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6 Best Beer Brewing Kits: Small Batch and Full Starter Sets

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6 Best Beer Brewing Kits: Small Batch and Full Starter Sets

A beer brewing kit gives you the equipment, and often the ingredients, to make beer at home. Some are small one-gallon kits for trying out the hobby. Others are full starter setups with a fermenter, airlock, sanitizer and bottling gear for bigger batches.

The six kits below cover small countertop kits and fuller starter setups from established names. We have not used these products ourselves, so the descriptions come from general product knowledge. Please confirm batch size and what is included on the current listing before buying.

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6 Best Beer Brewing Kits: Small Batch and Full Starter Sets

What to Look For

Feature Why it matters
Batch size Small batches are easy to store; larger ones give more beer
Ingredients Some kits include a recipe; others are equipment only
Fermenter type Plastic is light; glass is easy to see through
Bottling gear Check whether bottles and a capper are included
Sanitizer Clean equipment is the key to good beer

Specs at a Glance

Kit Type Batch Notes
Brooklyn Brew Shop Everyday IPA Kit Small countertop kit Small batch Includes a recipe
Mr. Beer Complete Beer Making Kit Keg-style fermenter kit Small batch Ready to start
Northern Brewer Deluxe Starter Kit Full starter kit Standard homebrew batch Check the listing for the contents
Brewer’s Best Equipment Kit Equipment kit Standard homebrew batch Ingredients may be sold apart
Craft A Brew Beer Kit Small countertop kit Small batch Recipe style varies
BrewDemon Craft Beer Kit Fermenter kit Check the listing Easy setup

The 6 Best Beer Brewing Kits

1. Brooklyn Brew Shop Everyday IPA Beer Making Kit

A small countertop kit built for brewing a single small batch, usually with a recipe and the core gear. It is a popular gift for people curious about homebrewing.

Suits: small spaces and gifts. Strengths: a compact setup. Weaknesses: small output. Skip it if you want to brew large batches.

View Brooklyn Brew Shop Everyday IPA Kit on Amazon

2. Mr. Beer Complete Beer Making Kit

A well-known keg-style fermenter kit made for first-time brewers. It comes with a fermenter and a recipe mix, and uses a simple process.

Suits: a simple start. Strengths: a long-running line with easy steps. Weaknesses: small batches. Skip it if you want to move up to all-grain.

View Mr. Beer Complete Beer Making Kit on Amazon

3. Northern Brewer Deluxe Starter Kit

A fuller homebrewing starter setup from a major supplier, aimed at a standard batch. It is a good step up for people who plan to keep brewing.

Suits: committed beginners. Strengths: room to grow. Weaknesses: more space and time. Skip it if you want a tiny kit.

View Northern Brewer Deluxe Starter Kit on Amazon

4. Brewer’s Best Home Brew Equipment Kit

An equipment kit with the fermenter, airlock and other gear needed for a standard batch. Ingredients are often sold separately, so check what is in the box.

Suits: people who choose their own recipes. Strengths: a standard-batch setup. Weaknesses: may need ingredients. Skip it if you want a recipe included.

View Brewer’s Best Equipment Kit on Amazon

5. Craft A Brew Beer Making Kit

A countertop beer kit with a reusable fermenter and a recipe, offered in several styles. Check the listing for the style you want.

Suits: gifts and trial runs. Strengths: a choice of recipes. Weaknesses: small output. Skip it if you want large batches.

View Craft A Brew Beer Making Kit on Amazon

6. BrewDemon Craft Beer Kit

A kit built around a fermenter with a spigot, meant to simplify the process of making and bottling beer at home.

Suits: easy bottling. Strengths: a simple design. Weaknesses: less common than the big names. Skip it if you want a standard carboy setup.

View BrewDemon Craft Beer Kit on Amazon

Care and Setup

  • Sanitize everything that touches the beer.
  • Keep the fermenter in a spot with steady temperature.
  • Read the kit instructions before brewing day.
  • Clean equipment right after use and let it dry.
  • Write down the date and the recipe so you can repeat what worked.
  • Store bottles upright in a cool, dark place while they condition.

Mistakes to Avoid

  • Skipping sanitizing.
  • Opening the fermenter too often.
  • Bottling before fermentation is done.
  • Not checking whether the kit includes ingredients.
  • Using household cleaners without rinsing them fully.
  • Moving the fermenter around while it works.

Beer Brewing Kit FAQ

Do kits include ingredients?

Some do, some do not. Check the listing for the recipe or ingredient pack.

How long does it take to brew?

Plan on a few weeks from brewing to bottling and conditioning, depending on the recipe.

Rules vary by place. Check your local laws before you start.

What extra gear might I still need?

Common extras include bottles, caps, a bottle capper, a siphon, and a large pot for brewing. Some kits include these and others do not, so read the contents list before you order. A bottle brush and sanitizer are also worth adding to the cart.

The Short Version

For a small gift kit, the Brooklyn Brew Shop. For an easy start, the Mr. Beer. For a bigger starter, the Northern Brewer. For equipment only, the Brewer’s Best. For recipe styles, the Craft A Brew. For a spigot fermenter, the BrewDemon. C