Green River Trout Red Ale

by @sunny

Trout turning in a green current

An Irish red ale named for the Green River, toffee and toasted bread, 5.2%, for slow evenings by the water.

Brewed to order

Green River Trout Red Ale is an Irish red whose label shows rainbow trout riding a swirling green river between rust cliffs. The label is coloured in teal, amber, burnt orange and dark pine green, with cream lettering across the water.

ABV
5.3%
IBU
28
Colour
14SRM
OG to FG
1.0521.012
  • Irish red ale, 5.2% ABV
  • Toffee, toasted bread, dry roasted finish
  • East Kent Goldings, 28 IBU
  • Rainbow trout in a swirling green river
  • Rust cliffs, pines and an amber sky

In the glass

A glass of Irish Red Ale: clear ruby-red, tan head.
14SRM

Toffee, toasted bread and a dry, faintly roasted finish with gentle earthy hops

Serve
In a nonic pint at 50°F
Alongside
Grilled trout, shepherd's pie or sharp aged cheddar

Rainbow trout ride a looping green river, their pink stripes bright against the teal water. Rust cliffs rise on both banks, dark pines cling to the rock, and an amber sky glows at the top of the label.

It pours ruby and smells of toffee and toast. The sip is soft and malty, then finishes dry with a whisper of roast and earthy Goldings. Open one when the rod is racked and the fire is just catching.

Roasted barley does a lot in a small amount here. Two ounces is enough to pull the colour to ruby and dry the finish; any more and the beer drifts toward stout.

The numbers

5.3%Alcohol by volume

(1.052 − 1.012) × 131.25

28Bitterness, IBU

Bitterness only means anything against the style. This one is a Irish red ale.

14Colour, SRM

The swatch above is this number on the standard reference ramp, not an impression of it.

Gravity1.052 down to 1.012 — 77% apparent attenuation.

Named for the Green River

Flaming Gorge, Northeast Utah · UT

The Green River

The water it is named for

Water type
Tailwater

Details

Details

River
Green River
Style
Irish red ale
ABV
5.2%
Tasting notes
toffee, toasted bread, caramel, light roast, earthy hops
Colors
teal green, amber, burnt orange, rust, forest green, cream

Make it yourself

A home brew day set up in a garage: kettle steaming on a burner, mash tun and chiller beside it.

At a glance

Style
Irish red ale
Gravity, OG → FG
1.052 → 1.012
ABV
5.3%Derived from OG and FG
Bitterness
28 IBU
Colour
14SRMdeep amber
Difficulty
Second batchthe warm mash and the small dose of roasted barley reward a steady hand.
First pint
35 daysFrom brew day, including conditioning
Brew day
2 h 10 minKettle on to kitchen clean. The rest is the yeast.
You supply
brew kettle, mash tun, fermenter with airlock, wort chiller, hydrometer, thermometer, sanitiser, siphon
Written for
5 gal (18.9 L)
Efficiency assumed
72%Brew-in-a-bag, full-volume. House guidance

Grain bill

4 malts · 10.13 lb for 5 gal
Piles of pale, amber and dark malted barley on a wooden bench beside a scale.

Milled grain, weighed for each batch size. The percentage is each malt's share of the grist and stays the same at every size.

Malt% of grist12-pack batch · 1.25 galClassic · 5 gal12×12 batch · 15 gal
Maris Otter pale malt88.9%2.25 lb (1.02 kg)9 lb (4.08 kg)27 lb (12.25 kg)
Caramunich4.9%2 oz (57 g)8 oz (227 g)1.5 lb (0.68 kg)
Crystal 60L4.9%2 oz (57 g)8 oz (227 g)1.5 lb (0.68 kg)
Roasted barley1.2%0.5 oz (14 g)2 oz (57 g)6 oz (170 g)
Total grain100%2.53 lb (1.15 kg)10.13 lb (4.59 kg)30.38 lb (13.78 kg)

Hop schedule

2 additions · 60 min boil
Whole green hop cones and hop pellets on slate, one cone split to show the yellow lupulin.

Pellet hops, weighed in grams. Boil times count down to the end of the boil, so 60 minutes means the first thing in the kettle.

HopUseTime12-pack batch · 1.25 galClassic · 5 gal12×12 batch · 15 gal
East Kent GoldingsBoil60 min11 g (0.38 oz)43 g (1.5 oz)128 g (4.5 oz)
East Kent GoldingsBoil15 min3.5 g (0.13 oz)14 g (0.5 oz)43 g (1.5 oz)

Yeast and pitch

Wyeast 1084 Irish Ale · 1 liquid pack for 5 gal

Wyeast 1084 Irish Ale. Pitch at 64°F.

