Beer Style Guide: Get to Know Red IPA & Brown IPA
Another in the series of “IPAs of many colors” — the red and brown IPAs are serious throwbacks because they rely on flavor profiles that were popular more than a decade ago, thus the reason why we don’t see them around much anymore. Side note: beer popularity goes through some serious waves and we may (and probably will) see these beers make a comeback sometime in the future. Look at the recent wave of breweries making dark milds and Czech dark lagers as proof of this concept.
First the red IPA, which is something not made much anymore as crystal and caramel malts have fallen out of favor. There is also research to show that crystal malts oxidize more so than other malts which will add sweetness and shoebox flavors to the beer quicker than other malts will. There is no info about where this style came to be, but it was an evolution of the amber ale, hopped to an IPA strength as the palates of 2010 wanted such beers. Imperial red ales or Double red ales can also cross into the catchall “American strong ale” category, and we will get to that style in the future.
Like the red IPA being a hoppy version of the amber ale, the brown IPA is the same — a hoppier version of the brown ale.
How Red & Brown IPAs Are Made
Red ales are brewed with pale and crystal malts plus the high hopping rate of American or Southern Hemisphere hops and finally the use of a clean American ale yeast. Flavors and aromas can include graham cracker, pine, citrus, caramel, toffee, dark toast and tropical fruits. Brown IPAs are very similar to the red IPA but with the addition of darker malts like chocolate malt so there will be chocolate and coffee flavors in addition to the hoppiness of the beer.
Pairing Red & Brown IPAs
Since the red and brown IPAs are complex beers with a lot of different flavors, the foods you serve with them should harmonize and balance the dish, not overwhelm it. These beers are quite bold so big dishes should be on the menu. Something fatty like bratwurst or mild fried chicken would do well with red and brown IPAs. When I think of these beers, my mind goes straight for football tailgating so think of what you’d eat in a stadium parking lot and most of those foods would be great with red and brown IPAs.
Beers to Try
Sierra Nevada Flipside Red IPA
Sierra Nevada and their love of the hop! Their unique and old school options are still around in limited quantities including Flipside Red IPA. Great when the temperature drops; this beer is balanced beautifully.
Russian River Janet’s Brown
One of the last remaining brown IPAs on the market, Janet’s Brown Ale, is a limited beer brewed by Russian River since 2009 in collaboration with homebrewer Mike “Tasty” McDole (a giant of the CA beer scene who passed away in 2020). Available in cans and on draft.
Your Local Brewpub
Specialty IPAs, especially ones of a “vintage” (I use that term very loosely as beer evolution moves quite quickly) nature such as the red or brown IPA, are best sought out at local breweries. It’s your best chance to see one of these beers in the wild.