Thinking of First Irish Red Ale---HELP!!

[jtupper]

Ok so I'm looking to start a new recipie on my lightly used all-grain setup.

Recipe is as follows:

OG 1.054
FG 1.014
IBU 25.2
SRM 17.59
ABV% 5.24

on a 68% eff

GRIST:
Golden Promise 8#
2 Row Caramel 40L 1.5#
Weyer CaraRED .5#
Biscuit .5#
Briess Roasted Barley .25#

HOP SCHEDULE:
Northern Brewer .75oz @ 60min
Fuggles .5oz @ 15min

Re-used Wyeast 1335 after a porter (fermenting now; yeast will be washed)


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So how does everything look? Am I on the right
track or what changes should be made....Thank
you in advance!

 

[jtupper]

Should I remove the flavoring hops?

BJCP GUIDELINES - Aroma: Low to moderate malt aroma, generally caramel-like but occasionally toasty or toffee-like in nature. May have a light buttery character (although this is not required). Hop aroma is low to none (usually not present). Quite clean.

And should I replace the CaraRED or Biscuit with Special B? I'm not familliar with these tree grains

 

[smarek82]

Personally I would try to be a little more simplistic on your grain bill if this is your first all grain.

I'd stick with your golden promise or even maris otter, 1-1.5#medium crystal (55L) and about 5oz roasted barley. That should give you the color you're looking for.

As far as hops go, I would omit Northern Brewer for EKG, UK target, or challenger as bittering. Shoot for a IBU:OG ratio around .4

This is an irish red I just bottled. So far color is dead on to Smithwicks, but has more body.

 

[jtupper]

it will be my second all grain actually. I just finished a chocolate porter which will be going to secondary tomorrow. let me update my hop schedule....

 

[jtupper]

what about subbing 1/2oz of Nuggets? and getting rid of everything else...just the nuggets for 60min

 

[MVKTR2]

I'll echo smarek's thoughts. No need for Cara Red & Crystal 40. If you want to use both, drop 8-12 oz. of the Crystal 40. Also you'll only need a bittering addition of hops, however if you want em and aren't planning on entering the brew in competition as an IRA, go for it. Too lazy to check, is that yeast strain the Irish ale yeast?

I've got an IRA recipe in my drop down based off of Jamil Z's IRA recipe, it's close to Smithwicks but a bit darker. My fav. IRA is Sam Adams & I think it's probably their best brew, the flavor is a perfect mix of sweet crystal malt & yeast character!

Schlante & Good Luck,
Phillip

 

[jtupper]

How Bout this?

Recipe is as follows:

OG 1.055
FG 1.014
IBU 19.8
SRM 16
ABV% 5.37

on a 68% eff

GRIST:
Golden Promise 8#
Weyer CaraRED 2.5#
Briess Roasted Barley .25#

HOP SCHEDULE:
1/2 oz Nuggets @ 60min

Re-used Wyeast 1335 after a porter (fermenting now; yeast will be washed)

Too lazy to check, is that yeast strain the Irish ale yeast?

No it's the British Ale II

Also you'll only need a bittering addition of hops,

thats what the nuggets are for....Im only using a 60min bittering

 

[smarek82]

Personally I don't have experience with Carared so cannot comment. I would be somewhat cautious if you don't know the malt's full characteristic, especially if you are letting it constitute nearly 25% of the grist.

If you want a slighter higher roasted character I can say 1/4# roasted barley won't do it. I know my next shot I am going to increase to about 6oz.

Nugget isn't a european hop, but I think it is worth a shot since you're just bittering with it. I think it could be interesting. I'm a big fan of nuggets. I also think UK target is a possible substitute for Nugget.

I have come up with a hypothesis that is: whatever you put together in your grain bill, hop bill, adjuncts, mash temps, etc.....as long as you keep everything clean and sanitized, and have an excellent fermentation....the beer you make will be good.

It seems that we get caught up in style guidelines when giving advice and forget the fact that its good to push the envelope sometimes!!!

Good Luck

 

[Bob]

I think that's too much CaraRed. In such a simple grist, much more than 10% caramel/crystal malt will quickly overwhelm the flavor. Certainly use no more than 15%.

4 ounces of Roasted Barley in five US gallons will net a beautiful red hue to the beer.

I'd go with no more than a pound of CaraRed or 40-60L Crystal, plus 4 oz of Roasted Barley, then make up the bulk of the OG with Golden Promise (which is a great base malt for this style, IMO).

Cheers,

Bob

 

[ReverseApacheMaster]

Irish Reds are one beer style I don't mind more of a hops flavor. You can definitely leave the hops at 20 or 15 min for flavor but omit them at 5 min or flameout because those are your aroma hops.

I did an Irish Red with hops at 60, 15, and 10. It has a noticeable, but very balanced hop flavor. It tastes a lot like SA's Irish Red, but a hint more hop flavor. It's darker than more reds, because I did a triple decoction on it (as an experiment) which made it thick and porter like, and more of a ruby color.

 

[KYB]

I think that's too much CaraRed. In such a simple grist, much more than 10% caramel/crystal malt will quickly overwhelm the flavor. Certainly use no more than 15%.

4 ounces of Roasted Barley in five US gallons will net a beautiful red hue to the beer.

I'd go with no more than a pound of CaraRed or 40-60L Crystal, plus 4 oz of Roasted Barley, then make up the bulk of the OG with Golden Promise (which is a great base malt for this style, IMO).

Cheers,

Bob

I agree with Bob completely.

 

[shelly_belly]

For comparison purposes, this one is excellent:

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f65/irish-red-1st-place-hbt-comp-141086/