# 🍺 Top-down Brew: Irish Red

Original Gravity

Enter the desired original gravity as specific gravity (1.0XX) or degrees plato (°P).

Specification: 1.036 to 1.046; 9 to 11.4 °P

Target volume

Enter the desired volume at the end of the boil. The volume units can be either liters, gallons, or US barrels.

Measurement Units Metric US US Barrels

Select the preferred unit of measurement for the inputs and outputs. Metric uses liters, grams, and kilograms. US uses gallons, ounces, and pounds. US Barrels (31 gallons = 1 barrel) is in barrels, pounds, and ounces.

Mash Efficiency

Enter the anticipated mash efficiency percentage. If this is not known, try the following values based on the sparge method: Steeping (50%), No-sparge or brew-in-a-bag (65 to 75%), Batch sparge (80%), or Continuous (fly) sparge (85 to 90%).

Grains

Enter the name, fermentable %, Lovibond, and yield (SG or percent) with comma separations.

The base malt for Irish red ales is typically composed of pale ale malt, Maris Otter, or perhaps mild ale malt. A small percentage of roasted barley or chocolate malt (1%) is used for reddish color. Medium crystal malt contributes to the amber-red color.

- Beer-analytics.com Irish red ale analysis
- Brew United's grain database
- BYO magazine grain and adjunct resource

Sugar

Enter the name, fermentable %, Lovibond, and yield (SG or percent) with comma separations. The grain and sugar percentages must add to 100%.

Sugars are not needed. Malt extract brewers could try steeping 5% crystal malt in the grain section and 1 to 2% roasted barley. The rest would be a light liquid (1.035 yield) or dry malt (1.044 yield) extract.

- BYO magazine sugar resource

Bitterness

Enter the desired bitterness in international bittering units (IBUs).

Style specification: 18 to 28 IBUs. The beer-analytics.com averages suggest a BU/GU of .48.

Hops

Enter the hop name, IBU %, AA %, and boil minutes with comma separations.

Kent Goldings and Fuggle are classic British hops. Willamette is an American hop bred from Fuggle. Other possibilities include Challenger, Target, Perle, and Magnum.

- Beer-analytics.com Irish red ale analysis
- Brew United hop database
- BYO magazine's hop resources

Late Boil Additions

Enter late boil additions like spices with the name and dosage (grams/liter), with a comma separation.

The Irish red style does not require spices.

Dry Hops

Enter dry hops with name and dosage (grams/liter), with a comma separation.

Dry hops are not needed for this style.

Yeast Ale Lager

Select the yeast type, ale or lager.

Irish ale would be the most style-appropriate choice. Other British ale yeasts would also be possibilities.

← Click here when the data entry is done.

## Results

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## Notes

2021 BJCP 15 Irish red ale: "Generally has a bit of roasted barley or black malt to provide reddish color and dry roasted finish. Pale base malt. Caramel malts were historically imported and more expensive, so not all brewers would use them."

Vital Statistics: OG: 1.036 – 1.046; IBUs: 18 – 28 FG: 1.010 – 1.014; SRM: 9 – 14; ABV: 3.8 – 5.0%

## Sources

Beer-analytics.com Irish red ale analysis

Zainasheff, J. (2009, March-April). Irish red: Try it as an ale - or a lager. BYO, 19-21.

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