Membership questions? Log in issues? Email info@brewersassociation.org

Author Topic: Irish Red Ale  (Read 3151 times)

Offline madscientist

  • Brewer
  • ****
  • Posts: 321
Irish Red Ale
« on: July 20, 2010, 08:35:25 pm »
With the success of my first brew (Amber Ale), I am gathering some ideas for my next batch.  I'm looking into making an Irish Red Ale, and I'm curious to what sort of recipe would make a good Irish Ale.  I have looked at the recipe on p. 173-174 of the Complete Joy of Homebrewing (3rd ed), which seems similar to the one on Homebrewopedia, and have also found this one that uses Orange Blossom honey. 

6 lbs Pale Malt extract syrup
1.0 lb orange blossom honey
1.0 lb Belgian Special B
3 oz cascade hop pellets (total, added at 45 and 10 and 1 min I believe, the procedure is on my laptop)
1 tsp Irish Moss
Wyeast #1084 Irish Ale

Northern Brewer has all the ingredients, except the honey which is out of stock.  Any thoughts on using regular vs. orange blossom?  Northern brewer also has the kit, but I looked at it and it's totally different than these recipes.  I think I would like to do this without the kit.  I'm shooting for something not too bitter.  As this one is 20-25 IBU and the one in the book is 30 IBU. 

Any thoughts on the appropriate hops for an irish ale?
Homebrewed since 2010

Offline weithman5

  • Senior Brewmaster
  • ******
  • Posts: 1681
  • naperville, il
Re: Irish Red Ale
« Reply #1 on: July 20, 2010, 08:59:57 pm »
Congrats on the first beer.  I don't know of specific hops you may want to try, but look and see what some of the other recipes use.  also look at freshops (online hop seller) they have a good description of various hops characteristics
Don AHA member

Offline dak0415

  • Brewmaster
  • *****
  • Posts: 558
  • Winston-Salem, NC
Re: Irish Red Ale
« Reply #2 on: July 21, 2010, 08:12:19 am »
AFAIC British styles should have British hops - Target, Challenger, Northdown for bittering, EKG or Fuggles for flavor/aroma. (There are others).  Cascade in these styles is anathema.
Dave Koenig
Anything worth doing - is worth overdoing!

Offline a10t2

  • Official Poobah of No Life. (I Got Ban Hammered by Drew)
  • *********
  • Posts: 4696
  • Ask me why I don't like Chico!
    • SeanTerrill.com
Re: Irish Red Ale
« Reply #3 on: July 21, 2010, 11:47:17 am »
That recipe won't taste anything like an Irish Red. Not that there's anything wrong with that; you just need to know what you want.

A stereotypical IRA can be a very simple recipe. For extract, use extra light LME or DME to about 1.050, half a pound of medium crystal, a few ounces of Bicuit malt, and 1-2 oz of roasted barley. Bitter with an English hop (EKG or Fuggles would be traditional) to 20-25 IBU, and optionally a small flavor addition. Use Wyeast 1084 if you're willing to make a starter, Nottingham if you aren't. Either way, ferment cool (60-64°F).
Sent from my Microsoft Bob

Beer is like porn. You can buy it, but it's more fun to make your own.
Refractometer Calculator | Batch Sparging Calculator | Two Mile Brewing Co.

Offline redbeerman

  • Senior Brewmaster
  • ******
  • Posts: 1849
  • On the banks of the mighty Susquehanna in MD
Re: Irish Red Ale
« Reply #4 on: July 22, 2010, 01:53:32 pm »
That recipe won't taste anything like an Irish Red. Not that there's anything wrong with that; you just need to know what you want.

A stereotypical IRA can be a very simple recipe. For extract, use extra light LME or DME to about 1.050, half a pound of medium crystal, a few ounces of Bicuit malt, and 1-2 oz of roasted barley. Bitter with an English hop (EKG or Fuggles would be traditional) to 20-25 IBU, and optionally a small flavor addition. Use Wyeast 1084 if you're willing to make a starter, Nottingham if you aren't. Either way, ferment cool (60-64°F).

I wouldn't use the special B in an Irish red.  The flavor profile just isn't right and a pound is way too much.  I would use 1/2 lb of 60L and 2 - 4 oz. of 120 L should put you where you want to be both color and flavor-wise.
CH3CH2OH - Without it, life itself would be impossible.

[441, 112.1deg] AR

Jim

Offline dak0415

  • Brewmaster
  • *****
  • Posts: 558
  • Winston-Salem, NC
Re: Irish Red Ale
« Reply #5 on: July 22, 2010, 03:13:21 pm »
1/2 lb of Crystal 120
6 oz of Carared
3-4 oz of Carafa Special II
and British hops of course
Dave Koenig
Anything worth doing - is worth overdoing!