Kentucky Common - 5 Gallon All Grain Beer Recipe Kit

$32.00

Yeast selection:

Add an ice pack:

Choose Milled or Unmilled Malts:

✅ Beginner-friendly with step-by-step brewing support

The Kentucky Common is a uniquely American dark ale with roots in the saloons of late 1800s Louisville. Lightly roasted and unapologetically sessionable, it sits somewhere between a dark mild and a cream ale — easy-drinking with more character than you'd expect.

A blend of 2-Row, flaked corn, and dark specialty malts creates flavors of bready caramel, mild dark fruit, and a hint of dry roast, without ever getting heavy or bitter. Cluster hops provide clean, restrained bittering that keeps the beer balanced and refreshing — a true everyday drinker with real historical depth.

This all-grain 5-gallon recipe kit includes all the ingredients needed to brew Kentucky Common from scratch:

Briess 2-Row Base Malt
Flaked Corn
Briess Caramel 40L Specialty Malt
Briess Black Malt Specialty Malt
Cluster (Bittering) Hop Packet
Cluster (Late Bittering) Hop Packet
Saaz (Aroma) Hop Packet
Your choice of yeast (dry yeast, liquid yeast, or no yeast if you have your own)

Note: Brewing equipment is not included. This kit is designed for brewers who already own a 5-gallon all-grain brewing system.

Brewing your Kentucky Common follows a classic American dark ale brewing process:

Mash: Convert grain starches into fermentable sugars with a balanced mash profile.
Sparge: Rinse the grains to collect sweet wort.
Boil: Add Cluster hops for clean, restrained bitterness.
Ferment: Ferment with American ale yeast until clean and fully attenuated.
Enjoy: Ready to drink in about 4 weeks

This recipe highlights the accessible, sessionable character of a historic American style while maintaining just enough dark malt complexity to keep things interesting.

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.

New to liquid yeast? Read our Complete Guide to Liquid Yeast →

This recipe kit is ideal for:

All-grain brewers with a mash system or all-grain brewing equipment
History enthusiasts and fans of pre-prohibition American beer styles
Homebrewers who enjoy dark, sessionable ales with a light body
Drinkers who prefer easy-drinking beers with real malt character

A 5-gallon batch is perfect for keeping a historically inspired house ale on tap, sharing with friends who appreciate craft beer history, or brewing a unique conversation starter.

Kentucky Common - 5 Gallon All Grain Beer Recipe Kit

From $32.00

What You'll Brew

Kentucky Common (Pre-Prohibition American Ale)

A historic American dark ale with toasted malt depth and smooth drinkability. This beer pours deep amber to dark brown with light caramel aroma, subtle corn character, and clean bitterness from classic Cluster hops. Designed to surprise with balance rather than heaviness, it delivers crisp, lightly dry refreshment despite its darker appearance.

What's Inside the Kentucky Common - 5 Gallon All Grain Beer Recipe Kit

This all-grain 5-gallon recipe kit includes all the ingredients needed to brew Kentucky Common from scratch:

Briess 2-Row Base Malt
Flaked Corn
Briess Caramel 40L Specialty Malt
Briess Black Malt Specialty Malt
Cluster (Bittering) Hop Packet
Cluster (Late Bittering) Hop Packet
Saaz (Aroma) Hop Packet
Your choice of yeast (dry yeast, liquid yeast, or no yeast if you have your own)

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 Kentucky Common Beer Recipe Kit

Brewing your own beer at home is about more than the final pour. This kit turns your kitchen into a small-batch brewery and gives you hands-on experience with real ingredients and real fermentation. Whether you brew solo or share the process with friends, this kit makes it easy to create a vibrant, tropical beer that tastes as good as it feels to make.

Easy Steps to Making Kentucky Common Beer

Brewing 5 gallons of your favorite Kentucky Common is more rewarding than ever with our Kentucky Common 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.

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.

View The Instructions

See The FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

Does this kit include brewing equipment?

No. This is an ingredient-only 5-gallon recipe kit. Brewing equipment is not included, and this kit is designed for brewers who already own a 5-gallon all-grain brewing setup.

What exactly is a Kentucky Common?

Kentucky Common is a pre-prohibition American dark ale that originated in Louisville, KY in the late 1800s. It was the everyday working-class beer of the region — dark in color but light in body, sessionable, and brewed fast for quick turnaround. It's one of the few beer styles that can claim to be truly American in origin.

Is this beer heavy or dark-tasting?

Not at all. Despite its deep amber to brown color, Kentucky Common is a light-bodied, easy-drinking ale. The dark malts contribute subtle roast and dark fruit notes without making the beer heavy, bitter, or stout-like. It's closer in feel to a dark mild or cream ale than a porter.

How long does it take to brew?

Brew day takes about 4–5 hours. After that, fermentation takes around 2 weeks. Most brewers have this beer ready to drink in about 4 weeks from brew day to glass.

Is this recipe kit beginner-friendly?

This all-grain beer recipe kit is intended for advanced brewers with all-grain brewing equipment. If you're new to brewing, we recommend starting with one of our extract recipe kits, which are designed to be beginner-friendly and require less equipment.

Can I brew this year-round?

Yes. The Kentucky Common All-Grain Recipe Kit is available year-round. Its light body and easy-drinking character make it a great choice for any season — especially for brewers who want to explore American brewing history.

Not an All-Grain Brewer? Try the Extract Kentucky Common 5 Gallon Beer Recipe Kit

Our dry malt extract version of this recipe gives you the same classic
Kentucky Common flavor with a simpler process. Perfect if you’re just starting out or want a quicker brew.

Get The Extract Recipe Kit