Description

Dark Rock Small Batch The Milky Way

A rich creamy stout, with subtle chocolate flavours and a complex malty aftertaste, provided by Roasted Barley, Chocolate Malt, and Cocoa Nibs. Lactose gives the beer a rounded sweetness (as it cannot be fermented by a beer yeast). Target and Goldings hops provide the subtle background bitterness. The overall result is a wonderfully rich and fruity, creamy sweet stout, with chocolate flavours and malty aromas. A delicious specialist ale.

Dark Rock Small Batch All Grain Beer Kits

You can have an incredibly rewarding experience brewing your own beer at home, and Dark Rock’s Small Batch All Grain Kits make it easier than ever to get started. Designed for those who want to enjoy the full all grain brewing process without the need for large equipment, this kit allows you to create high-quality craft beer from scratch. This kit allows both new and experienced brewers to test new recipes in small 1-gallon (8-pint) batches and delivers fantastic results with minimal hassle.

Our small batch kits allow you to experiment with different styles and flavours while taking up little space. The kit includes everything you need (except basic brewing equipment and water), which makes it an ideal way to experience all-grain brewing on a smaller scale. We recommend using the Dark Rock 12L Boiling Pan and a Brew in a Bag to ensure the best brewing experience.

If you enjoy brewing this small batch beer kit, why not scale up your brewing and try our 5 gallon (40 pint) version? This larger kits allow you to brew even more delicious craft beer while following a similar straightforward process.

There are four stages to small batch all grain brewing: Mashing, Boiling, Fermenting, and Conditioning. The kit includes full step-by-step instructions and a table showing the required packs, water volumes, and temperatures.

Small Batch Series

Craft your own premium beer at home with the Dark Rock Small Batch Series, specially designed for brewers who value convenience, creativity, and exceptional flavour. Producing 1 gallon (8 pints) of fresh, handcrafted beer per kit, it’s perfect for brewing on a smaller scale or in urban spaces with limited room.

Our Small Batch Series lets you explore a variety of styles without the need for large equipment or extensive storage. Whether you’re an experienced brewer experimenting with new recipes or a beginner taking your first steps into brewing, these kits are the ideal way to enjoy the art of brewing in a compact, approachable format.

• Designed for Urban Living: Perfect for apartments, small kitchens, or limited brewing spaces.
• Brew Quality Beer at Home: Create commercial quality beer with easy-to-follow instructions and premium ingredients.
• Explore and Experiment: Try new styles without committing to larger volumes, and expand your brewing repertoire.

With the Dark Rock Small Batch Series, you don’t need a big space to brew big flavours. Just add water and your passion for beer and enjoy the journey of small-scale brewing!

KIT CONTENT 

• 1.09Kg Malt Grains
• Hop Pellets
• Brite Wort
• Beer Yeast
• Starbrite Beer Finings
• 3 x Hop T-Bags
• Full instructions

Allergy Advice: Includes barley and other cereals, containing gluten

SPECIFICATIONS

• Makes: 8pints / 1 gallon
• Starting Gravity: 1060 (approx)
• Target Finishing Gravity: 1025
• ABV: 4.6% (approx)
• Bitterness: 31 IBU
• Colour 80 EBC
• Fermentation time: 10-14 days approx
• Conditioning time: 4 weeks minimum (it will mature further if left longer)

INGREDIENTS

• Malts: Pale Malt, Chocolate Malt, Crystal Dark, Roasted Barley, Flaked Barley, Special W
• Hops: Target, Golding
• Yeast: Premium British Yeast
• Extras: Britewort, Starbrite Beer Finings, Lactose, Cocoa Nibs

WHAT EQUIPMENT DO YOU NEED?

• Dark Rock 12 Litre Boiling Pan (or a similar sized pot)
• BIAB – Brew In A Bag Filter Bag or a nylon bag to hold the grains
• 5L Demijohn (plastic or glass)
• Airlock and Bung
• Sanitizer (Suresan)
• Spoon
• Syphon Kit
• Thermometer
• Hydrometer
• Bottles (8 x 500ml) or a 5L Party Keg
• Crown caps and capper (if using glass bottles)

To make the beer, the process involves two stages. The first stage is mashing. Your mash equipment will need to maintain the grains and water at a constant temperature for an hour (usually 66C). This is important as only slight temperature variations can affect the taste of the final beer. For the second part of the process, you need to boil the liquid for around 60 minutes and add hops at stages throughout the boil. Then, you need to cool the liquid to fermentation temperature as fast as possible. We would recommend putting the pan in cold water and add ice.

From this point, the fermentation process is similar to standard kits. The fermentation will take place in the demijohn and last between 7-14 days. You will need to keep the beer at the correct temperature stated in the instructions. When the beer has finished fermenting, syphon it off the sediment into bottles or a keg, add sugar, and then seal it up. Then, you keep the beer in a warm place for a week to ferment and gain pressure (known as a secondary fermentation), then move it to a cool place to mature and condition.

TIPS

For optimal results during mashing, we recommend using a grain bag. We stock a BIAB (brew In A Bag) which will fit fermenters up to 27 litres, it has a drawstring and can be washed and re-used many times. Choose this option when buying the kit, and you’ll get it at a discounted price.