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Recipe Kit Celtic Red
The Celtic Red is a big, bold, malty Irish-style red ale that makes 21 litres at 4.7% ABV. It pours a deep amber red with a smooth, creamy body, built for anyone who loves a malt-driven beer with real depth and a robust finish.
Makes 21L , about 64 bottles
4.7% ABV , Celtic Red
Extract
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Recipe Kit Celtic Red
Sale price$71.50
The details
This is a beer you feel as much as taste. A solid base of lager malt is lifted with 500g of crushed crystal malt for that signature red colour and toffee richness, while British bittering and aroma hops keep the malt sweetness in check. Fermented with a British ale yeast, it stays smooth, creamy and easy to drink.
The Celtic Red is a big, bold, malty Irish-style red ale that makes 21 litres at 4.7% ABV. It pours a deep amber red with a smooth, creamy body, built for anyone who loves a malt-driven beer with real depth and a robust finish.
What it is like to brew
This is a beer you feel as much as taste. A solid base of lager malt is lifted with 500g of crushed crystal malt for that signature red colour and toffee richness, while British bittering and aroma hops keep the malt sweetness in check. Fermented with a British ale yeast, it stays smooth, creamy and easy to drink.
Why this kit works
- 500g of crushed crystal malt for genuine red colour and a toffee-like malt richness
- British hops and British ale yeast for an authentic Irish red character
- Smooth, creamy, malt-forward body that drinks like a proper pint
- Makes 21 litres, roughly 28 longnecks or 55 stubbies
When it makes sense
A good option when you want a malty, full-flavoured beer rather than a hop bomb. Works well for cooler weather, and suits brewers who prefer richer, smoother styles over crisp and bitter.
Specifications
| Style | Irish Red Ale |
|---|---|
| ABV | 4.7% |
| IBU | [TBC - confirm with supplier] |
| Colour (EBC) | [TBC - confirm with supplier] |
| Original gravity | [TBC - confirm with supplier] |
| Final gravity | [TBC - confirm with supplier] |
| Fermentation temp | 18 to 22°C |
| Batch volume | 21 litres |
| Difficulty | Beginner friendly |
| Ready to drink | About 4 weeks |
What's in the box
- Lager malt extract (3.4kg, the fermentable base that becomes the beer)
- Crushed crystal malt grain (500g, for red colour and toffee malt richness)
- British bittering and aroma hops (balance the malt with a restrained bitterness)
- British ale yeast (ferments clean and smooth for an authentic red character)
- Step-by-step brew day instructions with weights and timings
Flavour profile
- Appearance: Deep amber red with a creamy off-white head
- Aroma: Malty and bready with a gentle hop note behind
- Flavour: Rich toffee malt with a smooth, balanced, robust character
- Mouthfeel: Smooth, creamy and medium bodied
- Finish: Clean and malty, bold but balanced
Hamish's verdict
Red ales live and die on the malt, so give this one time in the bottle. A couple of weeks of conditioning lets the crystal malt round out and the toffee character come forward. Resist drinking it too young and it pays you back.
Reviewed by the AHB Brewing Team, June 2026. Last updated June 2026.
What's In The Kit
- Lager malt extract: 3.4kg, the fermentable base that becomes the beer
- Crushed crystal malt grain: 500g, for red colour and toffee malt richness
- British bittering and aroma hops: balance the malt with a restrained bitterness
- British ale yeast: ferments clean and smooth for an authentic red character
- Step-by-step brew day instructions with weights and timings
Brew Specs
- Style: Irish Red Ale
- ABV: 4.7%
- IBU: [TBC - confirm with supplier]
- Colour (EBC): 20
- Original gravity: 1.044 to 1.048
- Final gravity: 1.012 to 1.014
- Fermentation temp: 18 to 22°C
- Batch volume: 21 litres
- Difficulty: Beginner friendly
- Ready to drink: About 4 weeks
Flavour Profile
Appearance: Deep amber red with a creamy off-white head
Aroma: Malty and bready with a gentle hop note behind
Flavour: Rich toffee malt with a smooth, balanced, robust character
Mouthfeel: Smooth, creamy and medium bodied
Finish: Clean and malty, bold but balanced
Aroma: Malty and bready with a gentle hop note behind
Flavour: Rich toffee malt with a smooth, balanced, robust character
Mouthfeel: Smooth, creamy and medium bodied
Finish: Clean and malty, bold but balanced
Who it's for
A good option when you want a malty, full-flavoured beer rather than a hop bomb. Works well for cooler weather, and suits brewers who prefer richer, smoother styles over crisp and bitter.
Buying from us
Quick answers
Questions about this product, shipping and orders. See the FAQ page for more topics.
Customer support:
Monday to Friday, 9-4pm AEST.We normally get back to you within a day—often sooner.
Monday to Friday, 9-4pm AEST.We normally get back to you within a day—often sooner.
What does an amber ale taste like?
Amber ales balance caramel malt sweetness with moderate hop bitterness. Expect toffee, biscuit, and light stone fruit from the malt, with earthy or floral hop character. The finish is clean and malt-forward rather than bitter. ABV typically sits in the 4.4 to 5.2% range, making it a session-friendly style.
What fermentation temperature works best for this kit?
Ferment at 18 to 22 degrees C using the ale yeast included with the kit. Staying closer to 18 to 19 degrees C produces a cleaner, more malt-focused result. Higher temperatures push ester production, which can compete with the caramel malt character in amber and red styles.
What is a malt extract recipe kit?
A malt extract kit provides the main fermentable sugars in a concentrated liquid or dry form, already converted from grain at a commercial brewery. You add water, yeast, hops, then ferment. It skips the grain mashing step, which cuts brew day down to about 30 to 45 minutes while still producing full-flavoured craft beer.
What is the difference between an extract kit and a fresh wort kit?
A fresh wort kit (FWK) delivers pre-brewed, unfermented wort in a bag, ready to pour straight into the fermenter and pitch yeast. No heating required. An extract kit requires you to dissolve the malt in hot water and add hops at various stages, which takes about 30 to 45 minutes. FWKs produce brewery-fresh flavour with almost zero work.
What equipment do I need to brew this kit?
You need a 30-litre fermenter with an airlock, a hydrometer, a thermometer, a long-handled spoon, a bottle capper, crown seals, and bottles. A no-rinse sanitiser is essential. AHB stocks no-rinse sanitiser specifically for home brewing. AHB starter kits include all of this in one bundle if you are starting from scratch.
How long from brew day to first drink?
Allow 4 to 6 weeks total. Fermentation takes 7 to 14 days depending on temperature. After bottling, the beer needs at least 2 to 3 weeks to condition and carbonate. Most kits are at their best around week 5 or 6.
Can a beginner brew this kit?
Yes. Extract recipe kits are the most approachable entry point to home brewing. The malt extract is already prepared, so there is no grain mashing or complex calculations involved. Follow the step-by-step instructions included and you will produce a solid result on your first brew.
Customer support:
Monday to Friday, 9-4pm AEST.We normally get back to you within a day—often sooner.
Monday to Friday, 9-4pm AEST.We normally get back to you within a day—often sooner.
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