Irish Red Ale Raging Red Irish Red Ale

[MichaelsBrewing]

Just thought I'd drop by this wildly popular thread. I have made my variation of this recipe (basically omitting the honey) for the 14th time; more than any other. I mashed a little lower than IMHO it should have been @152. The result is a thinner product and a slight warming taste. OG 1041 FG 1006. Although the miss in temp it is still a stellar recipe!

If you are hovering wondering if you should brew it; you should . Fall is almost here and what could more perfect?

Cheers once again to the OP.

 

[robertmeyer]

thanks! the beers look good and taste even better. I'm going to go into over load brewing mode this weekend... 4 beers to get going for a camping trip in late sept. this will probably be one of them... gonna go from light to dark.... cream ale, IPA, red, stout.. add in a few gallons of mead and it'll be a good camping trip

That sounds awesome! I am planning on brewing your recipe this weekend, and I wish I could brew more than one as well. I just started out about 6 months ago, so I am currently gathering things here and there. One day I will be able to knock out that many brews, and as well use it for a camping trip. I will post pictures on the final product. Again thanks for the recipe!

Just thought I'd drop by this wildly popular thread. I have made my variation of this recipe (basically omitting the honey) for the 14th time; more than any other. I mashed a little lower than IMHO it should have been @152. The result is a thinner product and a slight warming taste. OG 1041 FG 1006. Although the miss in temp it is still a stellar recipe!

If you are hovering wondering if you should brew it; you should . Fall is almost here and what could more perfect?

Cheers once again to the OP.

Hey thanks! Because Mysticmead and you have recommended it, I definitely will be brewing it this weekend, and beer in the fall and winter to me sounds like an idyllic time to drink homebrew. Does anyone know of a similar commercial beer that taste close to this recipe? Since I will be brewing it, I figured I would taste something similar.

Cheers guys

 

[bkorver]

I'm taking my first crack at this one tomorrow morning. I am doing the "1 lb Honey Malt, 1 lb Brown Sugar" version instead of the honey. Can't wait! I'll post some photos after I get it keged...

 

[Shenanigans]

Hi,
So I plan on giving this brew a go in a few weeks time.
The original recepie is for BIAB if I use this amount of grain for my setup where I mash in a cooler I should get 5-10 points more for the OG. I’m still working on optimising my system so the chances are that I won’t relalise this but if I do end up with a higher O.G. will this effect the taste of the beer significantly? Would it be advised to dilute it down with a few quarts of pre-boiled and cooled water?
I haven’t had a chance to read all 30+ pages in this thread but has someone already brewed this with an OG of 1.065 to 1.070 and did it still taste as awsome?
Thanks a lot.

 

[Mysticmead]

Hi,
So I plan on giving this brew a go in a few weeks time.
The original recepie is for BIAB if I use this amount of grain for my setup where I mash in a cooler I should get 5-10 points more for the OG. I’m still working on optimising my system so the chances are that I won’t relalise this but if I do end up with a higher O.G. will this effect the taste of the beer significantly? Would it be advised to dilute it down with a few quarts of pre-boiled and cooled water?
I haven’t had a chance to read all 30+ pages in this thread but has someone already brewed this with an OG of 1.065 to 1.070 and did it still taste as awsome?
Thanks a lot.

what is your brew house efficiency? You have to remember that the ONLY difference between BIAB and a traditional 3 vessel setup is the name and the method. both are All Grain. As such, both rely on the efficiency of your setup. This was designed around 72-75% efficiency. If you get higher efficiency, then you can either roll with a higher OG or adjust the base grain a little to bring it in line. the difference between 72 and 75% is not enough to worry about.


bottom line. brew it. drink it, you won't be disappointed. you'll have a 6-6.5% abv beer. That's such a small difference you won't notice. for what its worth... since creating this recipe I bought my own grain mill and crush a lot finer than my LHBS did.. my efficiency went up and yes I get about 1.065 on this beer. still tastes awesome

 

[Shenanigans]

what is your brew house efficiency? You have to remember that the ONLY difference between BIAB and a traditional 3 vessel setup is the name and the method. both are All Grain. As such, both rely on the efficiency of your setup. This was designed around 72-75% efficiency. If you get higher efficiency, then you can either roll with a higher OG or adjust the base grain a little to bring it in line. the difference between 72 and 75% is not enough to worry about.


bottom line. brew it. drink it, you won't be disappointed. you'll have a 6-6.5% abv beer. That's such a small difference you won't notice. for what its worth... since creating this recipe I bought my own grain mill and crush a lot finer than my LHBS did.. my efficiency went up and yes I get about 1.065 on this beer. still tastes awesome

Great, thanks for your reply.
I'm also somewhere about the 70% mark but I have only brewed once with my new system and I oversparged so this brew will go a long way to help determine exactly what my efficiency is. Before this I was doing step mashing with a constant heat source and lautering using the two bucket method. Now I'm doing infusion in a cooler with a bazooka screen. So it will probably take another few brews before I have concrete values. Great that this is such a forgiving brew that apparently tasts great even if you under- or overshoot.

