TOPIC:

Following on from this thread[/url:wnv6i05k] last year, here[/url:wnv6i05k] at long last is the write-up from the Irish Red tasting event we did.

Interesting...

I was however under the impression that [i:3pkk6qfe]"Irish Red"[/i:3pkk6qfe] is an American term, or even a term used by other countries to describe an Irish pale ale.

For one thing, our pale ales tend to be red in colour instead of the more typical straw colour you get in English pale ales.
Also we use roasted malts in most of ours which I think is where the colour comes from.

Irish Red is not a term we use in Ireland, or at least not until recently as the Craft beer (another American term I think) community has started using it in their own beer, especially O'Hara's as they export it to the US in bottles so the name is quite comfortable over there.

I think the roasted malt use is the biggest difference, apart from colour to a typical English bitter.

Just my own 2c but even if [i:3pkk6qfe]Irish Red[/i:3pkk6qfe] is not an actual style, perhaps it should be, though not necessarily [i:3pkk6qfe]Irish [/i:3pkk6qfe]Red, just Red Ale?

Great write up by the way, sorry I missed it.

"Saruman":183uewhr wrote: I was however under the impression that [i:183uewhr]"Irish Red"[/i:183uewhr] is an American term, or even a term used by other countries to describe an Irish pale ale.[/quote:183uewhr]It was coined by Michael Jackson, so yes: it's mostly currency in the UK, US, and places where their approach to beer is copied.

"Saruman":183uewhr wrote: our pale ales tend to be red in colour instead of the more typical straw colour you get in English pale ales.[/quote:183uewhr]I wouldn't say English pale ales are typically straw-coloured. I think more are a coppery (red) shade: the "boring brown bitter" of ill-repute.

"Saruman":183uewhr wrote: Irish Red is not a term we use in Ireland, or at least not until recently as the Craft beer[/quote:183uewhr]
In Ireland, tragically, the term normally applied is "ale". Most Irish drinkers have no need for further qualification.

&amp;quot;Saruman&amp;quot;:183uewhr wrote: even if [i:183uewhr]Irish Red[/i:183uewhr] is not an actual style, perhaps it should be, though not necessarily [i:183uewhr]Irish [/i:183uewhr]Red, just Red Ale?[/quote:183uewhr]Care to write a spec? <!-- s:) --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_smile.gif" alt="" title="Smile" /><!-- s:) --> I think it would fall down in its distinction from English and Scottish bitter, particularly the ropey keg ones.

&amp;quot;TheBeerNut&amp;quot;:34ospw31 wrote:

&amp;quot;Saruman&amp;quot;:34ospw31 wrote: I was however under the impression that [i:34ospw31]"Irish Red"[/i:34ospw31] is an American term, or even a term used by other countries to describe an Irish pale ale.[/quote:34ospw31]It was coined by Michael Jackson, so yes: it's mostly currency in the UK, US, and places where their approach to beer is copied.

In Ireland, tragically, the term normally applied is "ale". Most Irish drinkers have no need for further qualification.

&amp;quot;Saruman&amp;quot;:34ospw31 wrote: even if [i:34ospw31]Irish Red[/i:34ospw31] is not an actual style, perhaps it should be, though not necessarily [i:34ospw31]Irish [/i:34ospw31]Red, just Red Ale?[/quote:34ospw31]Care to write a spec? <!-- s:) --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_smile.gif" alt="" title="Smile" /><!-- s:) --> I think it would fall down in its distinction from English and Scottish bitter, particularly the ropey keg ones.[/quote:34ospw31]

In my opinion the "Irish red ale" style is more legitimate than the rather silly "Irish pale ale" that you see on bottles these days. Red coloured ale has been popular in Ireland for donkey's years. I think it's arsey pedantry to dwell too much on the distinct characteristics, suffice is to say that Irish-brewed red ales generally aren't a million miles apart. The taste of beer has changed dramatically in the past couple of generations, and I'd be surprised if a Scottish ale today tasted anything like one from 100 years ago.

Afterall, making beer is an industrial process in the same way that Coca Cola is. We're not talking about wines that are characteristic to their regions, different grape varieties etc. The craft beer movement in Ireland should be careful not to smother itself in snobbiness. Of course, the inclusion of "Irish" in the "Irish red ale" classification is likely a foreign tag as we would have no need to call it anything other than red ale, or even just ale.

The fact is that we are known the world over for our drinking prowess and our fondness of the gargle, and we should not see the beoir/craft beer thing as a new departure but rather a continuation of an ancient tradition almost wiped out by Guinness. The artisan beer movement in Ireland should perhaps take a leaf from the revived whiskey scene.

People bang on about other countries' independent brewery tradition, but every odd town in Ireland had a small brewery at some stage or other. It's down to Guinness that they all disappeared, long before the continental lager-style hit our shores.

[quote:3b9yrz6w]Mario Monti

In my opinion the "Irish red ale" style is more legitimate than the rather silly "Irish pale ale" that you see on bottles these days[/quote:3b9yrz6w]

That calls for a test![/url:3b9yrz6w]

&amp;quot;a_friend_in_mead&amp;quot;:fcquxogd wrote: [quote:fcquxogd]Mario Monti

In my opinion the "Irish red ale" style is more legitimate than the rather silly "Irish pale ale" that you see on bottles these days[/quote:fcquxogd]

That calls for a test![/url:fcquxogd][/quote:fcquxogd]

Let's do it boyos! I love my pale ales, by the way but I'm taking a stand for a community under siege. I may be in Ireland briefly next month if anyone fancies this Pepsi challenge.

When you ask for a pint of ale in Ireland, you expect red! Nothing tragic about it. It's the traditional vernacular. All other types of ale would need further qualification for a barman (in Ireland). For example, you'd hardly ask for a pint of dry Irish stout for fear that the barman might bring you an imperial.

I'm in the red corner. Challengers step forward!