Brew a golden stout that defies expectations — light in color but rich with chocolate and coffee character from cacao nibs and coffee beans.
Makes 5 gallons of Fool's Gold
All-grain recipe designed for brewers with an all-grain system
Ready to drink in about 4 weeks
Golden stout with roasted coffee and chocolate notes
Clean, and the coffee leads
The roast in this beer arrives from coffee beans and cacao nibs rather than from dark malt, so the base stays golden and light. US-05 gives you a dependable dry finish and no flavor of its own, which leaves that coffee character defined against the smoked malt and oats.
Ferment at 64-79°F
Attenuation 78-82%
Flocculation Medium
Clean and neutral
Clean, with a little more lift
This strain pushes hop and aroma character forward, giving the Willamette and Goldings more presence underneath the coffee and cacao. It responds to temperature more than the others here, so that alone lets you dial the finish from full to sharp.
Ferment at 64-73°F
Attenuation 73-85%
Flocculation Medium
Clean and hop forward
Fullest, and roundest under the roast
The least attenuative option here, and its distinct malt character gives the coffee and cacao a sweeter base to sit on. Extremely flocculent, so it drops bright fast. It benefits from a diacetyl rest before packaging.
Ferment at 64-72°F
Attenuation 67-71%
Flocculation High
Malty and sweet finishing
Body for a golden stout
Darkness was built to complement roasted flavors, and it gives the coffee and cacao the body they need to land as real roast rather than a garnish. It handles the gravity without effort.
Ferment at 62-72°F
Attenuation 71-75%
Flocculation Medium
Made for roast and caramel
✅ Advanced all-grain brewing with clear step-by-step guidance
Flavor Profile & Beer Style
Fool's Gold is a golden stout that challenges expectations. Pale smoked malts and flaked oats create a full, creamy body and subtle smokiness without darkening the beer's color. Roasted aromas and flavors come from Ecuadorian cacao nibs and small-batch Nicaraguan coffee beans, delivering notes of chocolate, coffee, and toast while maintaining a deceptively light golden appearance. This is a stout that drinks like a golden ale but finishes with the rich complexity of a dark beer.
What’s Included in the Recipe Kit
This 5-gallon recipe kit includes all the ingredients needed to brew Fool’s Gold at home:
Briess 2-Row Base Malt
Flaked Oats
Briess Cherrywood Smoked Malt
Willamette Hops (bittering)
Goldings Hops (aroma)
Ecuadorian Cacao Nibs (secondary)
Nicaraguan Coffee Beans (secondary)
Your choice of dry yeast or liquid yeast
Step-by-step brewing instructionsNote:
Note: Brewing equipment is not included. This kit is designed for brewers who already own a 5-gallon all-grain brewing system.
How the Brewing Process Works
Brewing your Fool’s Gold follows a specialty stout brewing process:
Mash: Convert grain starches into fermentable sugars with a light, dry mash profile. The flaked oats build body and creaminess while keeping the color
pale.
Sparge: Rinse the grains to collect sweet wort.
Boil: Add Willamette hops for balanced bittering and Goldings hops for earthy aroma.
Ferment: Ferment with American ale yeast until clean and fully attenuated. Add cacao nibs and coffee beans during secondary fermentation for rich chocolate and coffee character.
Enjoy: Ready to drink in about 4 weeks from brew day to glass.
This all-grain Fool's Gold delivers a truly unique brewing experience, producing a golden-colored stout with rich coffee and chocolate depth that will surprise and delight everyone who tries it."
New to Liquid Yeast?
Liquid yeast can deliver excellent fermentation performance and a wider range of strain options, but it’s a living, perishable product that requires a little extra care.
Liquid yeast may arrive warm. Ice packs help reduce heat exposure but do not guarantee cold arrival.
Refrigerate it when received and plan to brew as soon as possible.
We recommend adding an insulated mailer + ice pack to liquid yeast orders.
During May–September, dry yeast is strongly recommended due to higher shipping temperatures.
Liquid yeast is final sale and cannot be replaced due to heat exposure during transit.