 

[cmor]

Just checking in with an update...this beer keeps getting better. I finally had the chance to sit by a campfire with some in my glass and talk about being a happy camper.

I also passed some along to a co-worker of mine, along with a coffee stout I brewed in May. He really enjoyed both(a little more love towards the stout though) and is thinking about getting into brewing now.

Once again, kudos to you for the recipe, and thanks for sharing.

Steve

 

[Mysticmead]

Just checking in with an update...this beer keeps getting better. I finally had the chance to sit by a campfire with some in my glass and talk about being a happy camper.

I also passed some along to a co-worker of mine, along with a coffee stout I brewed in May. He really enjoyed both(a little more love towards the stout though) and is thinking about getting into brewing now.

Once again, kudos to you for the recipe, and thanks for sharing.

Steve

awesome. that's the best part of brewing, sharing with friends. Then dragging them into the hobby. Remember, the more people that brew beer, the more beer for you to drink!

 

[vbman29]

I brewed this on Saturday, but the LHBS didn't have Crystal so I subbed Williamette and Cascade. IBU's were a little high for this style. Do you think the hop flavor or bitterness will be too out of balance?

 

[Mysticmead]

I brewed this on Saturday, but the LHBS didn't have Crystal so I subbed Williamette and Cascade. IBU's were a little high for this style. Do you think the hop flavor or bitterness will be too out of balance?

a little high isn't going to hurt anything. a LOT high will be noticed. Would it be bad? Naaa, but it would be a different beer

 

[bkorver]

Still a little under carbed but it looks and tastes phenomenal.

 

[Mysticmead]

Still a little under carbed but it looks and tastes phenomenal.

awesome looking pint!

 

[jjeremy]

Based on my experimentation I can definitely recommend using oak with this brew.
This is already a great beer (thanks again Mysticmead, I keep coming back to this and it keeps being awesome) and I really like the additional vanilla and spice notes.
For this batch I purchased a medium toast Hungarian oak stick and sanitized it by letting it sit in Irish whiskey (Kilbeggan) while the beer was in primary for a week.

After the first week I transferred to secondary and added the oak and let it sit for about 6 weeks.
Bottle priming took longer, roughly 3 weeks to fully carbonate, but it got there eventually. I'm down to my last 12 pack now and it tastes amazing though I think the spice notes from the oak have mellowed out after a few months in the bottle.
Again, I thought this was an amazing beer to begin with which is why I chose it for this longer process.

Cheers

 

[Mysticmead]

Based on my experimentation I can definitely recommend using oak with this brew.
This is already a great beer (thanks again Mysticmead, I keep coming back to this and it keeps being awesome) and I really like the additional vanilla and spice notes.
For this batch I purchased a medium toast Hungarian oak stick and sanitized it by letting it sit in Irish whiskey (Kilbeggan) while the beer was in primary for a week.

After the first week I transferred to secondary and added the oak and let it sit for about 6 weeks.
Bottle priming took longer, roughly 3 weeks to fully carbonate, but it got there eventually. I'm down to my last 12 pack now and it tastes amazing though I think the spice notes from the oak have mellowed out after a few months in the bottle.
Again, I thought this was an amazing beer to begin with which is why I chose it for this longer process.

Cheers

sounds great! I might have to give this a shot too... after I oak age an imperial stout

 

[PJM]

I realize, as I near the end of my keg of this beer, that I have failed to post my results and owe it to Mysticmead to do so.

Awesome beer. Great color and clarity. Very easy drinking. I think the honey definitely adds a little something. Maybe its a little sweetness at the end of each swig. I had been on roll of IPAs and APAs and this was the perfect diversion. Everyone who tried it liked it...even my wife!!! That is a first.

Thanks again for a great recipe.

 

[John8251]

In the fermenter. So excited about this one. Has anyone done this one with Orange Blossom honey? I'm curious to see if it adds anything to the flavor profile, good or bad. I've been wanting to do an Irish Red and this looked like a perfect place to start. The post boil sample looked amazing. Thanks for the recipe mysticmead! I'll let you know how it turns out and post pictures of the finished product..

 

[Mysticmead]

In the fermenter. So excited about this one. Has anyone done this one with Orange Blossom honey? I'm curious to see if it adds anything to the flavor profile, good or bad. I've been wanting to do an Irish Red and this looked like a perfect place to start. The post boil sample looked amazing. Thanks for the recipe mysticmead! I'll let you know how it turns out and post pictures of the finished product..

honestly, save the Orange blossom honey and use some simple cheapo honey. it's really there to boost the ABV.. it might smooth it out just a little too but the flavor is lost to the rest of the beer.

