Best Homebrew Kits for Beginners

Instructions are a key part of homebrew kits for beginners. You’ll need clear directions to follow as your brew your first batch of beer. Even if you’ve never used beer-making equipment before, you should be able to easily understand the instructions.

Beer brewing combines craft and science. Successful beer making depends on having a clear outline of the procedure. Great beginners’ kits also feature portioned ingredients. Having everything measured in advance will take the guesswork out of your first brewing attempt.

The best home brewing kits for beginners include components that can be reused. Having some equipment on hand will be helpful if you decide to continue brewing after the first batch.

Before you begin brewing beer, know that you’ll need patience, as well as a quality kit. The fermentation process can take between two and three weeks. But trying your own custom beer should be worth the wait.

Simplicity and ease of use are hallmarks of any homebrew starter kit. The best home brewing system for a true novice should contain everything needed to make beer. The contents should include ingredients, as well as equipment.

If you’re curious about beer making, try an all-inclusive kit.

Contents will vary depending on manufacturer, but a homebrew starter kit might contain:

• Fermenting container
• Adjustable flow tap assembly
• Venting plug
• Temperature gauge
• Mixing spoon
• No-rinse cleanser
• Bottle filler and hose, known as a racking cane
• Bottles and caps
• Labels
• Long-handled mixing spoon
• Ingredients including malt extracts, yeast, hops and primer for bottling

An essential piece of homebrewing equipment is a large pot or kettle. It’s need to cook the wort, which is the term for unfermented beer. Some beginners’ kits do include a pot. If the one you choose doesn’t, you’ll need to be sure to have a stockpot on hand before you get started.

Though a homebrew starter kit might only make 1 or 2 gallons, some recipes make as many as 5 gallons. If you will be cooking 5 gallons of wort, then your brew kettle should hold 8 gallons, minimum. A 3.5 gallon should be big enough for 1 to 2 gallons. If you plan to stick with brewing, you may want to start with a bigger pot, though.

Pots are typically available in aluminum or stainless steel. Aluminum is less costly and conducts heat better. Stainless steel pots are often preferred by homebrewers, however. They are much easier to clean. Keeping your equipment clean is a crucial element of beer brewing.

A starter kit helps you get familiar with beer brewing. It won’t contain a top-notch brewing system, though. When you get a beginners’ kit with reusable equipment, you can make upgrades as needed. Homebrewing accessories can make your brewing more efficient and enjoyable.

• A food-grade fermentation bucket can be purchased separately for larger batches.
• A bottling bucket with a spigot can make bottling easier.
• An accurate thermometer will indicate the proper temperature for pitching yeast.
• Brewing recipes from kits usually indicate the expected ABV (the level of alcohol in the fermented brew) but a hydrometer will give an exact measurement.
• Some beer brewing kits come with plastic bottles and reusable caps. If you want to continue brewing after your first kit, buying glass bottles and a capper is recommended.
• A hydrometer is an important piece of safety equipment you should get as soon as possible. Hydrometers show the exact alcohol by volume (ADV) of your beer. You also use it to ensure your beer has finished fermenting before you bottle it. If you package beer that isn’t done fermenting, the bottles can explode.

A starter beer brewing kit and the included ingredients can help you get a feel for the process of making your own brew. Even the most basic homebrew starter kit can produce enjoyable beer.

• Follow the recipe and get a quality beer regardless of experience level.
• Reuse the equipment with a recipe refill kit available for a variety of beer styles.
• Inexpensive starter kits can also benefit more experienced brewers who want to experiment with recipes to make their own signature brew.