and Cyprus, as well as in Asia.
Caffrey's is known for its creamy texture and pleasant taste. It has a thick, smooth head and a beautiful colour. The beer has a simple and unoffensive taste, with mild dark fruits and mild bitterness. It is said to be sweeter and less bitter than other Irish stouts, with caramelized coffee and licorice aromas. The amber version of Caffrey's has a lighter taste, more akin to a beer like Kilkenny. It is even sweeter and fruitier, making it a good choice for lovers of blond or red beer.
In terms of ingredients, Caffrey's is brewed with both barley and wheat, which means it contains gluten and is not gluten-free. It is currently 3.8% ABV, but when it was first launched in 1994, it was 5.2% ABV. Over the years, the alcohol content has been reduced to 4.2% and then to the current 3.8% to try to halt declining sales. There are approximately 37 calories per 100ml of Caffrey's, which equates to 163 calories in a 440ml can and 210 calories in a pint (568ml).
While Caffrey's does not have a dedicated website, and it has become harder to find in recent years, it still has a dedicated following. It is particularly popular with the Irish, although it is a little rarer in pubs.
Buying Beer on Sundays in Horry County, SC: What's Allowed?
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
Yes, Caffrey's Irish Ale is still available in the UK. It can be purchased online from Amazon, Drinks Direct, and DrinkSupermarket. It is also available in some pubs and supermarkets.
Caffrey's Irish Ale was available in Ireland for a while but appears to have been withdrawn from the market. It is no longer brewed in Ireland but is now brewed in London by Coors.
In addition to purchasing it online from Amazon, Drinks Direct, and DrinkSupermarket, Caffrey's Irish Ale can also be found in some pubs and supermarkets in the UK.