7 of the best beer brewing kits to keep the suds flowing

This Northern Brewer starter kit was made with new brewers in mind. It features foolproof instructions, along with recipes for a block party ale or chinook IPA (depending on which kit you purchase).

It also has all the makings of a complete starter beer kit: a fermentor, kettle, siphon tubes, a sanitizer, caps, and many more parts. The company has sold over 1,000,000 beer kits and produces beer themselves, positioning their brand as one of the leading resources for homebrewing.

What’s more, it received 4.6 out of 5 stars on Amazon from 160 reviews, one of the most positively reviewed products on the market. Eighty-two percent of purchasers gave the product five stars.

Home brewers who reviewed this product were also happy with the company’s level of customer service. That included calling a brewmaster for help, and accessing YouTube instructions and demonstrations. Take note that you will have to buy extra accessories if you want special sized bottles or a different airlock. Buyers also suggested that you purchase extra sanitizers for bottling day and extra bottles, but that the kit is, in general, complete.

As Jim M. put it in his Amazon review:

“For a first time brewer like myself this is the perfect package. It contains pretty much everything you need. I just tried the first bottle of Block Party Amber Ale that came with the kit and it is great. I brewed exactly as the recipe instructed and encountered no problems. I have talked with the brewmasters on a couple of occasions with general questions I had, and they were very understanding and helpful. This is a great company and a great product. I will be a customer for life.”

This Mr. Beer kit is one of the more affordable starter kits — many of its competitors clock in at nearly twice the price.

Impatient brewers will also be happy about the short brew time to complete a batch. You can complete a brew in 30 minutes time instead of nine hours, which also cuts down on the risk of contamination. Mr. Beer accomplishes a shorter brewing time by providing already-made hopped malt extract. Buyers also get to choose two free refills of Oktoberfest Lager, Czech Pilsner, or Mr. Beers Classic American Lite.

Their unique two-gallon fermenter features a locking spigot, built in collector, and UV resistance. With its wide opening, the fermenter is also easier to clean. Some reviewers noted that you may want to graduate to a five gallon kit at some point. 

Take note that the malt extract allows you to skip a normal part of the process, and as one reviewer put it, “I would recommend it for anyone who wants to brew but not really brew.” If you’re looking to take a couple shortcuts but still have the satisfaction of brewing your own beer, this is probably the right fit.

As another Amazon reviewer, Christopher Rose, put it:

“For somebody who has never made their own beer, this is perfect. It really is a discouraging turn off to go to the local home brew supply store, and be told that if you want to make your own beer, you must buy $125 or more just in equipment to get started, and that doesn't include the cost of ingredients. Mr. Beer simplifies the process, and gives you something that works well for less than half the price. I just tried my first batch, and I am quite pleased by the smooth and bold taste that I got. This is a great way to make your own beer in a environment in which you are cramped for space, which those expensive kits demand lots of. Using this doesn't make you less of a home brewer, it just means you are frugal and can't necessarily afford lots of space for making your own beer. Simply put, this kit is great.”

Ready to dive head first into the beer brewing experience? If so, the Northern Brewer Deluxe Homebrew Starter Kit will provide just about everything you need. The end product provides five gallons of finished beer, an instructional DVD (if you still happen to have a DVD player), and lots of accessories.

Besides its baseline features such as a bung and airlock, blowoff hose, and auto siphon, this deluxe kit includes six gallon and five gallon glass carboys for a two-stage fermentation process.  

This kit is one of the most expensive on the market, but also offers the most equipment in return. Brewers can choose between a Caribou Slobber Brown Ale, Chinook IPA, or Irish Red Ale to start out with. Their Irish Red Ale is a bestseller due to its drinkability and low aging requirements.

There are still a few pieces you’ll have to purchase to complete the kit: reviewers noted that you’ll require a big stainless steel kettle, long stirring spoon, and additional bottles. Others noted that they would like a wort chiller included as well.

As Jason put it on his Amazon review:

“I'm new to home brewing, but this kit made it extremely easy to make an awesome batch of beer! I had a friend come over and make it with me and it was much easier than I thought. The instructions were clear and concise and all of the product was shipped in one big convenient box. The box contained everything as promised and included pictures of the equipment to help you understand what part they were referring to in the instructions. I would highly recommend this to anyone who is new to homebrewing and wants to jump right into this exciting hobby!”

