Ember Red IPA

Brewery Name: The Dew Drop Brewhouse
Beer Style: Red IPA
ABV: 6%
Brewed In: Kill, Co. Kildare, Ireland

Tasting Notes

Dive into the rich, warming profile of Ember — The Dew Drop’s take on a Red IPA.

Appearance: Deep amber to reddish copper with a warm glow when the light catches it. A creamy off-white head forms neatly on top and leaves a little lacing down the glass.
Aroma: A lovely balance of caramel-led malt sweetness and bright, piney hop character. Expect toasted biscuit, toffee and a hint of light roast, lifted by orange zest, red berries and a clean resinous hop note.
Flavour: The malt shows first — caramel, toasted grain and a touch of toffee — before the hops sweep in with grapefruit, orange rind and subtle pine. There’s a pleasant berry-like fruitiness from the hop blend too. Bitterness is firm but clean, cutting through the malt sweetness and giving it that proper Red IPA bite.
Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied with smooth carbonation. Slightly chewy from the malt but brightened by the hops, finishing in a crisp bitterness that lingers gently without being harsh. A warming, balanced IPA perfect for December.

About the Brewery: The Dew Drop Brewhouse

The Dew Drop Brewhouse is a family-run, independent brewery based in Kill, Co. Kildare, brewing from the heart of a gastropub known for quality food, great beer and local hospitality. Their setup is small but incredibly focused, with each beer made in limited batches and brewed on-site with care and precision.

Their range tends to lean towards flavourful, balanced beers designed to pair with food — and Ember is a textbook example. The brewery prides itself on showcasing classic styles with a modern twist, and their Red IPA wraps malt warmth and hop brightness into a beer that feels made for colder evenings. Expect honest, well-crafted Irish beer rooted in local community and quietly known for consistency and quality.

If you’re enjoying this one, you’ll find more Irish gems in our Irish Craft Beer collection or explore the hoppy end of things in our IPA & Pale Ale range.

Style Spotlight: Red IPA

Red IPA blends the malt richness of an Irish red ale with the hop profile of an American IPA — the best of both worlds.

Origins: The style grew as brewers began merging classic caramel-forward red ales with punchier American hop varieties. The result is a beer that has the warmth and colour of a red ale, but with the bitterness and hop aroma of a modern IPA.

Key Characteristics: Expect caramel, toasted biscuit and light toffee from the malt, balanced by citrus, pine and berry-like hops. Bitterness sits at moderate to high levels, with enough bite to cut through the malt sweetness. Colour ranges from deep amber to ruby red.

Modern Takes: Some lean maltier and richer, while others — like Ember — keep things tight and balanced with a proper citrus-pine hop presence. The best Red IPAs manage to feel warming without being heavy, and hoppy without tipping into bitterness overload.

If You Like This Beer, You Might Also Enjoy…

If Ember has hit the spot, here are a few great next steps — all with that same mix of malt depth and hop character:

Try Dot Brew Easy Amber, a smooth American Amber Ale with caramel malt and gentle citrus hops:
Fancy something nuttier and richer? Lough Gill Mac Nutty brings macadamia warmth and soft roast:
For a classic Irish red with great balance, Brehon Killanny Red is always a safe bet:
Or, for a darker hoppy twist, Kerel Dark IPA delivers roasted malt with proper IPA bite:

You can also explore more malt-forward or hoppy beers in our IPA & Pale Ale range or browse the wider Irish Craft Beer collection.

Share Your Experience

Enjoying Day 3?

Snap a photo of your Ember pour and share it with us — tag @TheCru.ie and use #TheCruIE on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok or YouTube.
We love seeing where everyone is enjoying their Advent beers throughout December!