How to acheive a 'ruby' coloured ale.

[mandyandnick]

Hi learned friends!

I am looking to brew a nice fuggles-only ale at about 4% ABV. I'd ideally like to produce something with a lovely ruby red colour, but cannot find any info on the forum (or in any of the books I have) concerning the likely combination of malts to create such a colour. I'm going for something similar to the colour on the St Peters ruby ale box!

So my questions are:

1. Is there a reliable combination of malts which will produce such a colour ?
2. Can this be easily reproduced in an extract brew ( time factors don't allow me to go all-grain at the moment)?

Many thanks

Nick.

[adm]

You could use some CaraRed malt - it's specifically for making ruby red beer! I think Hop and Grape stock it.

Not sure how much to use though - although if you have brewing software it should be able to estimate the colour for you.

[mandyandnick]

Many thanks (belatedly - We've been away). I presume this is a malt which requires mashing, so wouldn't be sutiable for extract brewing. A good start on my quest.... N.

[mysterio]

Don't think so, caramel/crystal malts can be steeped and are fine for extract brewers.

[StrangeBrew]

Reading the following from Brupaks website it seems that Cara Amber has a more deeper red colour that Cara Red.


CARA RED (Germany)

A new malt from Weyermann in Bamberg. Use to add body and increase malt aroma in many beer styles. Provides greater depth of colour and a reddish hue.

Colour 40 - 60 EBC; Maximum percentage 10%



CARA AMBER (Germany)

A new malt from Weyermann in Bamberg. Improves flavour stability and promotes fuller body. Provides deep red colour. An interesting addition for all amber and dark beers.

Colour 60 - 80 EBC; Maximum percentage 20%

[72mgb73gt]

I just started a brew using the CARA RED, so we'll see how that comes out.

[StrangeBrew]

I just started a brew using the CARA RED, so we'll see how that comes out.

How did the Cara Red brew turn out and what was the recipe?

[72mgb73gt]

I just started a brew using the CARA RED, so we'll see how that comes out.

How did the Cara Red brew turn out and what was the recipe?

It came out a more Amber colour than red really. I was using the basic summer ale extract recipe from the BrewUK website and used 1Kg of Cara Red instead of the Crystal Malt.

[WishboneBrewery]

About 10% Dark Crystal will do it

[Mountain]

Just this minute made an attempted red beer with 10% Cara Red. I used a small amount of chocolate malt to deepen the colour.

It seems to have worked, though I'd describe it as a redish gold at in the FV.
Definitely a red hue but maybe not as much as I envisaged.

Redish gold will do for me:)