Unlike some of its craft-brew counterparts, this Home Brew Ohio kit will allow you to make more substantial batches of beer at a time. That includes a 7.8-gallon fermenting bucket, five gallon glass carboy, and all the other trappings: hydrometer, bottling spigot, and double lever capper (just to name a few).

Many of the new craft brewing kits only provide one or two specific recipes and you’ll have to pay for more. This product features a book with wide-ranging recipes. Reviewers noted that the recipes worked well and allowed them leeway for making other types of alcohol, like cider.

Basically, if you’re looking for more variety and options than a basic starter kit, this is a great pick. Of course, like many of the other kits as well, reviewers suggested you buy a couple extra items to make the kit complete, such as a cheap digital thermometer, mesh strainer, and large pot. 

As reviewer NorthWoodsArt put it:

“Since we got it, we've made our first batch of beer from a recipe in the book (smells amazing!) and are currently making a batch of mead. We bottled the beer a couple weekends ago, and even though we're new at this, everything went perfectly. The siphoning hose was great for getting the exact amount in the bottles and the bottle capper worked perfectly.”

Bring on the craft beer! The BrewDemon Craft Beer Kit Plus comes with an American prophecy ale recipe and a two gallon fermenter. One benefit of the small batch approach: it’s easier to experiment with different types of recipes without sacrificing so much time or ingredients.

BrewDemon also features the world’s first small batch conical fermenter, which we have to admit, looks pretty cool. Many kits still require you to buy your own bottles and caps, but this one includes a CO2 vent plug, bottles, caps, labels, a stick-on temperature gauge, and an adjustable spigot. Best of all, the kit is completely reusable.

Reviewers commented that their refills are more expensive than Mr. Beer, and some of them actually used Mr. Beer refills for this kit. They also mentioned that this is basically good to go from the start — though you will want to buy a three quart pot and a small amount of granulated sugar to round it off.

As Amazon reviewer Kashanie Lagrotta put it:

“My husband loves it! I made the decision after research to gift him this kit for Christmas and it was definitely a good gift. My husband really enjoyed using it-said it was easy to use and since has added other items to this kit, like glass bottles and other recipes.”

This is another of the more affordable all-around brew kits we found on the market. However, unlike its similarly priced “quick brew” counterpart, this offers the full brewing experience from end-to-end, without the malt shortcut.

Midwest Supplies Beer is also remarkable for its lack of branding — they like to keep things simple with their slogan, “Beer. Simply Beer.” And, as they like to broadcast, it’s a simple catch-all kit that will provide your needs without giving you accessories you’ll never use.

Buyers will get all the basic trappings needed for a first brew, including a pale ale recipe kit, a 6.5 gallon fermenting and bottling bucket, triple scale hydrometer, bottle capper, and oxygen wash cleaner. However, be sure to note there are a few, small crucial pieces not included in the kit: a four- to five-gallon kettle, 50 empty beer bottles, and 50 crown bottle caps. 

Overall, if you’re looking for a very affordable but fairly comprehensive kit, this one may be your best bet.

As Arturo Riz put it in his Amazon review:

“I had never attempted to make my own beer before. This was my way of introducing myself in the home-brew hobby. The kit contains everything you could possibly need to get yourself started and the instructions are easy to follow. If you want to make your own beer at home, this start kit is all you need. If you feel that after a few batches you are ready to jump from extract brewing to all-grain brewing, all the items here will still be of use to you. Highly recommended for those looking to learn the hobby.”

Unsure if you actually want a full-blown brewing kit? This simple Craft a Brew kit is a perfect introductory product to dip your toes in the homebrewing waters.

Additionally, Craft A Brew has all kinds of starter recipes to choose from, including an American pale ale, Irish stout, chocolate milk stout (yes please), Oktoberfest ale, hard cider kit, and gluten-free — just to name a few.

The kit yields one gallon of beer but does not include a brew pot or empty beer bottles. Some buyers recommend you have something to strain with as well.

Overall, reviewers noted how easy it was to follow the directions and considered the kit a great introduction to brewing. If you’re not looking to make a large amount of beer or a large investment, the low price is compelling enough to test it out.

As reviewer Bry said on Amazon:

“Got this for my boyfriends birthday and he loved it. It’s worth a lot more than the sticker price. I bought extra yeast to make hard cider, so haven’t tried the Pale Ale yet, but the kit is great and easy to use. I love the resources it comes with. The only thing if doesn’t have are bottles! I’m using mason jars for now.”