Fogbelt Brewing in Santa Rosa, California, recently revived this craft classic long brewed by Mendocino in nearby Hopland. Often cited as the first American red ale, pioneering microbrewers Don Barkley and Jack McAuliffe first brewed Red Tail Ale in 1983.
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Shared by Fogbelt cofounder and brewer Remy Martin, this recipe hews closely to the original, with subtle adjustments for modern methods, ingredients, and tastes.
For much more about the past and future of American amber and red ales—including this one—see “Ale, Encased in Amber,” in the Spring 2026 issue of Craft Beer & Brewing Magazine®.
ALL-GRAIN
Batch size: 5 gallons (19 liters)
Brewhouse efficiency: 72%
OG: 1.058 (14.3°P)
FG: 1.010 (2.6°P)
IBUs: 35
ABV: 6.4%
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