Rich, malty and impossible not to love — The Famous Irish Red Ale is one of AHB’s oldest and most trusted recipes, and it’s easy to understand why it’s stayed in the lineup. Inspired by the classic Irish ales that have made styles like Kilkenny famous around the world, this home brewing kit delivers 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 things interesting without ever dominating the malt. If you appreciate a beer with genuine character and depth, this is a kit worth brewing.

 

What’s in the Kit

Everything is pre-measured and ready to brew. The kit contains a blend of malt extract, fresh UK-grown hops and yeast, with all ingredient weights, ratios and timing instructions included in the box. Full step-by-step brew day instructions are also in the box — no experience needed to get started.

 

Brewing Notes

• Style: Irish Red Ale
• Fermentation Range: 18-23°C
• Colour EBC: 30
• IBUs: 30 balanced bitterness
• Original Gravity: 1.048 - 1.052
• Final Gravity: 1.010 – 1.012
• ABV: 5.2 – 5.5%
• Volume 21lt
• Recipe Style: Malt Extract Beer Kit

Tasting Notes

• Aroma & Flavour: Malty toffee & mocha with hints of spicy cinnamon
• Appearance: Deep coppery red with a creamy white head.
• Mouthfeel: Creamy medium-full body

FAQ's

Is this a good kit to brew at home if I’ve never brewed before?

Yes — the malt extract format makes this one of the more approachable styles to brew. All ingredients are pre-measured and full step-by-step instructions are included in the box, so no experience is needed. Irish Red is also a forgiving style that rewards a little patience in the bottle, making it well-suited to anyone working through their first few brews.

What equipment do I need to brew this kit?

You’ll need a basic home brewing setup: a fermenter of at least 23 litres, an airlock, a hydrometer, sanitiser, a thermometer and bottles or a keg for packaging. If you’re just starting out, our starter kits have everything you need bundled together in one pack.

How long does it take from brew day to drinking?

Plan for around 2–3 weeks in total. Fermentation typically takes 7–10 days, followed by at least a week of bottle conditioning before the beer is ready to drink. Irish Red Ale benefits from a little extra conditioning time — the malt character softens and rounds out beautifully with a few extra days in the bottle.

How bitter is this beer?

At 30 IBUs, this is a very approachable level of bitterness — enough to balance the malt sweetness and give the beer structure, but nowhere near the assertive hop punch you’d find in a pale ale or IPA. If you generally prefer maltier, less bitter beers, this style will suit you well.