Home & Kitchen
The Best Beer Brewing Kits: 4 Compared (and One to Skip)
We compared a 5-gallon starter, a 1-gallon all-grain kit, a 2-gallon Mr. Beer and a root-beer kit on batch size, fermenter and how much actual brewing you learn.
The short version
The Northern Brewer starter kit is the brewing gift - real 5-gallon extract brewing, $80. The Brooklyn Brew Shop 1-gallon kit is the $48 all-grain teacher. Mr. Beer's 2-gallon is the simplest it-depends at $70. Skip the Root Beer kit - it's soda, not beer.
Our picks at a glance
- Northern Brewer Essential Brew Share Enjoy Starter Kit - Buy. The 5-gallon starter kit - real fermenter, bottling gear, extract recipe, the hobby done right - $80.
- Brooklyn Brew Shop 1-Gallon Beer Making Kit - Buy. The all-grain 1-gallon kit - real mash, real grain, small batch in a stockpot - $48.
- Mr. Beer Bewitched Amber Ale Complete Kit - It depends. The 2-gallon hopped-extract kit in a plastic barrel fermenter - simplest path, $70.
- Mr. Beer Root Beer Kit - Skip. A root-beer soda kit - it makes carbonated soft drink, not beer, $30.
The verdict in 30 seconds
What mattered most
- Batch size
- Brewing method
- Fermenter
- Teaches real brewing
- Reusable gear
- Price class
A homebrew kit is the gift that teaches a hobby. The divide is scale and realism: a full 5-gallon extract kit that brews like a brewery, a 1-gallon all-grain kit that teaches the mash, or a 2-gallon plastic-fermenter kit that's simpler and smaller. We compared Northern Brewer's starter, Brooklyn Brew Shop's porter, Mr. Beer's amber ale and a kit that isn't beer at all.
The 5-gallon starter kit - real fermenter, bottling gear, extract recipe, the hobby done right - $80.
Best for: The definitive brewing gift - for someone who wants to actually learn the hobby at real scale.
- A real 5-gallon batch - 50+ bottles of beer, the scale a brewery works at.
- Proper equipment: fermenting bucket, bottling bucket, auto-siphon, capper, hydrometer - the real toolkit, not a toy fermenter.
- Extract brewing with the most trusted instructions in homebrewing - foolproof first batch.
- The upgrade path is real - the gear carries into all-grain brewing later.
- Northern Brewer is the largest homebrew shop - the kit hobbyists actually recommend.
- $80 plus a kettle and bottles - the kit doesn't include the pot or the packaging.
- Extract brewing, not all-grain - you brew from malt syrup, not from grain.
- 5 gallons is a commitment - fermenter space, bottle storage, the works.
The all-grain 1-gallon kit - real mash, real grain, small batch in a stockpot - $48.
Best for: The foodie brewer - someone who wants to learn real all-grain process in a small kitchen.
- True all-grain brewing at 1 gallon - you mash actual grain in a kitchen stockpot, like a brewery does.
- The teaching kit - learns the real process (mash, sparge, boil, ferment) without the 5-gallon volume.
- Fits a kitchen - no big fermenter, a 1-gallon jug is all it takes.
- $48 - the cheapest way into real all-grain brewing.
- Recipe variety - dozens of one-gallon mixes from porter to IPA.
- 1 gallon is ~10 bottles - a tasting batch, not a supply.
- More process per pint - all-grain at 1 gallon is the same steps for less beer.
- The glass jug is a fermenter, not a brewery bucket - less convenient for transfers.
The 2-gallon hopped-extract kit in a plastic barrel fermenter - simplest path, $70.
Best for: The cautious first-timer - the lowest-commitment kit for someone unsure they'll brew twice.
- The easiest brew: hopped malt extract plus a plastic barrel fermenter - mix, ferment, bottle.
- 2-gallon batch - the middle ground between a 1-gallon taste and a 5-gallon commitment.
- Built-in bottles and a tap - the little keg-shaped fermenter is self-contained.
- Low commitment - the smallest real brewing footprint.
- Plastic barrel fermenter - not glass or a bucket; scratches harbor bacteria over time.
- Hopped extract only - the least like real brewing; little to learn or control.
- $70 for the simplest kit - paying for convenience, not capability.
A root-beer soda kit - it makes carbonated soft drink, not beer, $30.
Best for: A kids' kitchen science project. For a beer gift, buy a brewing kit.
- Makes root beer - a fun kid-friendly project.
- $30 - the cheapest kit here.
- Includes bottles and extract - self-contained.
- It's a soda kit, not a beer kit - no malt, no hops, no brewing craft.
- The category trap: it surfaces in 'beer kit' searches but makes soft drinks for children.
- Teaches nothing about brewing - mix extract and carbonate, done.
| Criteria | Northern Brewer Essential Brew Share Enjoy Starter Kit Top pick | Brooklyn Brew Shop 1-Gallon Beer Making Kit | Mr. Beer Bewitched Amber Ale Complete Kit | Mr. Beer Root Beer Kit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Verdict | Buy it | Buy it | It depends | Skip it |
| Best for | The definitive brewing gift - for someone who wants to actually learn the hobby at real scale. | The foodie brewer - someone who wants to learn real all-grain process in a small kitchen. | The cautious first-timer - the lowest-commitment kit for someone unsure they'll brew twice. | A kids' kitchen science project. For a beer gift, buy a brewing kit. |
| Price tier | $$$ · premium | $$ · mid-range | $$ · mid-range | $ · budget |
| Batch size | 5 gallons (~50 bottles) | 1 gallon (~10 bottles) | 2 gallons | Soda |
| Brewing method | Malt extract | All-grain mash | Hopped extract | Soda extract |
| Fermenter | Food-grade bucket | Glass jug | Plastic barrel | Plastic bottles |
| Teaches real brewing | Yes - extract | Yes - all-grain | Partially | No |
| Reusable gear | Full kit | Kit + jug | Barrel + bottles | Disposable |
| Price class | $80 | $48 | $70 | $30 |
Which one is right for you?
