How to Brew Thomas Coopers Devil's Half Ruby Porter at Home

For fans of rich, dark brews with hints of chocolate and toffee, the Thomas Coopers Devil’s Half Ruby Porter is a perfect homebrew choice. This guide walks you through the steps to create this devilishly delicious porter at home.

Available at Strathalbyn H Hardware, along with other products in the Coopers range, to help you create a variety of brews from the comfort of home!

What You’ll Need

• Thomas Coopers Devil’s Half Ruby Porter Brewing Extract (1.7 kg)
• 2 x Coopers Light Dry Malt (500 g each) (for fuller body and richer malt profile)
• Coopers Yeast (7 g packet) (included in the brewing kit)
• Fermenter (23 L capacity)
• Hydrometer (optional) (to measure specific gravity)
• Sanitised bottles and bottling valve

Step 1: Preparation

1. Sanitise Equipment: Before you start, ensure that all your brewing equipment, including the fermenter, lid, and bottles, are thoroughly sanitised. This helps prevent any unwanted bacteria from spoiling your brew.
2. Warm the Malt Extract: Place the unopened brewing extract can in warm water for 10-15 minutes. This softens the liquid malt extract (LME) inside, making it much easier to pour and mix into the wort.

Step 2: Start the Wort

1. Add Water to the Fermenter: Begin with 2 litres of warm water in the fermenter (a mix of 500 ml boiling and 1.5 litres cold tap water works well).
2. Mix in Dry Malt: Gradually add the Coopers Light Dry Malt, stirring gently until it completely dissolves
3. Add the Extract Using a Water Bath Method: Open the can of softened brewing extract and pour it into the fermenter. If any malt extract remains in the can, you can place it back into warm water to loosen the remaining extract and pour it into the fermenter.
4. Top Up with Water: Fill the fermenter up to the 23-litre mark with more water, adjusting to reach a temperature between 21-24°C. This is ideal for yeast activation and consistent fermentation.

Step 3: Pitch the Yeast

1. Sprinkle Yeast: Simply sprinkle the yeast evenly across the top of your wort (unfermented beer). This strain is selected specifically for the Devil’s Half Ruby Porter and will bring out the rich, fruity flavours.
2. Attach the Lid and Airlock: Seal the fermenter with the lid, attach the airlock, and move it to a cool, stable environment out of direct sunlight.

Step 4: Fermentation (7-10 Days)

1. Monitor Fermentation: Within 12-24 hours, you should see foam and bubbling in the airlock—signs that fermentation has begun.
2. Maintain Temperature: Aim to keep the wort at a steady 21-27°C during fermentation. Lower temperatures may extend fermentation, while higher temperatures could alter the flavour.
3. Check Specific Gravity: After about a week, use a hydrometer to check the specific gravity. When the reading stabilises over two days, fermentation is complete.

Step 5: Bottling and Carbonation

1. Prepare Bottles: Rinse bottles with sanitised solution, then use the bottling valve to fill each bottle, leaving a 2 cm space at the top.
2. Add Carbonation Drops: Add one carbonation drop per 330 ml bottle, or two drops per 740 ml bottle. This will provide the right amount of fizz for your porter.
3. Seal and Store: Cap the bottles tightly and store them upright in a cool, dark place for at least two weeks. This conditioning period allows the beer to carbonate and develop its full flavour.

Step 6: Enjoy!

After two weeks, refrigerate a bottle for 48 hours and enjoy the deep, ruby-coloured porter with its creamy head and notes of chocolate, toffee, and a subtle bitterness. If you like it, go ahead and chill more bottles—or let it age further to deepen its complexity.

At Strathalbyn H Hardware, you’ll find Thomas Coopers Devil’s Half Ruby Porter and other Coopers brewing products, making it easy to stock up on everything you need for your next homebrewing adventure. Whether you’re crafting a dark porter or exploring the lighter options, Strathalbyn H Hardware has you covered for a rich brewing experience from start to finish. Enjoy every sip of your homemade creation!