Any suggestions for additions to NB's Irish Red

[eadavis80]

Will be brewing NB's Irish Red Ale kit for the first time Friday. I'm certainly willing to brew the recipe as instructed, but wondered what, if any, suggestions you might have for tasty additions. I don't care if it raises the gravity or not.

 

[Wine2Beer]

A clean glass, and some fresh soft pretzels? Sorry, don't mean to be a smartass, I'm curious as to what might be a good mod for that recipe. I'm brewing that one just after the New Year, one of my favorites. I like it as-is, but there are some pretty clever mad scientists here that may have some great ideas.

 

[eadavis80]

I'll just brew it as is - reviews were good and this way I get a baseline. I am using WYeast 1098 instead though, so maybe it's not a true "baseline."

 

[Texconsinite]

You could add some honey like NB has in their similar Irish Draught Ale.

 

[flars]

Go with late extract addition technique. This will keep the beer a lighter red color. Ruby red color looks good in a tall glass.

 

[eadavis80]

So put in like 1/3 of the extract at the beginning of the boil and the balance with about 15 minutes to go?

 

[Yooper]

So put in like 1/3 of the extract at the beginning of the boil and the balance with about 15 minutes to go?

I'd use about a pound of extract per gallon in the boil, and add the rest at flame out. If you add it with 15 minutes left, it will need to come off of the heat, and the extract will stop the boil. Then you'll have to bring it back up to a boil and start timing again. Adding it at flame out, once you turn off the burner, means that it's plenty hot enough to pasteurize and 'melt', and it will also mean not start/stop of the boil.

 

[eadavis80]

So if I do a full boil, and start with 6 gallons and if there are 6 pounds of extract, I would not have any to put in at flameout.

 

[flars]

With a full boil do a half and half. You will still get the full benefit of hop utilization and keeping the color of the beer lighter.