Irish Red Ale Raging Red Irish Red Ale

[bondra76]

Brewing this today and pitching Dennys Favorite 50. Never used this yeast before. Curious how it will pan out.

 

[tomchukj]

I used dennys 50 and it finished real quick for me snd the fermentation did not need a blow off tube. Bottled last weekend cant wait to try it.

 

[wtaylor3]

Impatience got the best of me, tried one at 4 days. Wasn't carbed up yet, but now its been a week so 1-2 more weeks is gonna be a long time

 

[treacheroustexan]

This is my hydrometer reading 10 days into fermentation. How does the color look to you guys? Not sure why my gravity is so low either..research I have done says that my mash temp was too low. Can anyone back that up?

 

[wtaylor3]

Color looks just like mine, mine isn't very red though

 

[tomchukj]

Is the hydrometer actually floating? From the pic it appears to be touching the bottom of your tube. What was your OG?

 

[Mysticmead]

Mysticmead,

I think I saw that you go 4 weeks in primary and then keg. What's your kegging schedule? Do you cellar-temp condition it (and for how long), or do you force carb at 20-30 psi, or do you do "set-and-forget" at serving temp/pressure for 2 weeks?

I've done set it and forget it many times..and other times I set it at 30 psi and roll the keg back and forth for 5-10 minutes.. both times were after the beer was chilled. both ways work and produce the same beer.

 

[treacheroustexan]

Ok guys, looks like my hydrometer is reading 1.001 today.. What the heck is going on? This is 11 days into fermentation. Another thing I should note, I added my honey after a day in the primary instead of flameout. Could that also factor in my low reading?

 

[Shenanigans]

Ok guys, looks like my hydrometer is reading 1.001 today.. What the heck is going on? This is 11 days into fermentation. Another thing I should note, I added my honey after a day in the primary instead of flameout. Could that also factor in my low reading?

Did you boil the Honey in water before adding it to the primary?
If not maybe you introduced some wild yeast from the Honey that has fermented the sugars that are usually non-fermentable for "normal" beer yeast. How does it taste - a bit funky?

 

[treacheroustexan]

Did you boil the Honey in water before adding it to the primary?
If not maybe you introduced some wild yeast from the Honey that has fermented the sugars that are usually non-fermentable for "normal" beer yeast. How does it taste - a bit funky?

it just tastes a little dry. I did not boil it.

 

[Toilet Rocker]

I brewed this last fall and it kicked promptly. So fast, in fact, that I thought my keg was leaking gas until I lifted the keg itself. I brewed it a second time with Murphy's Law in full effect. My local HBS didn't have the same ingredients, I ran out of propane, and finished brewing past dark in the freezing cold. The second batch of what I called Freckled Red the first time around was dubbed Freckled Red's Bitchy Little Sister. Oddly enough, the grain flavor is more prominent and even has a fresher taste. Thanks again, Mysticmead, for this tremendous recipe! Next time I brew it, I am going to add the honey.

 

[TrustyOlJohnson]

Did you boil the Honey in water before adding it to the primary?

If not maybe you introduced some wild yeast from the Honey that has fermented the sugars that are usually non-fermentable for "normal" beer yeast. How does it taste - a bit funky?

Honey is an antiseptic. There wont be any wild yeast in it. Boiling jus boils away the aroma and flavors

 

[TrustyOlJohnson]

Ok guys, looks like my hydrometer is reading 1.001 today.. What the heck is going on? This is 11 days into fermentation. Another thing I should note, I added my honey after a day in the primary instead of flameout. Could that also factor in my low reading?

What temp did u mash at? For how long?

 

[treacheroustexan]

What temp did u mash at? For how long?

I found out I have a very inaccurate thermometer (I ordered a new one right after this brew and will be here tomorrow). But my reading showed my water was at 163, so I added it to my mash tun and added my grains and about 10 minutes later I did a reading and it was jumping from the low 140s - 148.. I didn't add anymore water until I sparged, I just stirred it and let it set and wrapped it with a blanket. Beersmith said to mash at 148.

 

[TrustyOlJohnson]

Yep, that cud do it.

 

[TrustyOlJohnson]

Ok guys, looks like my hydrometer is reading 1.001 today.. What the heck is going on? This is 11 days into fermentation. Another thing I should note, I added my honey after a day in the primary instead of flameout. Could that also factor in my low reading?

