For a Redder Irish Red?

[e10hssanamai]

I made an Irish Red Ale and it turned out really good. Great flavor, and went down smooth. The only problem was that it was a boring brown color. I know it is all about the taste, but I was hoping for a nicer looking red color. Can anyone make any suggestions on how to tweak the recipe without changing the flavor all too much to make it a bit more red and a bit less brown?

• 7 lbs pale malt extract (US Briess Dry)
• ¼ lbs roasted Barley (Muntons roasted black barley – Great Britain)
• 1 lbs 20 degree L Crystal Malt
• ½ lbs Munich Malt (Briess Munich Malt 10l – product of US[6row])

Maybe cut down on the barley or crystal, or replace it with another ingredient? Any suggestions would be sweet! And let me know if I should provide any other info!

Thanks!

Dan

 

[Covert]

I get a really nice red color from a combination of 60L crystal malt and Special B. Right now I'm using a pound of the 60L Crystal and 1/4 pound of the Special B. I wanted the beer to be malty and not to have any roastiness and this combination has worked well for me.

 

[BigEd]

Cut the black malt down to two ounces and bump up the Lovibond of the crystal using a little less. Try 8-10 ounces of 55L UK crystal and 2 ounces of black barley.

 

[EdWort]

Just be careful with Crystal for color, as it adds more to the beer than just color.

Toasted malt will add a nuttiness or maltyness to the beer without adding additional sweetness.

 

[1Mainebrew]

Carared

 

[Zen_Brew]

Definitely cut back on the roasted barley to just 1 or 2 ounces and change the crystal from 20 to maybe a crystal 60.

 

[ChillWill]

The brewery I've been working at does a fairly simple grain bill of mostly maris otter then uses about 10% torrified wheat then for the red colour; dark crystal (80L) for about 10% of the grain bill, then a small amount of black patent (about 10% as much crystal/ 1% of total grain bill). Comes out deep red whilst remaining transparent.

 

[NCBeernut]

A few ounces of roasted barley and some crystal 80 will give you a really nice red color.

 

[Oldsock]

I just did an American Red with 10 oz of CaraMunich and 4 oz of pale chocolate, color looked just about right going into the fermenter (we'll see how much it changes).