Yeast12-pack batch · 1.25 galClassic · 5 gal12×12 batch · 15 gal
Wyeast 1084 Irish Ale1 liquid pack1 liquid pack3 liquid packs

One pack per 5 gal, and one more above 1.060 OG in a batch over 3 gal. Never fewer than one. House guidance

Water

8.06 gal into the mash for 5 gal

Full-volume brew-in-a-bag: all the water goes in at the start and there is no sparge. Volumes are the total to heat, so the kettle has to hold the mash and still leave room to boil: the 12-pack kit sells a 5 gal stockpot and the 12×12 kit a 30 gal kettle for that.

Water12-pack batch · 1.25 galClassic · 5 gal12×12 batch · 15 gal
Into the mash2.1 gal (8 L)8.06 gal (30.5 L)19.68 gal (74.5 L)
Boiled off0.5 gal (1.9 L)1.25 gal (4.7 L)1.25 gal (4.7 L)
Held by the grain0.2 gal (0.8 L)0.81 gal (3.1 L)2.43 gal (9.2 L)
Left as trub0.15 gal (0.6 L)1 gal (3.8 L)1 gal (3.8 L)
Into the fermenter1.25 gal (4.7 L)5 gal (18.9 L)15 gal (56.8 L)

Boil-off, grain absorption and trub are typical figures for a stovetop pot and a propane kettle, not measurements of your own gear. Brew once, note what you end up with, and adjust. House guidance

Water profile Moderately soft water with a little more chloride than sulfate keeps the malt rounded.

Mash

154°F · 60 min

The mash turns starch into sugar. Hold the temperature steady and the beer finishes the way the recipe intends.

  • Rest154°F for 60 minutes
  • Strike waterHeat to 164°F; the grain cools it to the rest temperature. House guidance
  • Mash-outRaise to 168°F and hold 10 minutes, then lift and drain the bag. House guidance
  • Mash ina slightly warm rest keeps the body round and soft

Boil

60 min · 2 hop additions

Hops go in on a countdown from the end of the boil. Early additions give bitterness; late ones give aroma.

  • Length60 minutes
  • 60 minEast Kent Goldings
  • 15 minEast Kent Goldings
  • 15 minA kettle fining (whirlfloc or Irish moss) clears the beer if you have one. House guidance
  • Chillto 64°Fa cool start keeps the yeast clean

Fermentation

3 steps · first pint in 35 days
A glass fermenter of amber beer with foam on top and an airlock.

The recipe's own schedule, in order. Temperature control matters more than almost anything else on this page.

  1. 10 days at 66°F
  2. 2 days at 68°F
  3. 2 days at 36°F

First pint 35 days from brew day.

Packaging and carbonation

2.3 volumes CO₂ · bottle or keg
Plain aluminium cans and a small keg on a workbench beside a priming-sugar measure.

Target 2.3 volumes of CO₂.

Bottling12-pack batch · 1.25 galClassic · 5 gal12×12 batch · 15 gal
Corn sugar to prime0.96 oz (27 g)3.86 oz (109 g)11.57 oz (328 g)
12 oz bottles it fills1250144

Dissolve the sugar in a little boiled water, stir it gently into the beer, then bottle. The amount is worked out for 68°F, the warmest the beer got while it fermented.

Kegging Set the regulator to 9.1 psi at 38°F.

Kegging instead Skip the bottles with 3 × 5 gal ball-lock kegs, 1 × 5 lb CO₂ tank, 1 × dual-gauge regulator, 1 × gas and beer lines with picnic taps: the kegging upgrade for the 15 gal home brewery, $594.

Brewer's notes

3 tips
  • Add the roasted barley to the mash last so it colours the wort without turning it harsh.From the recipe
  • Keep fermentation under 68°F for the first week to hold back fruity esters.From the recipe
  • Let the beer sit cold for the full two weeks; the toffee settles and the colour clears to ruby.From the recipe
A fermenter, airlock, siphon, hydrometer, thermometer and bench capper.
The kit

Every kit size

Ingredients only

Ingredient kit · 12-pack batch

$25.03

$2.09 a bottle

Grain milled, hops bagged per addition, yeast, priming sugar and 12 caps, for 1.25 gal.

Includes Maris Otter pale malt · Caramunich · Crystal 60L · Roasted barley · and 7 more

Every item in this kit · 11 items

Ingredients

  • Maris Otter pale malt$5.832.25 lb (1.02 kg) · Milled to order
  • Caramunich$0.362 oz (57 g) · Milled to order
  • Crystal 60L$0.362 oz (57 g) · Milled to order
  • Roasted barley$0.090.5 oz (14 g) · Milled to order
  • East Kent Goldings (60 min)$1.5011 g (0.38 oz)
  • East Kent Goldings (15 min)$1.503.5 g (0.13 oz)
  • Wyeast 1084 Irish Ale$11.991 pack · Liquid yeast, shipped cold
  • Milling and kitting$31

Packaging

  • Corn sugar for priming$0.401 oz · Primes to 2.3 volumes of CO₂
  • Crown capsIncluded12

Guide

  • Printed brew guideIncluded1

Ingredient kit · 12×12 batch

$158.25

$1.10 a bottle

Grain milled, hops bagged per addition, yeast, priming sugar and 144 caps, for 15 gal.