If you have not bottled, and you dont want this beer to be as dry, heres an option:
Brew another batch, mash at 158, ferment it out, (it should finish high), then blend the 2....

 

[TrustyOlJohnson]

Duplicate post

 

[treacheroustexan]

If you have not bottled, and you dont want this beer to be as dry, heres an option:
Brew another batch, mash at 158, ferment it out, (it should finish high), then blend the 2....

I just finished bottling about an hour ago... you can see my post "Bottling rant" in the rant section for further info lol. I drank a few oz. out of the bottling bucket and it didn't taste bad at all.

 

[wtaylor3]

This seems to be taking forever to carb up compared to my other beers, mine didn't come out as red as other people's have, and I think it needs more time which I knew was just being impatient and drank one each on two separate occasions(been in bottle 10 days)

I complained to swmbo that it wasn't done, wasn't as good as it was supposed to be, and needs more time to be a great beer. She pointed out that it can't be that bad seeings how I finished them in 3 "sips".

Just to clarify I'm not criticizing the recipe but in fact my brewing process. I do however believe that in another week or two this will be a great beer if I can forget about them. The body is thinner than I expected, but that could be me as I've been on a stout kick lately.

 

[tomchukj]

I am at two weeks and a bit flat. Moved 3 bottles to a warmer area to see if it helps

 

[treacheroustexan]

I bottled this friday night and put one in the fridge this morning just because I don't have patience. This is at after 3 days in the bottle. It's actually very delicious, even flat!

 

[mikeyc]

Came out great. It's a little on the malty/sweet side, but that's what I expected. I planned on having this for St. Paddy's day, but I don't think that will happen. Luckily I have an Irish stout waiting to be kegged.

View attachment 1424756597636.jpg

 

[wtaylor3]

Very good at exactly two weeks in bottle

View attachment 1424813735461.jpg

View attachment 1424813759240.jpg

 

[sfish]

Finally found the time. In primary last night bad ass bubbling this morning, used a good size starter of Wyeast 1084. Cooled to 65° f and place in a room with 62° temp of primary this morning 67°.

Looks maybe a little dark, I know it will settle out. OG 1.054
The receipe I used is on post 771.

Than you very much Mysticmead,
sfish

 

[amandley]

Made this just over 2 weeks ago. My OG was 1.056, a little lower than expected and as of today I am reading 1.019...a little higher than expected. I used crystal 150 instead of cararoma and carapils instead of carafoam and I used BRY 97 yeast. Kept my fermenter at 68* the whole 16 days. Should have been enough. Why did I not get low enough? I'm ok with a lower ABV but am afraid its going to be super sweet. Thoughts?

 

[Btaz]

Made this just over 2 weeks ago. My OG was 1.056, a little lower than expected and as of today I am reading 1.019...a little higher than expected. I used crystal 150 instead of cararoma and carapils instead of carafoam and I used BRY 97 yeast. Kept my fermenter at 68* the whole 16 days. Should have been enough. Why did I not get low enough? I'm ok with a lower ABV but am afraid its going to be super sweet. Thoughts?

Did you pitch enough yeast and oxygenate it somehow?

 

[amandley]

Followed my normal procedures. Pouring the wort back and forth between kettle and bucket several times and through a strainer. Pitched the entire packet of yeast, like I always do. The only thing I can think is that it was having a hard time with the honey. Never used it before and have read that it can be difficult for yeast to consume?

 

[treacheroustexan]

Man even though it fermented to 1.000 due to low mash temp this is delicious! It hasn't even been bottled a whole week yet and I am already 6 down lol. Brb...

7 down.

 

[sfish]

Made this just over 2 weeks ago. My OG was 1.056, a little lower than expected and as of today I am reading 1.019...a little higher than expected. I used crystal 150 instead of cararoma and carapils instead of carafoam and I used BRY 97 yeast. Kept my fermenter at 68* the whole 16 days. Should have been enough. Why did I not get low enough? I'm ok with a lower ABV but am afraid its going to be super sweet. Thoughts?

Try raising the temp. to see if you get some activity

 

[NewJersey]

Brewed this a couple years ago. Brewing again right now as i type this post. Should be able to have this ready for St. Patrick's Day easy. Thanks yet again for this recipe, mead