Blood Red Beer

[pghpi]

Please allow me to preface this by stating that I've rarely ever use adjuncts in a brew. However, I'm going to have to take one for the team!!

My girlfriend / sisters / neighbors are huge fans of the True Blood show on HBO and the ask me to brew a "blood red beer" when the show starts back up this summer. I was thinking about doing a Belgian. Although I have the least amount of experience with these types of brews, it seemed fitting to me.

How can I "color" the brew in achieve a dark red color without compromising taste. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks ahead of time.

Dan

 

[RIBeer]

I've heard about some people using beets to obtain a red beer, but I can't really help any more than that. I'd do a search for beet beer or brewing with beets to start. Good luck!

 

[pghpi]

I've heard the same thing.....but it just seems so wrong. I'll keep searching!!

Thanks!!

 

[McGarnigle]

Here's your model. I think they just use food coloring.

http://www.coneyislandlager.com/CONEY/ffest.html

 

[Revvy]

Whenever someone asks something like that I flash back to this freaky thread.

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f12/klingon-blood-ale-61383/

EEK

Seriously though this is a deeply red ale. Like dark dusky ruby...It's grainbill might help you get there, and it is adjunct free.

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f66/mojave-red-112308/?highlight=mojave

And it is tasty as all get out.

 

[bonsai4tim]

maybe use "blue" cornmeal (cooked) in your mash, or grated blue potatoes---the "blue" color is pH sensitive, and is red in acidic conditions and blue.

t

 

[doobliebop]

Odell's brewery in Ft. Colins, CO did a beet brew this past year. Was very good, and very dark red. Had a spicy flavor that I've never tasted in beer before.

 

[brewt00l]

I made a really hoppy red with Weyermann carared that came out with a great deep red color.

 

[maskednegator]

Food coloring? I've had my fair share of green BMC beers at dive bars on St Patrick's day.

 

[kanzimonson]

Magic Hat makes a bright red (almost pinkish) beer with beets in it. The beet flavor is pretty unnoticeable but it's quite tart. With everything combined, you feel like you're drinking a wine cooler.

Cherry juice would also help with redness.

 

[pghpi]

I'm leaning towards cherry juice or cranberry juice, especially since I'm going with a belgian. However, since I don't have a lot of experience with adjuncts, when would be the best time to add it during the brewing process?

Thanks everyone for their posts!!!

 

[wendelgee2]

Beets are the way to go...I agree. I bet it wouldn't take more than .5lb in the mash to get a beer that would stain the bejesus out of your rug.

as to the base beer...that's up to you.

Also, if this is for ladies, you might want to do a simple framboise, like this:

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f12/belgian-raspberry-ale-145682/#post1662078

 

[passedpawn]

Cut up a beet. No taste, blood red.

Do a search for Magic Hat Wacko to see some images.

 

[the_bird]

I had some Wacko last summer; it's almost pink in hue. It's redder than any "red ale." ****ty beer, but purdy.

 

[lucasszy]

Here's your model. I think they just use food coloring.

http://www.coneyislandlager.com/CONEY/ffest.html

This beer did not impress me, but it sure was a nice red color!

Cheers

 

[passedpawn]

I had some Wacko last summer; it's almost pink in hue. It's redder than any "red ale." ****ty beer, but purdy.

I never had it, just saw pictures. Not surprised, though: their #9 is terrible. Blech.

 

[brewfisch]

Here's an idea- I'd say try it twofold:

Additives like food coloring aren't enough, and can stain equipment and kegs. Cranberries work, but you have to watch it on those since it's easy to cross the line on them in the boil (maybe 8 oz./5 gal @ 20min, max).

I'd recommend fooling around with your grain bill first to achieve a better red color. Get your hands on some CaraRed, maybe a pound or so is all you need. I did it for a Red IPA and it gave the brew a perfect tinge of red. I'd recommend that along with cran or something to add to it, but don't go with just adjuncts.

 

[dogas]

I made a blueberry beer once, where I added blueberry puree to the secondaries. The beer looked like red wine! Tasted great too.

 

[wildwest450]

You could always punch them in the stomach and tell them to grow up.
Then you wouldn't have to make a gimmick beer.

 

[passedpawn]

I made a blueberry beer once, where I added blueberry puree to the secondaries. The beer looked like red wine! Tasted great too.

3# blueberry puree in a 5g batch looked sickly. Reddish purplish. I did not think the look was good (that was my experience about 9 months ago).

 

[dogas]

It certainly didn't look like beer.. even the foam was purple. However I brought a keg to a party and it was a huge hit.. gone in 2 hours. Also, the fermented puree gave the beer a LOT of kick..

 

[BBBF]

You could use hibiscus tea to make it red.

 

[Auspice]

Great Lakes Nosferatu has a really nice red color to it. It's got a pretty aggressive hop bite to it as well which makes it an even more clever name for the brew. It's just a deep amber stock ale. I wouldn't personally want to artificially color my beer but that's just me.

 

[gratus fermentatio]

You might try melanoidin, caramel 60 or caramel 80 malts, they all impart a red color. There is also cochineal extract, which while it's considered a "natural" food coloring, it is literally bug juice: extracted from crushed cocineal insects; it's what gives ruby red grapefruit juice & many brightly colored children's juice drinks their bright red color. I've also heard of using beets. Regards, GF.

 

[robegero]

Use hibiscus without a doubt. I make a tea with it and always get jokes about drinking blood. I have seen a hibiscus saison recipe floating around.

 

[EricCSU]

Austin Homebrew Supply has a hibiscus saison that I have heard is blood.

 

[HIM_Tattoos]

I don't understand why you wouldn't want to add food coloring...you can make the beer with the taste you want and get the color you want...it's a win win. Can somone elighten me?

 

[wendelgee2]

I don't understand why you wouldn't want to add food coloring...you can make the beer with the taste you want and get the color you want...it's a win win. Can somone elighten me?

Food coloring is not 100% neutral in flavor. If you add too much, it can be a bit bitter, and not in a good hoppy way.

But I think the real answer is: food coloring is cheating, and this community is all about REAL beer made with REAL ingredients. But you don't have any obligation to share that set of values.

 

[jfkriege]

If no one has suggested it, check out St. Louis Framboise Lambic. It is as red as a beer can get and is very tasty; seriously, it is F#$%ing red. Eat it with something rich and chocolate. Amazing.

 

[Bsquared]

I've thought about using red swiss chard as a bittering substitute and to add red color for a Halloween beer, but have never tried it. My plan was to drop in a pound of char at flame out.