Saint Patrick’s Day is a perfect excuse to brew something Irish inspired. Mike usually makes stouts for the holiday, but this time he brewed an Irish Red Ale for the family’s traditional corned beef and cabbage dinner. The goal was a simple, drinkable beer that would appeal to everyone who stopped by for the celebration.

Brewing the Irish Red

Mike designed this recipe to explore how different grains influence color in an Irish red. The grain bill was 95% Golden Promise, with 2.5% Crystal 120 and 2.5% Black Patent. Instead of roasted barley, the black patent provided a touch of roast while helping push the beer toward a reddish hue instead of brown.

3.5 US gallon batch

Water: Half spring water and half tap water with small gypsum and lactic acid additions

Base Malt:
95% Golden Promise

Specialty Malts:
2.5% Crystal 120
2.5% Black Patent

Hops:
1 ounce of UK Goldings hops added with 60 minutes to go in the boil
1 ounce of UK Goldings hops added at flameout

Yeast:
1 packet of Apex London (British-style ale yeast)

Instructions:
Mash: 152°F for 60 minutes, then mash out for 15 minutes
Mash pH: ~5.4

Ferment for two weeks.

Stats:
Original Gravity: 1.048
Final Gravity: 1.011
ABV: Just under 5%

Thoughts and Conclusion

In the glass, the beer leaned strongly amber with subtle red highlights and a tan head. The aroma was clean with light British esters. The flavor blended nicely with the Golden Promise malt, delivering a smooth malt backbone, a hint of caramel, and just a touch of roast from the black patent.

The UK Goldings hops contributed mild bitterness and a slightly woody, earthy character, though they lacked the more delicate tea-like complexity often associated with East Kent Goldings. Overall, the beer was dry, balanced, and extremely drinkable.

This 2026 Irish red turned out to be exactly what the occasion called for: a crowd-pleasing beer that pairs perfectly with corned beef, cabbage, potatoes, and mustard. It may not have been perfectly to style in color or hop character, but it delivered where it mattered most—balance and drinkability. Sometimes the best holiday beer is simply the one everyone enjoys drinking.