AHS Black Ale (23) - EXTRACT Homebrew Ingredient Kit

Primaried with alcohol boost for 3 months, two weeks secondary maybe an over kill but definitely smoothed out over time not for the first timer intro to dark beer. But definitely not a disappointment after some aging had it in the keg past conditioning two more weeks and I cant wait for the next glass. Try my friends and enjoy.

Good stuff, added AB 1% ended up with a 6%abv Nice...........

This mini-mash beer won 3rd place at the Bramwell, WV Oktoberfest in the schwarzbier category. Two Guys Brew from Martinsburg, WV (me and my brewmaster friend) had a lot of confidence submitting this homebrew into the competition. You will not be disappointed.

Played around with this one. Gave it the alcohol boost, and then added two vanilla beans with 1.3 cups of Whiskey. Transfered to keg, and was delightely surprised with the flavor. Vanilla just right, and Whiskey flavor noticable. Will let this one sit for 1 month and then Carbonate. Great taste right out of the primary and crystal clear.

Buy. This. Kit. My first partial mash and I must say, it's excellent. 2 weeks primary, 1 week secondary, bottled. Been in the bottle for 1 week and already I have consumed THREE, which is unusual for me. I normally just try one at week 1, one at week 2, and then wait a few more weeks before consumption. Great flavor. Not a porter, not a stout, a black ale!! I used S-04 yeast and then dry hopped it with 1oz of Centennial. Pleased with the Galena bittering and flavor hops. Will definitely buy this again...may see what Amaillo dry hopping provides.

This kit is quite good, just a dark ale with not too much alcohol and a nice balance of malt and hops. I added the heading powder to this kit and it was a bit much; when I opened the beers after a few weeks the foam would begin to spill out of the bottle if not poured into an Austin Homebrew glass. A good kit for a beginner as it is difficult to ruin and the finished brew is palatable even for those who dont prefer dark beers.

Very reminiscent of New Belgium 1554; slightly fruitier but still very clean. I fermented with Safale 05 dry yeast and chocolate and crystal malt flavors came through nicely. A great beer and a great value.

Used Mini-Mash kit. Very smooth. Me, my sweetheart, and our friends are all fans of 1554. The AHS Black Ale is a bit rounder, a touch less hoppy, a bit more malty than 1554. All of us can detect the difference between the AHS Black and 1554. Half the group likes them equally, the other half prefers the AHS! This is one of the 50 Cent kits, so it is an excellent value. Thus far the beer is only 5 weeks in the bottle and it tastes good now I've set aside some bottles to try in a few months. This kit will be one I always try to have on hand now.

Added 1% Alcohol Boost. Also added 2 cups whiskey and one vanilla bean to the secondary fermentation. Left in the secondary for a couple of weeks. Let condition 6-8 weeks in the bottle. One of the best beers we've made.

Well worth it. Easy to drink and smooth. The 1% alcohol boost is a very nice touch.

I was really tempted to do something with vanilla beans or whiskey like all the comments mentioned, but instead opted to do the +1% and stick with the recipe. Great beer and I can imagine it improving as it ages in the bottle. Not to sweet, nice light hop taste. I could see how the flavor would benefit with the vanilla additions, but it's awesome on its own too.

That's just good beer. The Black Ale reminds me of some of the heavier dark brews that I have done (most recently the Guinness FES clone) but without the malty sweetness. It's good all by itself, but having tasted my first bottle I can understand why others would experiment with flavoring. It's clean, so additions should take well.

Extract kit with Alc Boost. 10 days in primary, 21 in secondary, 30 days in bottle. This is a great beer to experiment with. I followed the directions as indicated however when it came to the secondary fermentation, I added a pint of Woodford Reserve Bourbon along with 2 vanilla beans in the secondary. Tried the first beer after 14 days in the bottle and was flat and tasted like a watered down jack and coke. After a month in the bottle it has found its place in the lineup. It has an upfront but not overpowering blast of bourbon giving way to the subtle taste of vanilla and a smooth finish at 6.3 ABV. This is the 15th batch I made and the first one ever my wife said I should and probably could sell. Quality beer at a good price and I will be brewing this one again soon.

De-friggin-licious!!! I primary'd for 2 weeks then kegged... force carbed at 30 psi for 24 hrs at 42 degrees F, bled off pressure, put at 11 psi for 7 days, bled & served at 7 psi at 42 degrees F *I know the 30 psi was unnecessary since I left it for 7 days at 11 psi, but work got in the way :( *.... This is an amazing beer, allot more mouth-feel than what I expected... the debittered added more than what I expected and wasn't to harsh for such a "light" beer... so nice. I will TRY to keep this on tap..... I will, of course, fail due to this being so drinkable... and it is cheapest here at AHS, I've shopped around, being a normal American, and this is the cheapest even WITH the white labs yeast (my current favourite). THANK YOU AHS!!!!!!!!!!

This was my first home brew and an excellant choice if I don't say so myself.I naturally couldn't wait the three weeks in the bottle so I tried one or six a week later.Nice creaming texture but not thick like a stout or porter.It's been two weeks now only one more week yea right I'all never last that long.

This was the first black ale I have tried. I was very impressed with it. Just got my second order of it in today. I don't think anyone would be disappointed with this brew, especially if you like dark beers with great flavor!

Keg lasted a week.. well done and will be brewing again!

Just kegged this wonderful ale and all i can say is wow. I did add one whole vanilla bean like others that posted and it really adds a bit of sweet smoothness. I would absolutely brew this again.

Stephen S Excellent stuff. In a side-by-side comparison of AHS black ale with Kostritzer Schwazbier imported form Germany all my friends agree the AHS is by far superior.