Types of red beer

Julio Cerezo - Beer Sommelier
Director of Sabeer Beer Academy

When we talk about red beer, we are obviously referring to those that are characterised by their reddish colour. Therefore, in the same way as we talk in general about golden or blonde beers, roasted or black beers, we include a wide range of styles under the same term, although there are some things common to them and others that differentiate them.

Despite the fact there is no single geographical origin of red beer, they are frequently found in countries such as England, Scotland, Ireland, Germany, Belgium and also in the USA, but with the craft movement, they are now made almost the world over.

What is it though that gives beer its reddish colour?The answer is nearly always in the type of malt used to brew the beer, and the drying and roasting time and temperature of the grain, which is eventually transferred to the must and finally to the beer itself.

It is precisely that common origin in the roasting process of the cereal that confers the shared sensory features of most red beers. These features are:

• The colour, which can range from a mild reddish colour to a dark brown colour with flecks of red.
• The caramel hints in the nose and on the palate.
• A certain sweetness, owing to caramelisation of the sugars in the cereal.

As we know though, the taste of beer is affected by the different ingredients it contains, and therefore, depending on the choice of hops, yeast and other added ingredients, we can find red beers that are more or less bitter, fruity or acidic and with higher or lower alcohol content.

We also need to bear in mind that in some cases the reddish colour can be due to other ingredients that are added to the recipe, which are nearly always fruits, such as cherries, raspberries or strawberries. In general terms, they tend to be fairly acidic beers based on or inspired on the Belgian tradition of spontaneous fermentation, in which the fruit is added to set off the bitter acidity on the palate.

Some examples of different red beer styles we can find are: Irish Red Ale, some German Bock beers, Scotch Ale and Belgian Dubbeland particularly the Flanders Red, locally identified with Burgundy wine, not only because of the colour, but also because of certain similarities in smell and taste.

Here are a couple of examples of nationally produced red beer that you will be able to find on our shelves:

Magna Tostada 0,0 > An alcohol free beer can also be red, such as this Magna, which has some interesting hints of must and caramel, and is very slightly bitter

Alhambra Reserva Roja (7,2%) > Inspired on the German Bock style beers, this is a malty beer with hints of roasted cereal and a slightly alcoholic fragrance.

Cheers!