All-grain brewers with a mash system or all-grain brewing equipment
Fans of stouts who want something visually unique
Brewers who enjoy coffee and chocolate flavors in their beer
Those looking for a conversation-starting brew that defies expectations
This batch is perfect for sharing with friends who think they know what a stout looks like, pouring a golden beer with the rich depth and complexity of a classic dark stout.
Fool's Gold Specs
Batch Size: 5 gallons
ABV: ~5.5%
Original Gravity: 1.055
Style: Golden Stout
Bitterness: Low to moderate
Color: Golden
Recommended Dry Yeast: American ale yeast (SafAle US-05)
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Quality You Can Trust.
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The "We Got You" Guarantee.
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Fool's Gold - 5 Gallon All Grain Beer Recipe Kit
From $47.00
What You'll Brew
Fool’s Gold Golden Stout
A pale golden stout that delivers rich coffee and chocolate flavor, supported by smoked malts and oats for a smooth, full-bodied mouthfeel that challenges expectations from the first pour.
What's Inside the Fool's Gold - 5 Gallon All Grain Beer Recipe Kit
This 5-gallon recipe kit includes all the ingredients needed to brew Fool’s Gold at home:
Briess 2-Row Base Malt
Flaked Oats
Briess Cherrywood Smoked Malt
Willamette Hops (bittering)
Goldings Hops (aroma)
Ecuadorian Cacao Nibs (secondary)
Nicaraguan Coffee Beans (secondary)
Your choice of dry yeast or liquid yeast
Step-by-step brewing instructionsNote:
Note: Brewing equipment is not included. This kit is designed for brewers who already own a 5-gallon all-grain brewing system.
Make Your Next Batch with the Fool's Gold Beer Recipe Kit
This kit lets you explore how malt selection and specialty ingredients shape flavor without relying on dark color. Brew a beer that looks light but drinks like a stout, perfect for surprising friends and expanding your brewing skills.
Easy Steps to Making Fool's Gold Beer
Brewing 5 gallons of your favorite Fool's Gold is more rewarding than ever with our Fool's Gold 5 Gallon All Grain Beer Recipe Kit. With high-quality ingredients and simple steps, the process is straightforward and satisfying.
Make Your Beer Look As Good As It Tastes.
You brewed something worth showing off. Starting at $4.99, give your bottles the finishing touch with our beer labels. Perfect for sharing your latest batch, gifting a few, or stocking your fridge with pride. Shop matching labels
Before
After
Looking For Instructions?
Every all-grain kit comes with instructions to guide you through the brew day, fermentation and beyond. We provide recipe-specific tips tailored to your exact recipe, including mash temperature, fermentation timelines and more.
No. This is an ingredient-only recipe kit. You will need a 5-gallon all-grain brewing setup including a mash tun, brew kettle, and fermentation equipment.
Does this beer taste like a stout even though it's light in color?
Yes. The cacao nibs and coffee beans added during secondary fermentation deliver the rich chocolate and roasted coffee flavors you expect from a stout. The Cherrywood Smoked malt and flaked oats provide a full, creamy body with subtle smokiness. The all-grain base keeps the color golden while achieving true stout depth.
Is this beer sweet?
This beer has a moderate body with subtle sweetness from the oats and malt, but the coffee and cacao additions add roasty bitterness that keeps the finish balanced and interesting rather than sweet.
How long does this beer take to brew?
Brew day takes about 4-5 hours for mashing, sparging, boiling, and cooling. Fermentation takes about 2 weeks, with an additional secondary stage to add the cacao nibs and coffee beans. The beer is ready to drink in about 4 weeks total.
Is this kit beginner-friendly?
This kit is intended for experienced brewers with all-grain equipment. The secondary additions of cacao nibs and coffee add an extra step. If you are new to brewing, we recommend starting with our extract-based Fool's Gold Beer Recipe Kit, which uses a simpler steep-and-boil process.
Can I brew this year-round?
Yes. This recipe kit is available year-round. Its golden color and rich coffee-chocolate flavor make it a unique conversation starter for any season, whether enjoyed on a warm evening or with a winter meal.
Not an All-Grain Brewer? Try the Extract Fool's Gold 5 Gallon Beer Recipe Kit
Our dry malt extract version of this recipe gives you the same classic Fool's Gold flavor with a simpler process. Perfect if you’re just starting out or want a quicker brew.
