The Return of Patty’s Irish Red Means It’s Time to Celebrate

Every year, right around this time, Hop Valley’s Head Brewer Patrick Whiting brews up a special batch of Irish Red Ale in celebration of St. Patrick’s Day.

Want to know what goes into this take on a traditional classic and what to expect when getting ready to enjoy a freshly poured Patty’s Irish Red Ale? Read on for all the details.

Historically, Irish Red Ales were brewed in Ireland to compete with the growing popularity of English Bitters of the time. Having plenty of grain but not being a hop-growing region or wanting to heavily rely on England for ingredients, Irish Red Ales tend to go lighter on hopping and utilize more roasted malt than their English counterparts. The result is a less bitter, slightly drier beer that showcases an attractive reddish-amber color.

Hop Valley’s Patty’s Irish Red Ale is brewed as a tribute to these traditional Irish beers. Each year’s recipe varies slightly from the other, but stays true to its inspired heritage by using traditional ingredients to match the flavors and intensities of the original style. Patty’s Irish Red Ale is an easy drinking 5% ABV malt-forward beer with subtle flavors of soft toffee and caramel, a touch of roastiness and a gentle, earthy hop flavor with low bitterness at 22 IBUs.

Perfect for celebrating St. Patrick’s Day and everything Irish, Patty’s Irish Red Ale is the ideal companion to Shepherd’s pie and corned beef and cabbage. If not in the mood for Irish fare, Patty’s Red Ale will pair with an array of other dishes as well. The light roasted flavors will keep up with most grilled, smoked or gamey dishes, while the malt sweetness will compliment a variety of BBQ-inspired sauces and also help to cut heat from spicy cuisine. For dessert pairings, the malty caramel and toffee notes will match up perfect to a cheesecake with graham cracker crust or a rich crème brûlée, while the carbonation will help to cleanse and ready the pallet for the next bite.

This beer is available for a limited time only, so to get your taste of Patty’s Irish Red and celebrate in style, be sure visit either of our Eugene/Springfield locations or the establishments listed below.

Bier Stein

Beergarden

Gateway Taphouse

Filling Station Barger

Jackelope

Downward Dog (Corvallis)