Ruby Red Ale Recipe

[Smiddylad]

Hi All
I’ve been tasked with brewing a Ruby Red Ale, Marston’s Medusa being the benchmark. But it’s not a style I am that familiar with. Does anyone have a good Ruby Red Ale recipe, and what grain gives it it’s distinctive colour?

Thanks

Neil

 

[terrym]

Former member Clibit provided this, which may be of use
http://www.thehomebrewforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=55339

 

[Smiddylad]

Nice one, I've picked up a bottle of Medusa from Aldi today, so use that recipe as a starting point. It doesn't have to be a clone, so it should be good.

 

[Sandimas]

what grain gives it it’s distinctive colour?

I've just accidentally brewed a red ale, I wouldn't say it's ruby-red but a very dark reddish amber. Amber malt is what you need. I accidentally bought amber malt extract instead of light, and combined with a mash of amber malt the result was a red beer.

Here's my recipe for a 13L brew, it was a mix-up of AG and extract, but this should give you some idea of the quantities. The brewing software said 8.2 SRM but the result looks darker to me, I guess it's hard to predict the amber extract colour.

Grain Bill
----------------
1.500 kg Liquid Malt Extract - Amber (70.46%)
0.300 kg Maris Otter Malt (14.09%)
0.179 kg Caragold (8.41%)
0.150 kg Amber Malt (7.05%)

Hop Bill
----------------
12.0 g Willamette Leaf (7.1% Alpha) @ 60 Minutes (Boil) (0.9 g/L)
9.0 g Styrian Golding Leaf (4.4% Alpha) @ 15 Minutes (Boil) (0.7 g/L)
9.0 g Willamette Leaf (7.1% Alpha) @ 15 Minutes (Boil) (0.7 g/L)

 

[Smiddylad]

Interesting, caragold not come across that before. What does that give in terms of colour and taste?