When we head to a new brewery, or even the local favourite, there’s a good chance we’ll look for the red ale on tap.

Some of that is habit. Local favourite Philter Brewing’s Red Session Ale is a go-to whenever we visit their Marrickville taproom, and the bright red stripe on the can makes it easy to spot in a crowded fridge. But it’s more than that. Red ales deliver a reliable flavour hit that sits somewhere between the light lagers and big hop bombs that often dominate the taps.

Yet not all red ales are created equal, and some hold their copper-coloured heads high above their crimson brethren. So we’ve pulled together a few favourites from the Australian scene, along with a quick primer on the style.

What is a red ale?

As the name implies, a red ale is defined by its distinctive copper, ruby or red-brown colour. We like them for their rich flavours of caramel, toffee, and malt. Broadly speaking, there are two main traditions: Irish Red Ales and the less clearly defined American Red Ale.

Irish Red Ales might have a long history in Ireland, but according to the BJCP their modern versions are adaptations of the English bitter style. They are smoother and more restrained, with a focus on toasted malt, light caramel, and gentle sweetness. Typically low in bitterness and highly drinkable, they finish dry with a soft ruby hue. Carlow’s O’Hara’s Irish Red is a classic of the style, while Bridge Road Brewers’ Celtic Red Ale from Victoria offers something closer to home.

An American Red Ale builds on the malt richness of traditional American amber ales but adds a noticeable hop presence. This is the style many Australian beers — like Yulli’s Brews’ Slick Rick’s Rampaging Red Ale or Batch Brewing’s Anzac Biscuit Red Ale — tend to lean towards. Expect caramel and toasted malt flavours balanced with citrus or pine notes from American hops.

There’s also something you might see called a Flanders Red. This is a very different beer: an oak-aged Belgian sour ale brewed with red malt for its distinctive colour. If that’s more your thing, you might be interested in our guide to wild and spontaneously fermented beers.

The rise of the Red IPA

A Red IPA (or Red India Pale Ale) is a modern American craft beer that blends the bold bitterness and hop aroma of an IPA with the richer malt backbone of an amber ale. Expect a reddish-amber to deep copper colour, with flavours of pine, citrus, and resin layered over caramel, toast, and light toffee notes.

Rather than fitting neatly into one category, Red IPAs sit somewhere between the hop-driven American IPA and the maltier red or amber ale.

The result is a beer that delivers plenty of hop character while still letting the malt shine — a balance that has made the style particularly popular with Australian brewers. Mountain Culture’s popular Double Red IPA is a great example of this one.

It’s this balance between malt richness and hop intensity that has made red ales, and increasingly red IPAs, a recurring feature of Australian craft brewery tap lists.

Red ales in Australia

Irish-style

Bridge Road Brewers — Celtic Red Ale — Part of Bridge Road’s core range, if the bright red can doesn’t give it away, the deep ruby colour of the beer will. Malty with caramel and toffee flavours, it’s a classic example of the style.

🌐Looking for something beyond the red? We spent some time at Bridge Road’s Brewing’s East Brunswick location in Melbourne. We reckon it’s a reckon it’s a must-visit.

American-style Red / AmberPhilter

Philter — Red Session Ale — Like we said, this is one of our go-to beers. Following that American style, you’ll notice the light malt flavours are balanced with Mosaic, Citra, Cascade and Galaxy hops and perhaps surprisingly some fruit and berry notes for the discerning palate. As the name would imply, at 4.8% ABV this is a dangerously drinkable beverage.
Yulli’s — Slick Rick’s Rampaging Red Ale — Yulli’s takes no less than 5 malt and combines them with a combination of US and Australian hop varieties for a classic malt, chocolate and roasty flavour. You also get what the brewer calls a “fruit salad” flavour from the US hops (Amarillo and Chinook if you’re out there taking notes).

Rye Reds and Red IPAs

Mixtape — Red Rye Hand — If there’s one thing we love more than a red, it’s a pun (especially a Nick Cave-inspired one). Mixtape’s is another of our go-to beers. (In fact, we said as much on our Marrickville Brewery Map). There’s a lighter flavour profile to this one, but it’s also designed to match Gospel's straight Rye whiskey — so a boilermaker is never out of the question.
Beer Fontaine — Red Red Rye — On the label, it seems like there’s a fair bit going on here: The Golden Promise, Caramel Rye, Columbus, & El Dorado Hops suggest malty, slightly spicy base with a mix of old-school bite and modern fruit. It’s a smooth ride though: a malt-driven IPA with woody and stone fruit finishes.

🌐Like what you see at Beer Fontaine? We took a wander to their fine establishment for our Botany ale trail guide.

Mountain Culture — Double Red IPA — Of course one of the biggest craft brewers in the country is going to be on here. MC are predominantly known for their juicy, hazy drops and New England IPA-inspired staples. Now, we should hasten to add that this isn’t in their core range, but when they release it on a seasonal basis you should not hesitate to grab a glass (or four).
Hawke’s — Red IPA — The irreverent (and always welcoming) Hawkes markets this as “our ode to the great southern land of brews and fighting kangaroos.” Take the red IPA style we now know and love, with all the citrus, piney and resiny goodness you’d expect. You got your cherry. Your berry. You better believe there’s some malty, toasty and toffee in there too. Just like a kangaroo. Probably.
BentSpoke — Red Nut IPA — The award-winning red IPA scored a Silver Medal at the 2021 International Brewing Awards and a Bronze Medal at the World Beer Cup in 2018. It’s a classic of the style, and at 7.0% ABV it’s one you’ll want to savour.

Legendary

Modus Operandi — Former Tenant Red IPA — Modus Operandi’s Former Tenant Red IPA was once one of the most awarded beers in the country — a punchy Mosaic-and-Galaxy-driven red IPA that helped define the style locally. It’s not always easy to find these days, but when it appears it’s still well worth grabbing.

Roses are red, so are our beers

Like all beer guides, this is just a little taster to help you explore the style. Do you have a favourite red ale? If so, do you prefer the classic Irish style or newer red IPAs?

Batch Brewing, for example, occasionally experiments with reds, such as Anzac Red or Sauron, but these tend to be seasonal or limited releases rather than year-round staples. We’ve only left them off here because it’s not necessarily a regular happening.

We’ve seen the rise of dark and heritage beers trending over the last few years, so we reckon there’s going to be people seeking out specific speciality malt profiles in the same way they do with hops. For now, happy tasting!

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