How to get a red ale red

[mattd2]

Quick question, what makes a red ale red?
Looking into brewing one and might of mess up my grain order a bit as I was going to use a fair bit of carared in it.
So now I have it as:
8# 12oz Pale malt
7 oz carared
7 oz caramel (60L)

Also have some chocolate, caramel 20L, biscuit & roasted barley.

I think I heard either the choc or roasted barley might help give a bit more red colour, is that right?

 

[VonMessa]

Roasted Barley

4 - 8 oz. should do it. (for 5 gal batch)

 

[permo]

9# pale
1# carared
3 oz chocolate malt


I think this would give you quite a red beer and tasty as well

 

[unionrdr]

I understand that a couple ounces of Carafa special II can get you there as well.

 

[Mpavlik22]

I've successfully used pale chocolate. I believe I used ~ 8oz. It was around 200L in color.

For me it imparts a slight roasty flavor, not toasty. Which is just what I'm looking for.

 

[Bobby_M]

Be careful with those dark malts. 8oz of roasted barley? That's in the range of stout percentage. I'd go with 2-3oz of the chocolate.

 

[DustBow]

I agree w/ Bobby - that's too much roasted barley.
I used 2oz in my last rye pale for added red color.

I've heard/read that some people use the really dark malts like chocolate/carafa special/etc. but only add them at the very end of the mash or right before a double batch sparge. That way you get the color but no flavors that might come out in a 60 minute mash

 

[unionrdr]

That's my current understanding of Carafa & the like. Or just steep the carafa for the color...

 

[Bierliebhaber]

It may not be in your current stock, but for the future 8 oz of crystal 120 and 8 oz of special B will give you a very nice red color--not to mention flavor.

 

[King of Cascade]

I like the carafa II with the carared, has always worked for me.

3oz carafa
1 lb carared

 

[Misplaced_Canuck]

It may not be in your current stock, but for the future 8 oz of crystal 120 and 8 oz of special B will give you a very nice red color--not to mention flavor.

Don't forget that Special-B gives you a raisin/plum/licorice like flavor.

M_C

 

[mattd2]

Thanks for all the suggestions, so I might put 2 oz of either the roasted barley or chocolate malt in and maybe cut the 60L back a bit aswell.
So what does this look like
9 lb 12 oz pale (92%)
7 oz Carared (4%)
5 oz 60L (3%)
2 oz chocolate / roasted barley (1%)
Trying for a grist of 10 lb 10 oz to celebrate our new baby boy who was born on Wednesday!

 

[VonMessa]

Be careful with those dark malts. 8oz of roasted barley? That's in the range of stout percentage. I'd go with 2-3oz of the chocolate.

Oops I guess it's time for new batteries in the wireless keyboard, again.

That was supposed to be 4-8 oz. for a 15 gallon batch...

 

[Mpavlik22]

Thanks for all the suggestions, so I might put 2 oz of either the roasted barley or chocolate malt in and maybe cut the 60L back a bit aswell.
So what does this look like
9 lb 12 oz pale (92%)
7 oz Carared (4%)
5 oz 60L (3%)
2 oz chocolate / roasted barley (1%)
Trying for a grist of 10 lb 10 oz to celebrate our new baby boy who was born on Wednesday!

Congrats my man. I just had a son two weeks ago. IMO I would drop the carared if your going to add the choc or RB. I would up the c-60 to .75lb (12oz). I may also suggest adding a pound of munich and maybe .5lb victory ( or something along those lines). That's what i put in my red and its very tasty.

I personally use 4 oz pale chocolate (200L) for my red. It gives it a very nice amber red color.

 

[dirty_martini]

2oz of dark malt along with some crystal will give you a nice red hue. I like throwing some melanoidin in so I can cut back on the crystal and still get the nice color, but with more malt punch and less caramel sweetness.

 

[passedpawn]

Beets. Search HBT, you'll see.

Roasted barley is the usual response. Too much and you're way out of style. Careful.