 

[jjeremy]

I just put another batch into primary. I'll be aging with oak again, just 5 weeks is my current plan. Still, it's going to be such a long wait!

Totally worth it, but a long wait. Maybe I should give it an extra month on the oak and just have it on New Year's.

 

[nolabrew85]

When I put this recipe in beersmith with the same efficiency, I get a little lower gravity and also a lower SRM, more like 14 instead of 15.9. Anyone else have this issue? I was thinking of maybe upping the caraaroma and/or meladoien a bit to get the color right. Should I do this or just leave it is as is despit what beersmith is saying?

 

[dave8274]

When I put this recipe in beersmith with the same efficiency, I get a little lower gravity and also a lower SRM, more like 14 instead of 15.9. Anyone else have this issue? I was thinking of maybe upping the caraaroma and/or meladoien a bit to get the color right. Should I do this or just leave it is as is despit what beersmith is saying?

I had the same problem. I think it's because I entered it as a 5.5 gallon batch like the heading of the recipe says, but if you look a little further down in the recipe it should be 5.0.

 

[Mysticmead]

deleted

 

[rbyount]

Mysticmead -
My thanks for an incredible recipe. Did my first homebrew this spring (kits), and this was my first foray into all grain. Did a noob goof and forgot the Melanoiden, but the beer is now quite drinkable although not with the full red color I've seen by others. Only concern I have now is I don't want to share it (except of course with SWMBO).

As I had done a couple of carb bombs I was conservative with the sugar for bottling and perhaps could have done a bit more. But the head, while not voluminous, does stay. Wonderful taste, easy to drink.

This will be one I want to always have available.

 

[Mysticmead]

Mysticmead -
My thanks for an incredible recipe. Did my first homebrew this spring (kits), and this was my first foray into all grain. Did a noob goof and forgot the Melanoiden, but the beer is now quite drinkable although not with the full red color I've seen by others. Only concern I have now is I don't want to share it (except of course with SWMBO).

As I had done a couple of carb bombs I was conservative with the sugar for bottling and perhaps could have done a bit more. But the head, while not voluminous, does stay. Wonderful taste, easy to drink.

This will be one I want to always have available.

beautiful beer and happy I was able to share this recipe with you (and everyone else)

 

[cjhammel]

Finished drinking my first keg of this everyone who tasted said it was a winner. Will be brewing this one again.

Here is how it turned out for me.

 

[Mysticmead]

Finished drinking my first keg of this everyone who tasted said it was a winner. Will be brewing this one again.

Here is how it turned out for me.

awesome looking beer... glad ya liked it!

 

[rzuck]

I just racked a 10 gallon batch of this beauty to kegs this past weekend. I brewed the recipe, unchanged, and hit the gravity numbers. The sample from the primary tasted terrific and the color is outstanding. I can't wait to try it carbonated. Thanks for sharing the recipe.

 

[cpl-america]

Hi,
So I plan on giving this brew a go in a few weeks time.
The original recepie is for BIAB if I use this amount of grain for my setup where I mash in a cooler I should get 5-10 points more for the OG. I’m still working on optimising my system so the chances are that I won’t relalise this but if I do end up with a higher O.G. will this effect the taste of the beer significantly? Would it be advised to dilute it down with a few quarts of pre-boiled and cooled water?
I haven’t had a chance to read all 30+ pages in this thread but has someone already brewed this with an OG of 1.065 to 1.070 and did it still taste as awsome?
Thanks a lot.

I usually run about 82-83% efficiency biab, and yes it was amazing.

 

[rknerem]

Brewed this two weeks ago following exact recipe, OG 1.060, 73% efficiency, great color. 15 days in primary, kegged today. Took a gravity reading and it was still 1.022, going to leave in keg one more week to see if it goes down any more before i put it in the kegerator and cool. My mash temp was lower than i wanted, about 148, but iodine test showed conversion. Could this account for a high finish gravity? first AG batch in many years.

 

[Mysticmead]

Brewed this two weeks ago following exact recipe, OG 1.060, 73% efficiency, great color. 15 days in primary, kegged today. Took a gravity reading and it was still 1.022, going to leave in keg one more week to see if it goes down any more before i put it in the kegerator and cool. My mash temp was lower than i wanted, about 148, but iodine test showed conversion. Could this account for a high finish gravity? first AG batch in many years.

a lower mash temp normally equals a more fermentable wort and a lower FG. I would check the thermometer and make sure it was reading correctly

 

[SEndorf]

Just put this in the fermenter. Looks good but had some strange numbers. I also could not get to 152 mash in my garage. Mashed at 150. Gravity 1.049. OG after boil is 1.08! Think I had a lot of boil off. Might need to adjust for my larger boil kettle? Ended up with about 4.8 gal.