Irish Red Ale

This article originally appeared in the March/April 2009 issue of Zymurgy Magazine

By Mark Pasquinelli

It’s old yet new. It’s sweet but dry. It’s Irish Red Ale—the delightfully drinkable pint that’s a great St. Patrick’s Day change of pace from that other famous Irish import.

Irish Red has been an integral part of my homebrewing repertoire for over a decade. I’ve found it to be one of the few beers able to bridge the broad spectrum of appeal to aficionados, geeks, and even the light lager crowd. The best part is that Irish Red is quick and simple to make, so there’s no excuse not to brew a batch.

Red Ale has been brewed in Ireland for hundreds of years. However, no one is sure exactly when the style began or whom it was brewed by. Whether it was first made by Celtic tribesmen, the clergy, Vikings, or aliens from Andromeda, the origin of Irish Red Ale has long been lost to antiquity. All that’s known…