Includes Maris Otter pale malt · Caramunich · Crystal 60L · Roasted barley · and 7 more

Every item in this kit · 11 items

Ingredients

  • Maris Otter pale malt$69.9327 lb (12.25 kg) · Milled to order
  • Caramunich$4.341.5 lb (0.68 kg) · Milled to order
  • Crystal 60L$4.341.5 lb (0.68 kg) · Milled to order
  • Roasted barley$1.086 oz (170 g) · Milled to order
  • East Kent Goldings (60 min)$17.96128 g (4.5 oz)
  • East Kent Goldings (15 min)$5.9943 g (1.5 oz)
  • Wyeast 1084 Irish Ale$35.973 packs · Liquid yeast, shipped cold
  • Milling and kitting$81

Packaging

  • Corn sugar for priming$4.6411.6 oz · Primes to 2.3 volumes of CO₂
  • Crown caps$6144

Guide

  • Printed brew guideIncluded1

Complete home brewery

Complete home brewery · 12-pack batch

$218.85

$18.24 a bottle

Bought separately $240.39 · you save $21.54

All the equipment, then the ingredient kit, for 1.25 gal. Works on a kitchen stove.

Includes 5 gal stainless stockpot · Fine-mesh brew bag · 1.5 gal glass fermenter with drilled bung · 3-piece airlock · and 21 more

Every item in this kit · 25 items

Equipment

  • 5 gal stainless stockpot$49.991
  • Fine-mesh brew bag$9.991
  • 1.5 gal glass fermenter with drilled bung$17.991
  • 3-piece airlock$2.491
  • No-rinse sanitizer, 4 oz$12.991
  • Hydrometer and test jar$15.991
  • Digital probe thermometer$14.991
  • Mini auto-siphon with tubing$13.991
  • Spring-tip bottle filler$5.991
  • 12 oz amber bottles$16.9912
  • Wing capper$19.991
  • Brewery wash, 1 lb$9.991
  • 0.1 g kitchen scale$14.991
  • Long stainless spoon$8.991

Ingredients

  • Maris Otter pale malt$5.832.25 lb (1.02 kg) · Milled to order
  • Caramunich$0.362 oz (57 g) · Milled to order
  • Crystal 60L$0.362 oz (57 g) · Milled to order
  • Roasted barley$0.090.5 oz (14 g) · Milled to order
  • East Kent Goldings (60 min)$1.5011 g (0.38 oz)
  • East Kent Goldings (15 min)$1.503.5 g (0.13 oz)
  • Wyeast 1084 Irish Ale$11.991 pack · Liquid yeast, shipped cold
  • Milling and kitting$31

Packaging

  • Corn sugar for priming$0.401 oz · Primes to 2.3 volumes of CO₂
  • Crown capsIncluded12

Guide

  • Printed brew guideIncluded1

Complete home brewery · 12×12 batch

$1,254.25

$8.71 a bottle

Bought separately $1,376.03 · you save $121.78

All the equipment, then the ingredient kit, for 15 gal. You supply a propane tank and water.

Includes 30 gal stainless kettle with ball valve and thermometer · 72 · 30 gal brew bag · 50 ft copper immersion chiller · and 24 more

Every item in this kit · 28 items

Equipment

  • 30 gal stainless kettle with ball valve and thermometer$3991
  • 72,000 BTU propane burner and stand$991
  • 30 gal brew bag$44.991
  • 50 ft copper immersion chiller$1291
  • 7.9 gal fermenting buckets with lids and airlocks$89.973
  • No-rinse sanitizer, 32 oz$32.991
  • Brewery wash, 4 lb$34.991
  • Hydrometer and test jar$15.991
  • Refractometer$29.991
  • Digital thermometer$24.991
  • ½" auto-siphon with tubing$24.991
  • Bottling buckets with spigots$55.982
  • Bottle filler$5.991
  • 12 oz amber bottles (6 cases)$119.94144
  • Bench capper$59.991
  • Mash paddle$24.991
  • Digital scale$24.991

Ingredients

  • Maris Otter pale malt$69.9327 lb (12.25 kg) · Milled to order
  • Caramunich$4.341.5 lb (0.68 kg) · Milled to order
  • Crystal 60L$4.341.5 lb (0.68 kg) · Milled to order
  • Roasted barley$1.086 oz (170 g) · Milled to order
  • East Kent Goldings (60 min)$17.96128 g (4.5 oz)
  • East Kent Goldings (15 min)$5.9943 g (1.5 oz)
  • Wyeast 1084 Irish Ale$35.973 packs · Liquid yeast, shipped cold
  • Milling and kitting$81

Packaging

  • Corn sugar for priming$4.6411.6 oz · Primes to 2.3 volumes of CO₂
  • Crown caps$6144

Guide

  • Printed brew guideIncluded1

The creator

An illustrated portrait for Sunny (an illustration, not a photograph)

Sunny

@sunny

Strips it fast and stays for the grab.

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