St Peter's Ruby Red Ale Beer Kit

What This Kit Makes

St Peter's Ruby Red Ale makes a tawny red beer with a malt-led flavour and the peppery edge of rye. Its spicy aroma gives it a different character from a golden ale or citrus-led IPA. Developed by Muntons with St Peter's Brewery in Suffolk, this two-can recipe is a straightforward way to brew a traditional red ale at home.

Beer Characteristics

What's in the Kit?

• Two cans of malt extract, totalling 3 kg
• Brewing yeast
• Hop extract or hop enhancer sachet
• Brewing instructions

Allergens: Contains barley and rye (gluten).

What Else Will You Need?

No extra brewing sugar, malt extract or beer enhancer is needed for the standard fermentation. For carbonation, buy a small, measured amount of brewing sugar or suitable Mangrove Jack's Carbonation Drops or Coopers Carbonation Drops. Follow the priming directions for your bottle or barrel size.

Brewing equipment is sold separately. You will need:

• A fermenter with headspace for foam; a 25-litre bucket is suitable for these batches.
• A hydrometer and thermometer.
• Cleaner and sanitiser, plus a syphon and tubing.
• Pressure-rated beer bottles and closures, or a suitable pressure barrel.

Starting from scratch? Compare our beer starter kits. See the FAQ tab for brewing and bottling advice.

Compare the other styles in our St Peter's beer kit range.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does this kit need brewing sugar or beer enhancer?

The malt for the standard recipe is included. You only need a separate priming addition to carbonate the finished beer in bottles or a pressure barrel. Read our brewing sugar and enhancer guide for the difference between fermentation additions and priming.

What gives Ruby Red its spicy character?

The recipe includes rye malt extract alongside barley malt extract. Expect a peppery edge with malt depth and a spicy hop aroma, rather than the prominent citrus character of the range's IPA.

What temperature should I ferment it at?

Follow the instructions supplied with your kit and aim for a steady 18–20°C where specified. Check the liquid temperature before adding the yeast. Keep the fermenter away from direct sunlight and large temperature swings.

How do I know when fermentation is finished?

Use a hydrometer and confirm that readings remain stable over at least two days and meet the final-gravity guidance on your box. A quiet airlock or a fixed number of days is not enough on its own. Our hydrometer guide explains the readings.

How do I bottle or barrel the beer?

Clean and sanitise everything that will touch it. Once fermentation is complete, syphon gently off the sediment into suitable pressure-rated bottles or a pressure barrel. Measure the priming addition for the actual packaged volume and container size, following the supplied directions. Our bottle guide covers bottle selection and care.

How long before it is ready to drink?

Allow roughly 3–4 weeks for fermentation and initial conditioning, with longer maturation if needed. Follow the kit's warm conditioning and cool storage stages, and give the beer time to settle. Read our St Peter's brewing guide for the process and the differences between batches.