- The definitive brewing gift - for someone who wants to actually learn the hobby at real scale. Buy it Northern Brewer Essential Brew Share Enjoy Starter Kit
- The foodie brewer - someone who wants to learn real all-grain process in a small kitchen. Buy it Brooklyn Brew Shop 1-Gallon Beer Making Kit
- The cautious first-timer - the lowest-commitment kit for someone unsure they'll brew twice. It depends Mr. Beer Bewitched Amber Ale Complete Kit
- A kids' kitchen science project. For a beer gift, buy a brewing kit. Skip it Mr. Beer Root Beer Kit
How we judged the field
A brewing kit teaches a hobby - the question is how much real brewing it teaches. We compared a 5-gallon extract starter, a 1-gallon all-grain kit, a 2-gallon hopped-extract kit and a soda kit on batch size, fermenter and what you actually learn.
The Brew Share Enjoy is the hobby starter: 5-gallon extract brewing with a real fermenter, bottling bucket, siphon, capper and hydrometer. $80.
It’s the kit homebrewers recommend - proper gear, trusted instructions, and a real batch of ~50 bottles. The catches: you supply a kettle and bottles, and extract brewing skips the mash. But it’s the foundation the whole hobby is built on.
The Brooklyn Brew Shop kit teaches all-grain: you mash real grain in a stockpot, sparge, boil and ferment a single gallon. $48.
It’s the real process at kitchen scale - the teaching kit for a foodie. The trade-off is yield: ~10 bottles for the same work as a bigger batch, and the jug fermenter is less convenient. For learning the craft without committing a closet, it’s ideal.
The Mr. Beer kit is the easy path: hopped malt extract in a 2-gallon plastic barrel fermenter with a built-in tap. $70.
Whether it fits depends on commitment. It’s the simplest real beer - mix, ferment, pour - but the plastic barrel scratches and the hopped extract leaves nothing to learn. For a dip-a-toe gift it works; it’s convenience brewing, not a hobby.
The Root Beer kit makes soda: extract, bottles, carbonation - a soft drink, not a brew. $30.
It’s the category trap - it surfaces in beer-kit searches but makes a kids’ drink with no malt, no hops and no craft. Harmless as a children’s kitchen project; wrong as a brewing gift. Skip it for a beer kit.
Northern Brewer vs Brooklyn Brew Shop: which should you buy?
The Northern Brewer is the $80 full-scale extract starter; the Brooklyn Brew Shop is the $48 all-grain teacher.
Buy Northern Brewer for someone committing to the hobby - real gear, 50 bottles, the upgrade path. Buy Brooklyn Brew Shop for the curious cook - real all-grain brewing in a small kitchen, less beer, more learning.
What to look for
- Batch size is the commitment: 5 gallons is the hobby, 1-2 gallons is the taste.
- Extract vs all-grain: extract is the faster entry; all-grain is the real craft - both make real beer.
- Fermenter quality matters: glass and food-grade buckets last; plastic scratches and ages out.
- The kit rarely includes everything: check for a kettle, bottles and a capper.
- A soda kit is not a beer kit: read what’s in the box - root beer teaches nothing.
Our final take
The Northern Brewer starter kit is the brewing gift - real 5-gallon extract brewing, real gear, $80. The Brooklyn Brew Shop 1-gallon is the $48 all-grain teacher for a kitchen brewer. Mr. Beer’s 2-gallon kit is the easiest it-depends at $70. Skip the Root Beer kit - it’s soda. Buy Northern Brewer for the hobbyist; Brooklyn Brew Shop for the cook.
Questions, answered
What size brewing kit should a beginner get?
5 gallons is the hobby standard - real batches, real gear, real learning. 1 gallon is the kitchen-friendly teacher. The beginner trap is buying too small to learn on, or too big to commit to - pick based on kitchen space and how sure they are.
Extract vs all-grain brewing?
Extract brews from malt syrup - skip the mash, get to the boil faster, still makes real beer. All-grain mashes actual grain - more control, more process, the full craft. Extract is the starter; all-grain is the destination.
Is a Mr. Beer kit a good gift?
For a total beginner, it's the easiest entry - plastic barrel, hopped extract, minimal steps. The ceiling is low: it's convenience brewing, not skill-building, and the plastic fermenter scratches. Fine for a dip-a-toe gift; upgrade to a real kit if they stick.
Do brewing kits include bottles?
Some do - the Mr. Beer and extract kits often bundle bottles or a keg-style fermenter. The Northern Brewer kit expects you to supply bottles or a capper setup. Always check: 'starter kit' rarely means 'everything in the box.'
Is homebrewing legal?
In the US, yes - federally legal since 1978, with most states allowing ~100 gallons per adult per year for personal use. No selling it. It's a legal, regulated hobby - the kits are a normal gift.
Deciding between the top two? See our head-to-head: Northern Brewer Essential Brew Share Enjoy Starter Kit vs Brooklyn Brew Shop 1-Gallon Beer Making Kit.
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