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Top 10 Irish Red Ales Brewed in America

Top 10 Irish Red Ales Brewed in America
This Top Ten Irish Red Ales list is from the U.S. Open Beer Championship, Great American Beer Festival, and World Beer Cup. The top ten Irish Red Ales range from light red-amber-copper to light brown in color. These ales have a medium hop bitterness and flavor. They often don’t have hop aroma Irish red ales have low to medium candy-like caramel sweetness and a medium body. ABV: 4.10% – 4.60%. IBU: 20-28.


1. Dubliner – DC Brau Brewing – Washington D.C.
2. Equanimity – Ursa Minor Brewing – Minnesota
3. Outraged Daughters – Wise Man Brewing – North Caroline
4. Cuchulainn Irish Red – Southern Brewing Co. – Georgia
5. Rabbit Head Red – Canyon Creek Brewing – Montana
6. Queen Medb – Middle James Brewing Co. – North Carolina
7. Langered – Missing Falls Brewery – Ohio
8. Red Willie – Tradition Brewing Co. – Virginia
9. Megaphone – Inside The Five Brewing Co. – Ohio
10. O’Dag – Rhinelander Brewing – Wisconsin

 

History Of Irish Red Ales

Irish red ale, a style known for its ruby hue and balanced malt-forward flavor, traces its roots to Ireland’s long brewing tradition, though its modern form emerged relatively recently. Historically, Irish brewing was dominated by stouts and porters, with Guinness becoming a global icon by the 19th century. However, lighter ales were also brewed, often as local or regional specialties. The concept of a distinct “Irish red” likely began to take shape in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, influenced by British amber and pale ales but adapted with local ingredients like malted barley and, occasionally, roasted grains to impart a reddish tint. By the mid-20th century, beers like Smithwick’s, brewed in Kilkenny since 1710 but reformulated over time, helped define the style with its caramel-sweet malt profile, moderate bitterness, and clean finish, setting a template for what would become a globally recognized Irish export.

The modern Irish red ale, as we know it, gained prominence in the late 20th century, largely through the craft beer renaissance and the efforts of breweries to codify regional styles. In the 1980s and 1990s, as American and European craft brewers sought to revive traditional beers, Irish red ale was formalized with characteristics like a deep red color (often enhanced by small amounts of roasted barley), a toasty or biscuity malt backbone, and low to moderate hop bitterness, typically using English or Irish hop varieties like East Kent Goldings or Fuggles. Breweries like Murphy’s and Coors’ Killian’s Irish Red (originally brewed in Ireland before being licensed abroad) popularized the style internationally, though some purists argue mass-produced versions dilute its character. Today, Irish red ales remain a staple in both Ireland and global craft beer scenes, celebrated for their drinkability and nod to Ireland’s brewing heritage.

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