Dark Matter Stout is a rich, full-bodied stout built on layers of chocolate malt, dark crystal, and roasted barley, balanced with a firm bitterness and a smooth, rounded finish.

This new Fresh Wort Base 9 already delivers everything you’d expect from a classic stout — coffee, cocoa, light caramel, and a touch of roast bitterness — but it also gives you room to push it further.

The featured version in this recipe kit leans into that richness with additions of cacao nibs and vanilla, creating a smoother, more indulgent profile while keeping the beer balanced and drinkable.

For a more expressive finish, fermenting with WHC Mango Madness introduces subtle tropical notes that contrast the roast and lift the overall profile, but also allow for a fast and reliable fermentation.

Fresh Wort Kits are produced in a professional brewery, meaning all the mashing and boiling is already done for you. You simply ferment and finish the beer at home, making it one of the easiest ways to produce high-quality beer without full all-grain equipment.

Ingredients Included

Cocoa Nibs 100g (1 pack)
Vanilla Pods x 3 (1 pack)
Fresh Wort – Base 9 – Stout (1 pack)
WHC Dried Yeast – Mango Madness – 11g Packet (1 pack)

1 x Brausol Finings

Method

Beer Style (main): British Ales
Beer Style (sub): British-Style Imperial Stout
Batch Size: 20
Original Gravity: 1.070
Final Gravity: 1.015
ABV %: 7.2
IBU: 55

Base Process

1. Pour the fresh wort into your fermenter
2. Top up with water to 20 litres
3. Aerate well
4. Pitch yeast

Adding the Chocolate & Vanilla 

• Day 5:
  • 100g cacao nibs (sanitised)
  • 2 split vanilla pods

Leave in contact for 5–7 days before packaging

Yeast: WHC Mango Madness x 1 11g Packet
Fermentation temperature/steps: 21c – 4-5 days, but possible a little longer – wait for your final gravity to be stable before moving on to the next steps

Secondary additions:Add the cacao nibs and vanilla towards the end of fermentation to build depth without losing aromatics. Place 100g of cacao nibs and 2 split vanilla pods (seeds included) into a sanitised jar, cover with a small amount of vodka or dark rum, and leave for 12–24 hours. Add the entire contents to the fermenter around day 5 and leave in contact for 5–7 days before packaging. Once fermentation is complete with WHC Mango Madness, ensure the final gravity is stable for at least 2–3 consecutive days, then remove or leave behind the solids as you transfer, package into bottles or a keg, and carbonate to around 2.2–2.3 vols CO₂.

What to Expect

• Coffee and dark chocolate roast
• Smooth, rounded body
• Balanced bitterness
• Layers of chocolate and vanilla for a richer finish

Why Choose a Fresh Wort Kit?

Fresh Wort Kits are produced in a professional brewery, meaning all the mashing and boiling is already done for you. You simply ferment and finish the beer at home, making it one of the easiest ways to produce high-quality beer without full all-grain equipment.

For more information about brewing, kegging, packaging beer and serving beer be sure to check out our Help Centre where you can find information covering all subjects for brewers of all levels.

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