When it comes to jumping into homebrewing it can be tough getting started, there is so much to learn and on top of that equipment can be confusing.
I would definitely suggest utilizing a kit when you first get started. There are different sizes and price ranges that can get you up and running quickly and have you brewing as soon as you get it.
- The Craft Beer Making Starter Kit 1 Gallon.
- 5 gallon brewing kit Northern Brewer.
- 5 Gallon Beginner Homebrew Kit Brewers Best.
(The links contained in this post are amazon and AIHB affiliate links, but they are kits that are high quality and ones that I would recommend to my closest friends).
Best Small Batch 1 Gallon Kit. Extract
If you have questions about first starting out with your homebrew, google online for local brew supply stores. They are often a great wealth of knowledge and will be able to address your specific needs.
Below is a simple kit you can conveniently grab online.
If you are brand new to home brewing and maybe a little bit timid this is for sure the best place to start. The Craft Beer Making Starter Kit 1 Gallon brew kit gives you everything you will need in order to begin homebrewing the day you receive it.
Don’t worry if it turns out you love homebrewing. This kit has some of the basic supplies you will need for everyday brewing, like the bottle capper, auto siphon, tubing, and caps.
The jug can also be used if you ever wan’t to refill a growler, or just give a growler of your brew to a friend if you decided to keg it.
Pros of Small Batching
This kit is essentially used for small batch brewing. Even if you get more sophisticated you can still utilize this method to experiment with new recipes.
Small batch brewing is also great if you have limited storage space. You can fit the items neatly in a closet or pantry.
Having you’re brew fit in a small container is also great if you have a small chest fridge that you wan’t to fit multiple gallon jugs instead of one large carboy. Space will be you’re biggest constraint when you wan’t to conduct experiments.
Expand to all Grain
This set up is specifically used for extract. If you wan’t to brew all grain you will need a mash tun. The best part is you can still use this setup in conjunction with a mash tun.
You might even be able to experiment with a larger amount of wort from the mash tun and small batch different hop amounts in the same beer. Make sure you label them correctly so you know which one to brew if one turns out better than the other.
Probably the cheapest way to brew all grain is to use a cooler as a mash tun. Many people like to DIY their own from Home Depot. That can take a bit of know-how but it will definitely save you some money. Alternatively if you just want to buy one you can get a brew kettle from Amazon.
Bottom Line
This is an incredibly cheap way to get started. You can brew in any kitchen no problem, and even if you have limited storage space this will work for you.
If you are already thinking you will get pretty serious about brewing you should probably skip this setup. You can move directly to a 5 gallon setup. The small batch kit comes with some essential items, the truth is there is a lot of overlap with other kits.
Best 5 Gallon Extract Kit
This 5 Gallon Extract kit is a great way to get started homebrewing on a larger scale. If you are not worried about brewing larger amounts of beer at a time then go straight for this kit and skip the 1 gallon size.
Northern Brewer has a pretty quality 5 gallon brewing kit. It really has everything you will need for brewing indoors.
Pros of the Kit
Many of the items in this kit will prove useful even years down the road. Even today many of the items in this kit are still common items I utilize while homebrewing. As your brewing evolves you can add to this setup.
This is a cheap kit for what it includes. They make it cheap by ditching the carboy and instead including buckets. Fermenting in buckets is useful for many styles of beer so you will definitely need them in the future.
Cons of the Kit
You won’t be able to pick the exact style of beer you want to brew. They have a few different kits that have different recipes in them but you won’t have unlimited control on your first few brews.
You can choose from different styles of beer once you have the supplies needed to brew further batches of beer you might enjoy more.
Brewers Best Beginner Homebrew Kit 5 Gallon
5 Gallon Beginner Homebrew Kit Brewers Best. (Adventures in homebrewing affiliate link).
This is a great kit that rivals the Northern Brewer 5 gallon kit. It is slightly more expensive though, but you end up with a plastic carboy that you can use.
Pros of Brewers Best
This kit is a great kit, but what is unique is that you can find kit upgrades alongside this one, with just a few changes to get the perfect kit for your commitment level.
Cons of Brewers Best
This kit in particular comes with a plastic carboy and while it is lighter, I’m not a fan of them. They can scratch and are hard to clean without scratching.
You might be better off upgrading to a kit with a glass carboy included.