brēowanthorpe

The Homestead of Beer

Irish Red Ale

By thomas #30 minute boil, #Ale, #Barley, #Beer, #BIAB, #Homebrew, #Hops, #Irish, #Irish Red Ale, #No-sparge, #one-gallon, #Red Ale, #Water, #Westfort, #Yeast

Codename : Westfort Irish Red Alethhorpe (2025)

This Irish Red Ale is being prepared in anticipation of St. Patrick’s Day 2025.  This completes the trifecta of Irish style beers for the 2025 St Paddy’s day celebrations. What you can expect from a red ale

Low to moderate malt aroma, either neutral-grainy or with a lightly caramel, toast, or toffee character. Very light buttery character optional. Low earthy or floral hop aroma optional. Quite clean.

https://www.bjcp.org/style/2021/15/15A/irish-red-ale/

Ingredients

  • 1 lb 9 oz Maris Otter malt (3.8L)
  • 3 oz Light Munich Malt (6.9L)
  • 1 oz Caramel malt (30L)
  • 0.5 oz Black malt (500L)
  • 1/4 Campden tablet in strike water (optional)
  • 0.20 oz Pilgrim hops at 30 minutes
  • 1/2 tsp Irish Moss (optional) at 15 minutes
  • 4 ml Empire ale yeast

Vital Stats

BJCP Style : Irish Red Ale
Anticipated ABV : 4.3%
Anticipated IBU : 24
Anticipated SRM : 12
Pre-boil SG : 1.035
Post-boil SG: 1.045
Original SG : 1.045
Target SG : 1.012
Carbonation : 2.4
Water profile : Irish Red Ale
Brewhouse (in)efficiency : 69%

Brew Day

  • Prepare 6.5L strike water, 149F.
  • Add the milled grains to the bag.
  • Place the bag in the hot water, set the timer for 90 minutes, and maintain the temperature at 149F. It is acceptable if the temperature varies by a couple of degrees in either direction.
  • If you find the gravity is reached before 90 minutes, you can jump to lifting the bag out.
  • Stir occasionally.
  • Calibrate the sonic screwdriver.
  • Lift the bag out of the water, and allow it to drip into the pot. Every bit of sugar that can be extracted will benefit the end ABV.
  • Bring up to a boil, 212F, set the timer for 30 minutes. Add hops and Irish moss, as prescribed above.
  • Sanitise everything required for fermentation.
  • Cool to room temp, an ice-bath or a snowbank work effectively.
  • Prepare the yeast mixture, per manufacturers directions.
  • Transfer the wort to the carboy, splash the wort around to aerate the contents.
  • Put the airlock on the carboy.
  • Store in a cool dark place for primary fermentation for 7-14 days.

Bottling Day

Brew Notes

  • At its minimal requirements, the Irish Red Ale is usually just a base malt plus something dark to change its colour. I have opted to use a little crystal malt to layer in a little sweetness and aid in the colour.
The red colour is not very evident right now, all the particles floating give it a different hue. As the sediment forms, the amber/red colour will reveal itself as the beer ferments.

 

Brew day : 11-Jan-2024