Lashings of dark malt and are the full-body signature of our legendary Super Stout.

Smooth, black, rich and malty. Moderate bitterness enhances the dryness and roasted malt flavours. A medium to full creamy body makes for a superbly drinkable dark beer.

This is an original AHB recipe dating back 30 years and one of the most popular dark brews of all time. After a few pints, you'll understand why.

Why brewers love this kit

What makes the Super Stout stand apart from other stouts in the range is the liquorice extract ,a small addition that adds a warm, subtly sweet herbal note that rounds out the roasty dark malt character in a way nothing else quite does. It’s the kind of detail that takes a good stout and makes it memorable. The kit also uses maltodextrin for added body and creaminess, giving the finished beer that full, smooth mouthfeel that defines a properly made dry stout. An English yeast strain contributes a quiet fruitiness that sits comfortably behind the malt. All ingredients are pre-measured and full step-by-step instructions are included in the box.

What’s in the box

• Hopped dark malt 
• Dark liquid malt
• Corn Syrup / Maltodextrin (for added richness and body)
• Liquorice extract
• English Yeast Strain

 

Brewing Notes

• Style: Dry Irish Stout
• Fermentation Range: 18 - 23°C
• Colour EBC: 55+ Opaque black
• IBUs: 25 balanced modest bitterness
• Original Gravity: 1.054 – 1.058
• Final Gravity: 1.016 – 1.020
• ABV: 4.8 %
• Volume 18lt
• Recipe Style: Malt Extract Beer Kit with added liquorice extract

Tasting Notes

• Aroma & Flavour: Roasty malt character with a hint of caramel and liquorice notes
• Appearance: Black, opaque with a dense creamy tan head
• Mouthfeel: Full, smooth & creamy with a mild roasty finish.​

The Super Stout is one of the oldest recipes in the AHB range, dating back more than 30 years. Some recipes come and go — this one has stayed because it’s simply very, very good. The combination of dark malts, liquorice extract, and maltodextrin is a formula that has stood the test of time and consistently produces a result that impresses everyone who tries it.

Frequently asked questions

What makes the Super Stout different from the Famous Irish Stout or Dark Abyss?

Each stout in the range has its own character. The Famous Irish Stout is a classic dry stout with roasted black malt and lactose. The Dark Abyss is an imperial stout at 6.4% ABV with big roasty intensity. The Super Stout is the original AHB dark recipe — a dry Irish stout at 4.8% with the signature addition of liquorice extract, which gives it a unique depth and warmth that sets it apart from both. It’s also a smaller 18-litre batch, which means a richer, denser recipe by design.

What does the liquorice extract actually taste like in the beer?

The liquorice in this recipe is a subtle background note rather than a dominant flavour, think of it as adding warmth and a quiet herbal sweetness to the roasted malt character, rather than making the beer taste like a liquorice allsort. It’s the kind of ingredient where you notice its absence more than its presence; it rounds out the flavour and gives the finish a complexity you don’t get from malt alone.

What does maltodextrin do?

Maltodextrin is an unfermentable carbohydrate that adds body, mouthfeel, and a subtle sweetness to the finished beer without contributing significant flavour on its own. In a stout like this it’s responsible for that full, creamy, smooth quality — the difference between a stout that feels rich and one that feels thin. It doesn’t affect the ABV because the yeast can’t ferment it.

Why does this kit make 18 litres rather than 21?

The 18-litre batch size means a denser, richer wort for the same amount of ingredients, which is exactly what a full-bodied dry stout needs. It’s a deliberate recipe choice — the higher gravity produces a more robust flavour and body that wouldn’t be quite the same at 21 litres.

How much beer does this kit make?

This kit produces 18 litres ,enough for approximately 24 × 750ml longnecks or 55 × 330ml stubbies. A smaller batch than most, but a genuinely exceptional one.

How long does it take from brew day to drinking?

Plan for around 2–3 weeks in total. Fermentation typically takes 7–10 days at 18–23°C, followed by at least 1–2 weeks of bottle conditioning. Dry stouts can improve noticeably with a little extra bottle time , the roasty character softens and the liquorice note integrates beautifully after a couple of weeks.

Is this kit suitable for someone new to home brewing?

Absolutely. It’s a malt extract kit with a very manageable process, and the longer ingredient list compared to a basic pale ale is just a matter of adding each component as instructed. The full instructions in the box walk you through every step clearly.