This is not your average stout. The Cherry Choc Bourbon Milk Stout is a silky, full-bodied indulgence — an award-winning recipe inspired by a Beervana champion from the master brewers at Black Rock, reimagined here as a home brew kit. Built on a rich dark malt base with roasted grains, lactose for that unmistakable milk stout creaminess, and a double hit of flavour essence — Cherry Bourbon and Cème de Cacao. it layers chocolate and warm oaky bourbon notes into one of the most complex and rewarding brews in the AHB range. At 5.2% ABV in a 20-litre batch, it drinks with a weight and richness that’s genuinely special. This is a beer that makes an impression.

Why brewers love this kit

The ingredient list here is exceptional for a kit beer — two liquid malt extracts, chocolate malt, dark roasted malt, lactose, and two flavour essences work together to produce something that tastes genuinely complex and layered rather than simply ‘dark.’ The M15 Empire Ale yeast brings a balanced English ale character that holds everything together beautifully. Lactose adds a smooth subtle sweetness that stays present in the finished beer. There’s also an optional additional suggestion of adding cacao nibs that takes the chocolate character even further for those who want it . All instructions are included in the box.

Brewing Notes

• Style: Milk Stout
• Fermentation Range: 18-22°C
• Colour EBC: 55+
• IBUs: 25-30
• Original Gravity: 1.065
• Final Gravity: 1.025 approx
• ABV: 5.2 %
• Volume 20L
• Recipe Style: Malt Extract Beer Kit with Roasted Grain & Flavour Essence

Tasting Notes

• Hop Aroma & Flavour: Slight earthy notes.
• Appearance: Black, opaque with a creamy tan head.
• Mouthfeel: Rich, creamy & full bodied.
• Note the addition of lactose produces a smooth sweet background

Whats in the box?

• 3.9 kg Mangrove Jacks Irish Stout base plus Dark Malt and Light Malt
• Roasted chocolate and dark malt blend
• Lactose
• Cherry Bourbon Essence
• Crème de Cacao Essence
• Optional: 150g Cacao Nibs ( not included ) 
• M15 Empire Ale Yeast

FAQ's

What is a milk stout?

A milk stout (also called a sweet stout) is a dark ale brewed with lactose — a sugar derived from milk that is unfermentable by beer yeast. This means the lactose remains in the finished beer, contributing body, sweetness, and a distinctive smooth, creamy mouthfeel. It’s what separates a milk stout from a dry Irish stout — one finishes sweet and silky, the other dry and roasty.

What does the lactose actually do?

Lactose adds residual sweetness and body to the beer without contributing alcohol, since yeast can’t ferment it. In this recipe it creates the rich, smooth, almost dessert-like quality that makes milk stouts so distinctive and approachable. It also softens the roasty edge of the dark malts, making the chocolate and cherry flavours come forward more cleanly.

What are the Cherry Bourbon and Crème de Cacao essences?

These are Still Spirits Top Shelf flavour essences ,concentrated flavour additions added during or after fermentation to contribute the cherry, bourbon oak, and dark chocolate character that defines this recipe. They’re the same quality essences sold separately in the AHB range, and together they’re what gives this stout its award-winning complexity.

What’s the optional cacao nibs addition?

Cacao nibs are pieces of roasted cacao bean that can be added during fermentation to contribute an additional layer of real dark chocolate flavour and a subtle bitterness. They’re not included in the kit but are available separately. If you love chocolate and want to push the flavour even further, they’re well worth trying on your second batch once you know the base recipe.

How much beer does this kit make?

This kit produces 20 litres — approximately 26 × 750ml longnecks or 55 × 330ml stubbies.

How long does it take?

Allow 2 weeks in the fermenter, then at least 2–3 weeks of bottle conditioning. This is a beer that genuinely rewards patience, the flavours integrate and deepen significantly with conditioning time, and it’s noticeably better at 3 weeks than at 2.

Is this kit suitable for someone new to home brewing?

It’s a more involved kit than a basic pale ale, with a longer ingredient list and a grain steeping step. But the instructions are clear and the process is very manageable. If you’ve brewed one or two batches before, this is a natural step up , and the result is exceptional enough to make the effort completely worthwhile.

Serving Suggestion:

We think you'll love this flavour packed beer no matter how its served, however we have found this one delivers it's "A game" when enjoyed at slightly lower than room temperature. At this temperature the cherry and chocolate flavours really come out, it also leaves the beer with a much smoother mouth feel and greater head retention. 

 

 beergiant bold