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Recipe Kit The Famous Irish Red Ale
The Famous Irish Red Ale is one of AHB's oldest and most trusted recipes. It makes 21 litres at 5.2 to 5.5% ABV, a deep coppery red beer with a creamy body, toffee-like malt richness and a smooth, balanced finish.
Makes 21L , about 28 bottles
5.2-5.5% ABV , The Famous Irish Red Ale
Extract
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Recipe Kit The Famous Irish Red Ale
Sale price$74.90
The details
Inspired by the classic Irish ales that made styles like Kilkenny famous, this is a malt-led beer with genuine character. The malt brings toffee and mocha with a hint of spicy cinnamon, the body stays creamy and medium-full, and at 30 IBUs the UK hops sit in support rather than out front. It is rich and rewarding without being heavy.
The Famous Irish Red Ale is one of AHB's oldest and most trusted recipes. It makes 21 litres at 5.2 to 5.5% ABV, a deep coppery red beer with a creamy body, toffee-like malt richness and a smooth, balanced finish. Fresh UK-grown hops add just enough bitterness to keep it interesting without ever dominating the malt.
What it is like to brew
Inspired by the classic Irish ales that made styles like Kilkenny famous, this is a malt-led beer with genuine character. The malt brings toffee and mocha with a hint of spicy cinnamon, the body stays creamy and medium-full, and at 30 IBUs the UK hops sit in support rather than out front. It is rich and rewarding without being heavy.
Why this kit works
- Deep coppery red colour with a creamy off-white head
- Toffee and mocha malt richness with a hint of spicy cinnamon
- Fresh UK-grown hops for a balanced 30 IBU bitterness that supports the malt
- One of AHB's oldest and most trusted recipes
When it makes sense
A good choice when you prefer maltier, less bitter beers with depth and character. Forgiving and well suited to brewers working through their first few brews, and excellent in cooler weather.
Specifications
| Style | Irish Red Ale |
|---|---|
| ABV | 5.2 to 5.5% |
| IBU | 30 |
| Colour (EBC) | 30 |
| Original gravity | 1.048 to 1.052 |
| Final gravity | 1.010 to 1.012 |
| Fermentation temp | 18 to 23°C |
| Batch volume | 21 litres |
| Difficulty | Beginner friendly |
| Ready to drink | About 3 weeks |
What's in the box
- Malt extract blend (the fermentable base that becomes the beer)
- Fresh UK-grown hops (balanced bitterness that supports the malt)
- Yeast (ferments the sugars, produces the alcohol and carbonation)
- Pre-measured ingredients and full step-by-step brew day instructions
Flavour profile
- Appearance: Deep coppery red with a creamy white head
- Aroma: Malty toffee and mocha with hints of spicy cinnamon
- Flavour: Rich toffee malt, smooth and balanced, with a supporting bitterness
- Mouthfeel: Creamy and medium-full bodied
- Finish: Smooth, malty and rounded
Hamish's verdict
Irish red rewards a little patience in the bottle. Give it a few extra days of conditioning beyond the minimum and the malt character softens and rounds out beautifully. It is a forgiving style, so it is a great early brew.
Reviewed by the AHB Brewing Team, June 2026. Last updated June 2026.
What's In The Kit
- Malt extract blend: the fermentable base that becomes the beer
- Fresh UK-grown hops: balanced bitterness that supports the malt
- Yeast: ferments the sugars, produces the alcohol and carbonation
- Pre-measured ingredients and full step-by-step brew day instructions
Brew Specs
- Style: Irish Red Ale
- ABV: 5.2 to 5.5%
- IBU: 30
- Colour (EBC): 30
- Original gravity: 1.048 to 1.052
- Final gravity: 1.010 to 1.012
- Fermentation temp: 18 to 23°C
- Batch volume: 21 litres
- Difficulty: Beginner friendly
- Ready to drink: About 3 weeks
Flavour Profile
Appearance: Deep coppery red with a creamy white head
Aroma: Malty toffee and mocha with hints of spicy cinnamon
Flavour: Rich toffee malt, smooth and balanced, with a supporting bitterness
Mouthfeel: Creamy and medium-full bodied
Finish: Smooth, malty and rounded
Aroma: Malty toffee and mocha with hints of spicy cinnamon
Flavour: Rich toffee malt, smooth and balanced, with a supporting bitterness
Mouthfeel: Creamy and medium-full bodied
Finish: Smooth, malty and rounded
Who it's for
A good choice when you prefer maltier, less bitter beers with depth and character. Forgiving and well suited to brewers working through their first few brews, and excellent in cooler weather.
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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