Dark ale doesn't get the attention porters and stouts do, but it's the more versatile everyday drinker of the two — all the roasted malt and chocolate character without quite the same heaviness. The Coopers DIY Dark Ale makes 40 pints and is a genuinely easy style to get right first time.
What's Included
A 1.7kg tin of hopped dark ale malt concentrate with a sachet of yeast under the lid.
New to brewing?
Read our full step-by-step Coopers Original Series brewing instructions — covers the wort, fermentation, bottling, and maturing, from start to first pint.
What Equipment Do You Need?
This kit is ingredients-only. You'll also need a 25-litre fermentation bucket, airlock, hydrometer, siphon, and bottles or a pressure barrel. Our home brew starter kits include everything in one bundle. Always sanitise with VWP or ChemSan.
Tips for Best Results
- Enhance with 200g Dark Crystal Malt steeped before brewing for deeper colour and flavour
- Use 1kg Brewing Sugar or Brew Enhancer 2
- Upgrade the yeast to Safale S-04 — a fast-fermenting English ale yeast that flocculates well, giving a clean, well-settled beer that lets the roasted malt character come through
- Works well as a food beer — try it with sausages, pies, or anything with a bit of char on it
- Bottle with Carbonation Drops
See also: Coopers DIY Stout and St Peters Cream Stout. Browse all home brew beer kits at BrewCo.
Kit Specification