Bluegrass Benchmark Kentucky Common Extract Recipe Kit

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Bluegrass Benchmark Kentucky Common

Once a massively popular regional style centered around Louisville, this uniquely American beer style fell out of favor with the onset of Prohibition. Although a recognized beer style in modern times, its popularity is a mere shadow of its former self. Kentucky Common is brewed with the readily available ingredients of the time and place, and Bluegrass Benchmark is our reflection of this nearly forgotten piece of American beer history. Classic American base malt, corn, and a dash of both caramel and black malts coupled with distinct American and imported hops craft a beer worthy of its vintage forerunner.

Kentucky Common Brewing Notes:

  • Style: Historical Beer: Kentucky Common
  • Fermentation Range: 65-75°F
  • Original Gravity: 1.051
  • SRM: 13
  • IBU: 18
  • ABV: 5.3%

Kentucky Common Tasting Notes:

  • Aroma: Low grainy character with low sweet caramel, a touch of roast, and medium-low slightly sweet corn aroma. Low spicy and floral hop presence. No sourness.
  • Appearance: Deep amber hue with fair clarity and bright white foam.
  • Flavor: Medium-low malt sweetness with underlying notes of caramel and faint roast. Moderate clean corn flavor. Neutral fermentation flavor profile with low esters and medium-low floral and spicy hop flavor characteristics. No sourness.
  • Mouthfeel: Medium-light body with moderate creaminess

 

Looking for the All-Grain Version?

Additional information

SKU

B12040

Beer Color Amber
Original Gravity

1.051

Total Time to Make 6 weeks
Regional Style USA
Alcohol Content Medium
Yield 5 Gallons
Beer Style Historical Beer, Kentucky Common
Fermentation Type Ale
Beer Recipe Kit Instructions Click here for recipe kit instructions

Notes from Brad, Northern Brewer Head Brewer:

“The style now known as Kentucky Common was once an incredibly popular regional beer style and has since been picked up by modern craft brewers in an effort to resurrect the nearly extinct style. From the time period roughly between the end of the Civil War and leading up to Prohibition, this beer was far and away the most popular in the region around Louisville, Kentucky. Since the ingredients for this style were readily available at the time, they were (of course) used to create a beer in a cost-effective and quick manner. The style utilizes a fair amount of corn as an adjunct to boost the fermentable extract, and as a result, the classic American 6-row was used due to its high enzyme content enabling it to convert the non-enzymatic corn adjunct. Added to this grist was a bit of “pizzaz” in the form of caramel malt and black malt, likely because it was what was on hand at the time. Many liken this style to a darker cream ale, probably due to the fact that it is, in fact, very similar to a traditional cream ale, although some extra flavorful malts are added. This style also used American-grown hops, and in the case of this specific recipe, Cluster hops are utilized due to their wild popularity in American hop horticulture of the time period. 

This recipe is a rather simple one to brew. For the all-grain brewer, a significant portion of the mash ingredients is (huskless) flaked corn (maize). Because of the lack of husk material when using corn, an extra mash filtering addition such as rice hulls is encouraged while brewing this recipe to ease in lautering to avoid a stuck mash. Other than that, have at it - mash, boil and ferment just as any other recipe and enjoy a refreshing piece of American brewing history once packaged and carbonated. If you are a malt extract brewer, no mashing is necessary of course and all the corn goodness is already prepared in the form of corn syrup. Although rather fermentable and high in simple sugars, pure corn syrup is essentially the malt extract analog to this common adjunct ingredient. Add it as you would any other extract to emulate the mashing of flaked corn in the all-grain version.” 

Customer Reviews

Based on 22 reviews
77%
(17)
14%
(3)
9%
(2)
0%
(0)
0%
(0)
D
David
Simple everyday beer, but good.

I usually make heavy complex beers, but this time I wanted a simple beer that everyone at a party would enjoy. The Bluegrass Benchmark Kentucky Common Ale is just that. It’s has a fairly low ABV, has a malty sweet flavor, and a dark caramel color. I added gelatin about a week before bottling to clarify the beer and what a difference it made. The color and clarity turned out to be very similar to Sam Adams Oktoberfest. Several of my family members tried it and I received compliments from them all. I recommend the Bluegrass Benchmark Kentucky Common Ale if you’re looking for a simple beer to brew and drink.

D
Daniel S.
Interesting

I tried this as I am a usual IPA - heavy hopped beer guy. Not what I was expecting, however very drinkable. The corn syrup did change the flavor and the light hoppy flavor made for something I can't describe. I call this a prohibition beer as the ingredients are what would have been available at that time. Is this drinkable - Yes - Would I brew it again - not on the top of my list not.

T
Todd P.
Bangin !

Excellent beer , always looking for something little different, this delivered ! Very dark appearance, definitely get that seeetness from
Corn syrup , but just nice balance over all , started popping’ in fridge after week of v
Conditioning , but definitely benefit from full two weeks , getting nice head off the pour , great beer 🍺

K
Kale
Added to list of Favs

The Kentucky Bluegrass Ale turned out to be one of my favorite recipes. It had great color and deep flavor. I already ordered another kit to brew this weekend.

Z
Zach W.
Bomb dot com

This beer definitely lived up to the hype! This was my 3rd attempt of making beer and is by far my best beer yet! It turned out a little darker than you would typically see an amber ale but the flavor is so rich and smooth. I ended up drinking two before I even knew it.

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Bluegrass Benchmark Kentucky Common Extract Recipe Kit

Bluegrass Benchmark Kentucky Common Extract Recipe Kit

Customer Reviews

Based on 22 reviews
77%
(17)
14%
(3)
9%
(2)
0%
(0)
0%
(0)
D
David
Simple everyday beer, but good.

I usually make heavy complex beers, but this time I wanted a simple beer that everyone at a party would enjoy. The Bluegrass Benchmark Kentucky Common Ale is just that. It’s has a fairly low ABV, has a malty sweet flavor, and a dark caramel color. I added gelatin about a week before bottling to clarify the beer and what a difference it made. The color and clarity turned out to be very similar to Sam Adams Oktoberfest. Several of my family members tried it and I received compliments from them all. I recommend the Bluegrass Benchmark Kentucky Common Ale if you’re looking for a simple beer to brew and drink.

D
Daniel S.
Interesting

I tried this as I am a usual IPA - heavy hopped beer guy. Not what I was expecting, however very drinkable. The corn syrup did change the flavor and the light hoppy flavor made for something I can't describe. I call this a prohibition beer as the ingredients are what would have been available at that time. Is this drinkable - Yes - Would I brew it again - not on the top of my list not.

T
Todd P.
Bangin !

Excellent beer , always looking for something little different, this delivered ! Very dark appearance, definitely get that seeetness from
Corn syrup , but just nice balance over all , started popping’ in fridge after week of v
Conditioning , but definitely benefit from full two weeks , getting nice head off the pour , great beer 🍺

K
Kale
Added to list of Favs

The Kentucky Bluegrass Ale turned out to be one of my favorite recipes. It had great color and deep flavor. I already ordered another kit to brew this weekend.

Z
Zach W.
Bomb dot com

This beer definitely lived up to the hype! This was my 3rd attempt of making beer and is by far my best beer yet! It turned out a little darker than you would typically see an amber ale but the flavor is so rich and smooth. I ended up drinking two before I even knew it.