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Recipe Kit Sunset Eclipse Session Ale / mid-strength
Sunset Eclipse is a mid-strength session ale built around Australian Eclipse hops, steeped and dry-hopped to extract the full mandarin, citrus peel, and pine aroma the variety is known for.
Extract
3.4% ABV , Sunset Eclipse Session Ale
Makes 21L
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Recipe Kit Sunset Eclipse Session Ale / mid-strength
Sale price$54.90
The details
Eclipse hops are underused in home brewing. They share some character with Cascade but lean more towards sweet mandarin and citrus peel with a softer pine note. Steeping and dry-hopping in the same kit means you get bitterness contribution from the steep and fresh aroma from the dry hop. The Mangrove Jack's M36 Liberty Bell Ale yeast ferments clean and flocculates well, which suits the lighter body of a session beer.
Sunset Eclipse is a mid-strength session ale built around Australian Eclipse hops, steeped and dry-hopped to extract the full mandarin, citrus peel, and pine aroma the variety is known for. The malt base uses Beermakers Lager liquid extract and light dry malt to keep the body clean and light, letting the Eclipse character sit clearly in the aroma and flavour. At 3.4% ABV, this is a beer designed for long afternoons without the weight of a full-strength ale.
Eclipse hops are underused in home brewing. They share some character with Cascade but lean more towards sweet mandarin and citrus peel with a softer pine note. Steeping and dry-hopping in the same kit means you get bitterness contribution from the steep and fresh aroma from the dry hop. The Mangrove Jack's M36 Liberty Bell Ale yeast ferments clean and flocculates well, which suits the lighter body of a session beer.
Key advantages
- Eclipse hops both steeped and dry-hopped — bitterness plus fresh aroma from one variety
- Mangrove Jack's M36 Liberty Bell Ale yeast: clean fermentation, good flocculation
- 3.4% ABV — genuine mid-strength without losing hop character
- Low IBU (20) and pale EBC (6 to 10) — light, bright, and refreshing
When it makes sense
- Works well if you want a lower-ABV option that still has genuine hop interest
- Good choice for summer brewing when a 5% pale ale is too heavy for the occasion
- Suits anyone who wants to reduce alcohol intake without switching to commercial mid-strengths
Brewing specs
- Style: Australian Craft Session Ale
- Volume: 21 litres (approx 53 stubbies)
- ABV: 3.4%
- IBU: 20
- Colour (EBC): 6 to 10
- Hops: Eclipse (steeped and dry-hopped)
- Grain bill: Beermakers Lager liquid extract, light dry malt
- Yeast: Mangrove Jack's M36 Liberty Bell Ale
- Fermentation temp: 18 to 23 degrees C
- Original gravity: 1.034
- Final gravity: 1.008
- Difficulty: Beginner
- Ready to drink: 4 to 5 weeks from brew day
What's in the kit
- Beermakers Lager liquid extract — clean, light fermentable base
- Light dry malt — additional fermentables without adding colour or heaviness
- Eclipse hop pellets — used both as a steep addition for bitterness and a dry hop for aroma
- Mangrove Jack's M36 Liberty Bell Ale yeast — clean fermentation and good clarification at ale temperatures
- Dextrose — boosts ABV and primes carbonation in the bottle
Tasting notes
- Aroma: Sweet mandarin, citrus peel, and a touch of pine from Eclipse hops
- Appearance: Pale gold with a firm white head
- Flavour: Zesty citrus and tropical hop character over a light, clean malt base. Finishes crisp
- Mouthfeel: Light to medium body. Refreshing and easy to drink
- Finish: Clean and dry with lingering Eclipse citrus
Hamish's tip
At 3.4% ABV the fermentation is fast and the yeast drops out quickly. Give it the full 7 to 10 days in the fermenter even if gravity appears stable early — rushing the dry hop into still-active fermentation blows off the Eclipse aroma before it has a chance to dissolve into the beer. Add the dry hops on day 4 to 5, leave for 3 days, then bottle. M36 flocculates well at the lower end of the fermentation range — 18 to 19 degrees C gives the clearest result.
Reviewed by the AHB Brewing Team — June 2026.
What's In The Kit
- Beermakers Lager liquid extract: — clean, light fermentable base
- Light dry malt: — additional fermentables without adding colour or heaviness
- Eclipse hop pellets: — used both as a steep addition for bitterness and a dry hop for aroma
- Mangrove Jack's M36 Liberty Bell Ale yeast: — clean fermentation and good clarification at ale temperatures
- Dextrose: — boosts ABV and primes carbonation in the bottle
Brew Specs
- Style: Australian Craft Session Ale
- Volume: 21 litres (approx 53 stubbies)
- ABV: 3.4%
- IBU: 20
- Colour (EBC): 6 to 10
- Hops: Eclipse (steeped and dry-hopped)
- Grain bill: Beermakers Lager liquid extract, light dry malt
- Yeast: Mangrove Jack's M36 Liberty Bell Ale
- Fermentation temp: 18 to 23 degrees C
- Original gravity: 1.034
- Final gravity: 1.008
- Difficulty: Beginner
- Ready to drink: 4 to 5 weeks from brew day
Flavour Profile
Aroma: Sweet mandarin, citrus peel, and a touch of pine from Eclipse hops
Appearance: Pale gold with a firm white head
Flavour: Zesty citrus and tropical hop character over a light, clean malt base. Finishes crisp
Mouthfeel: Light to medium body. Refreshing and easy to drink
Finish: Clean and dry with lingering Eclipse citrus
Appearance: Pale gold with a firm white head
Flavour: Zesty citrus and tropical hop character over a light, clean malt base. Finishes crisp
Mouthfeel: Light to medium body. Refreshing and easy to drink
Finish: Clean and dry with lingering Eclipse citrus
Who it's for
Works well if you want a lower-ABV option that still has genuine hop interest
Good choice for summer brewing when a 5% pale ale is too heavy for the occasion
Suits anyone who wants to reduce alcohol intake without switching to commercial mid-strengths
Good choice for summer brewing when a 5% pale ale is too heavy for the occasion
Suits anyone who wants to reduce alcohol intake without switching to commercial mid-strengths
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 makes this a session ale?
Session ales are brewed for drinkability, typically under 4.5% ABV, with enough hop and malt character to be interesting but light enough to have a few without feeling heavy. They often ferment and condition slightly faster than higher ABV beers and suit the Australian summer, but are a popular choice for all seasons.
What hops are in this kit and what do they taste like?
The hop varieties are listed in the product description above. Australian hop varieties like Galaxy, Ella, Eclipse, and Cascade produce tropical, citrus, and stone fruit characters. American varieties like Chinook and Centennial lean more resinous and piney. The specs section above lists IBUs, which gives you a guide to bitterness intensity.
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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