If you're a true brewer, you're probably still reeling from the hangover, emotional of course, from St. Patrick's Day . Or Saint Patrick, for friends. So to extend this Irish spirit a little more, today we want to talk about Irish Red Ales , a fairly new style among craft beers, but one that is gaining followers year after year.
A bit of history: the beer that appeared in poems
Curiously, it is not the most popular style in Ireland, its country of origin, where English Bitters gain in consumption and manufacture. However, it is a very old recipe: already in the Late Middle Ages a mention of “ red ale ” appears in a typical Irish poem.
This data is very interesting, since it indicates that many centuries ago this style was already consumed among the Irish settlers. Although it is also true that most likely the beer consumed today differs a lot from what they drank in the Middle Ages. Mainly, because the use of hops had not yet reached brewing, and in Ireland (as in many other places) what was added to the recipe was a mixture of herbs - in this case, heather and marsh myrtle.
The first Irish Red Ales
It was not until 1710 that we found a clear reference to the manufacture of this style, as we know it today. He is linked to the founding of the Smithwick Brewery, which created a red beer recipe with sweet undertones from malt.
Irish Red Ale: the Irish style that triumphs among Americans
But this recipe was much more successful outside its country of origin than within, since it is in the United States where the style becomes popular and accessible to all craft beer consumers.
There were two reasons for it. On the one hand, dark beers with much more tradition were preferred in Ireland, such as Dry Stouts and Porters. The new style did not manage to take root with the same force among consumers, for whom this drink had a strong symbolic value. On the other hand, the big North American brewers incorporated the Irish Red Ale style into their catalog in the 80s and gave it a great advertising push. This made this type of beer very popular with the American public.
How to recognize an Irish Red Ale?
As its name suggests, you can easily recognize this style by its color, which will range from amber tones to a deep reddish copper. It is also important that you look at transparency, which is another differentiating feature of this beer. Finally, your foam layer will be discreet but with a yellowish or slightly brownish tone.
Later, if you come closer to smell, you will discover a subtle smell of caramel and even, in a very light way, of butter. And above all, there should be no hop aroma.
In the mouth, the malt flavor with a moderate caramel profile stands out above all. The finish is dry and generally, as with the nose, there should be no hop flavor. It is a beer with a fairly clean and smooth taste.
3 recommendations for Irish Red Ale (and its pairings)
You already know that at Beer Sapiens we love to spread beer culture, but we also believe that there is no better way to learn about the different styles of beer than by drinking them! That is why we leave you here 2 beers of this style, made, as always, with the highest quality and affection in our national breweries:
- Ordio Clau Revolution Irish Red Ale . If you are looking for the transparency and color typical of this style, this is your beer. Sweet and malty flavors with very little bitterness on the palate that pairs perfectly with pepperoni pizza, carpaccio or burritos.
- Galician Brew Sabela Irish Red , another magnificent option if you are looking for a soft and balanced Irish Red Ale made from top fermentation. Roast chicken, pasty cheeses or, what better option for a Galician beer, some grilled prawns or langoustines, will be the perfect accompaniment.