With numerous options available, many beer styles seem to have easy-to-define taste profiles. From a Pilsner’s crisp pale malts to the fruity and/or piney profiles of hops within the IPA family to the deeper, roasted malt of Porters and Stouts. All of these styles have built well-known expectations within the craft beer community.
When we venture into the less explored styles, we discover their histories and begin to broaden our expectations. One such mystery for most casual craft beer enthusiasts is the styles of “Ambers” (American) and “Reds” (Irish). These terms are often interchangeable when talking about them. In Brian Kunath’s 2018 version of The Brewers Handbook, Lynne O’Conner describes the Irish Red style as “the Irish answer to a Scottish Ale, plenty of familiar round malt character but dry, crisp and refreshing.” The American Amber style has been developed upon heavier, sweet caramel and/or crystal malt profile that has often carried an ever-widening hop profile that brewers prefer. Unlike American Ambers, the reemerging Irish Red Ale style seeks to highlight the malts above all else. While garnishing the copper color from Munich or Vienna malts, the Red style has a lighter, crisp ale with a touch of roast and subdued caramel undertones.
Tantrick Brewing Company, of Allegan, poured their initial beer on July 27th, 2018. Currently, they have indoor and outdoor seating where they are pouring their developing portfolio of beers, ciders, seltzers, in-house wines, and draft root beer. When I was preparing for a small gathering, a good friend and Tantrick mug club member glowed with excitement that she was able to procure a pair of her favorite Tantrick Ales for the event. (Great call, Katie!). While I have heard many great things about Tantrick, this was how I was introduced to one of the best Reds I have ever enjoyed – Craic Irish Red.
Craic Irish Red delivers a delightfully refreshing, crisp, smooth, and crushable ale with a pleasant malt profile that avoids becoming overbearing. This ale presents a deep reddish-copper color while conveying an aroma of soft buttery toffee and caramel sweetness through both the nose and the draw. With a balanced, crisp sweetness of the malt and a soft backbone of trailing hops, the middle fades slowly with a light touch of roasted malts in a soft, slightly dry finish.
Photo courtesy of Tantrick Brewing Co. One is their newest Craic label with the member glass mug that inspired it
If you have been spooked away from Reds in the past from a near crunching malt profile, a malty hop bomb labeled as an Amber, or have been leaning towards a lower ABV ale that retains a full flavor profile, then I highly encourage you to seek out Tantrick’s Craic Irish Red Ale. You will discover an enjoyable exploratory venture into an often overlooked, and underappreciated style that is the Irish Red.
– Weasel
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