Buying guide
First Extract Brew Kit
Updated How we research
Everything a beginner needs for batch one. The page is split into five sections (Start With A Complete Kit; Boil Your Wort; Choose Your Malt Extract; Pitch The Right Yeast; Ferment The Batch), followed by every pick ranked by our score so you can compare them in one place.
The short version
We compared 20 picks. Our scores range from 6.5 to 8.8 out of 10.
- Best overall:Fermentis Safale US-05 (11.5 g) Pack of 5. Highest overall score in this guide at 8.8/10.
- Also great value:Fermentis SafAle US-05 Dry Brewing Yeast - 500 g. Value score of 9/10, overall 8.4/10.
- Solid build:Northern Brewer Deluxe Homebrew Starter Kit, Equipment and 5 Gallon Recipe (Bavarian Hefeweizen). Build and materials score of 8/10, overall 8.6/10.
- Feature-rich:BREWSIE Stainless Steel Home Brew Kettle w/Dual Filtration, False Bottom, Thermometer, Ball Valve (16 Gal/64 QT). Features score of 9/10, overall 8.6/10.
Scores are our editorial assessment, not customer ratings. How we score
Start With A Complete Kit
- Northern Brewer Deluxe Homebrew Starter Kit, Equipment and 5 Gallon Recipe (Bavarian Hefeweizen)Our score8.6/10
- Northern Brewer HomeBrewing Starter Set, Equipment and Recipe for 5 Gallon Batches (Hank's Hefeweizen)Our score8.2/10
- Northern Brewer Deluxe Homebrew Starter Kit, Equipment and 5 Gallon Recipe (Bavarian Hefeweizen)Our score7.8/10
- Craft A Brew American Pale Ale Beer Making Kit - Complete Equipment and Supplies - 1 GallonOur score7.8/10
Boil Your Wort
- BREWSIE Stainless Steel Home Brew Kettle w/Dual Filtration, False Bottom, Thermometer, Ball Valve (16 Gal/64 QT)Our score8.6/10
- BREWSIE Stainless Steel Home Brew Kettle w/Dual Filtration, False Bottom, Thermometer, Ball Valve (8 Gal/32 QT)Our score8.3/10
- GasOne 10 Gallon Stainless Steel Home Brew Kettle Pre-Drilled 4 PC Set w/ Lid, Thermometer, Ball Valve SpigotOur score8.0/10
- 25 Gallon Brewmaster Stainless Steel Brew KettleOur score6.5/10
Choose Your Malt Extract
- Muntons Malt Extract, Liquid, Unhopped Amber, 3.3 Pound Cans (Pack of 2)Our score8.4/10
- Briess Pale Ale Liquid Malt Extract 3.3 lbsOur score8.4/10
- Muntons Liquid Malt Home Brew Extract - Amber Hopped, 3.3 LbsOur score7.8/10
- Muntons Hopped Dark (3.3 lb) Liquid Malt ExtractOur score7.8/10
Pitch The Right Yeast
- Fermentis Safale US-05 (11.5 g) Pack of 5Our score8.8/10
- Fermentis SafAle US-05 Dry Brewing Yeast - 500 gOur score8.4/10
- Craft A Brew Safale US-05 American Ale Dry YeastOur score7.9/10
- Lallemand Nottingham Ale YeastOur score7.9/10
Ferment The Batch
- U.S. Solid 6.5 Gallon Plastic Fermenter with Spigot and AirlockOur score8.4/10
- U.S. Solid 2-Pack 6.5 Gallon Plastic Fermenter with Spigot and AirlockOur score8.4/10
- Fastrack 6.5 Gallon Fermenting Bucket with LidOur score7.3/10
- Home Brew Ohio Five Gallon Primary and Secondary Fermentation Set-UpOur score7.3/10
All 20 picks, ranked by our score
Every product from the sections above, listed once. Sort by the criterion you care about most, or tick up to three to compare.
#1A Pack of 5 Fermentis Safale US-05 11.5 g sachets, stocking up on the go-to American ale yeast.
Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 9/10 · Value 9/10
- + Pack of 5 sachets covers several batches of American ale
- + 11.5 g sachet is sized for a standard homebrew batch
- + Buying in multiples lowers the cost per pitch
- - Must be refrigerated to keep viability over the months
- - Big beers may need two sachets per batch
#2Northern Brewer's Deluxe starter kit with upgraded equipment and a Bavarian Hefeweizen recipe for 5 Gallon batches.
Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 9/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 8/10
- + Deluxe tier adds extra gear over the basic set, so you outgrow it more slowly
- + Bavarian Hefeweizen recipe kit gives a reliable, crowd-pleasing first beer
- + Well-documented Northern Brewer instructions make the first brew day less stressful
- - Deluxe pricing is higher than basic kits with similar core fermenting gear
- - Kettle is usually not included, so you still need a large stockpot
#3The 16 gallon version of the BREWSIE kettle, with false bottom, dual filtration, thermometer and valve for larger or full-volume batches.
Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 9/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 8/10
- + 16 gallon capacity handles full-volume all grain boils and bigger batch sizes without boilovers
- + Same false bottom and filter setup as the smaller BREWSIE, so draining stays clean at scale
- + Thermometer and ball valve come fitted, so the kettle is ready to use as a mash tun or boil pot
- - A full 16 gallon pot needs a strong outdoor burner and will not boil well on a kitchen stove
- - Heavy and bulky when full, so moving it around the brew space takes care
#4A pack of 2 Muntons unhopped amber liquid malt extract 3.3 Pound cans for extract brewers building reddish ales.
Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 8/10
- + Pack of 2 cans gives enough extract for a typical batch of amber ale
- + Unhopped extract lets you control bitterness with your own hop schedule
- + Muntons is a long-established UK maltster with consistent extract
- - Liquid extract darkens with age, so use it soon after purchase
- - Cans are heavy to ship and sticky to pour without warming first
#5Briess Pale Ale liquid malt extract in a 3.3 lbs container, a clean pale base for American and English pale ales.
Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 8/10
- + Briess is a major US maltster, so the extract is consistent batch to batch
- + Pale Ale profile gives a slightly richer malt base than plain light extract
- + Unhopped base works well with hop-forward recipes
- - Liquid extract can darken beer slightly compared with dry malt extract
- - Needs to be stored cool and used quickly once opened
#6A 500 g brick of Fermentis SafAle US-05 dry ale yeast, a bulk supply of the clean American ale strain.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 9/10 · Value 9/10
- + US-05 ferments cleanly and suits a huge range of American ales
- + 500 g brick is very economical for frequent or large batch brewers
- + Dry yeast is easy to store and pitch without a starter
- - Far more yeast than most homebrewers can use before it ages
- - Once opened the brick needs vacuum sealing and cold storage
#7U.S. Solid's 6.5 Gallon plastic fermenter with spigot and airlock, a ready-to-use fermenting bucket.
Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 9/10
- + Built-in spigot allows bottling straight from the fermenter
- + Airlock included, so fermentation can start right after pitching
- + 6.5 Gallon capacity gives headspace for vigorous ferments
- - Spigot needs to be taken apart to clean and sanitize properly
- - Plastic bucket can pick up odors from strong beers over time
#8A 2-Pack of U.S. Solid 6.5 Gallon plastic fermenters with spigots and airlocks for running batches back to back.
Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 9/10
- + 2-Pack lets you ferment two batches or use one as a bottling bucket
- + Spigot and airlock on each bucket save extra purchases
- + Good value per fermenter for growing homebrewers
- - Two buckets take up a lot of floor space when stored
- - Spigot gaskets should be checked for leaks before each use
#9BREWSIE's 8 gallon stainless kettle with a false bottom, dual filtration, thermometer and ball valve, sized for classic extract and small BIAB batches.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 9/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 8/10
- + False bottom and dual filtration keep hop debris and grain out of the ball valve when draining
- + Built-in thermometer lets you watch mash and steep temperatures without a separate probe
- + 8 gallon size gives enough headroom for a full boil on a typical five gallon batch
- - 8 gallon capacity gets tight for full-volume all grain brewing with big grain bills
- - Extra fittings add more gaskets and threads to clean after every brew day
#10Northern Brewer's starter set with equipment and a Hank's Hefeweizen recipe kit for 5 Gallon batches, a classic first-brew bundle.
Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 8/10
- + Includes both equipment and ingredients, so you can brew your first batch right away
- + Hefeweizen is a forgiving style that ferments quickly and tastes good young
- + 5 Gallon batch size gives plenty of beer to share and learn from
- - Starter set may not include a brew kettle, so check you have a big enough pot
- - Bottles and caps are often extra, which adds to the real starting cost
#11GasOne's pre-drilled 10 gallon stainless kettle set with lid, thermometer and ball valve spigot, a practical step up for propane brewers.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 9/10
- + Pre-drilled ports with the thermometer and spigot included save you drilling your own pot
- + 10 gallon volume suits full boils on common five gallon recipes with room to spare
- + Lid is part of the set, which helps reach a boil faster and keeps debris out while cooling
- - No false bottom listed, so mashing in it needs a separate bag or screen
- - Thinner budget stainless can scorch sugars if you add extract over a hot flame without stirring
#12Craft A Brew's packet of Safale US-05 American ale dry yeast for clean, crisp fermentations.
Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 6/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 8/10
- + US-05 is a reliable, neutral strain for pale ales, IPAs and ambers
- + Dry packet keeps well in the fridge until brew day
- + Handy single packet for one standard homebrew batch
- - Check the packet size before ordering so it matches your batch
- - Neutral profile will not add fruity esters some styles need
#13Lallemand Nottingham ale yeast, a fast, clean and highly flocculant dry strain for many ale styles.
Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 6/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 8/10
- + Nottingham ferments quickly and drops clear for bright beer
- + Tolerates cooler fermentation temperatures for crisp ales
- + Lallemand dry yeast is consistent and easy to rehydrate
- - Check how many packets you receive before ordering
- - Can ferment very dry, which may thin out malty styles
#14Another listing of the Northern Brewer Deluxe kit with Bavarian Hefeweizen ingredients, aimed at beginners wanting a fuller setup.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 7/10
- + Fuller equipment list covers fermenting, transferring and bottling in one purchase
- + Recipe kit is matched to the equipment, so quantities and steps line up
- + Good gift option for someone curious about brewing their own wheat beer
- - Appears identical to the other Deluxe listing, so compare sellers before buying
- - Wheat beer recipe will not suit people who prefer hoppy or dark styles
#15Craft A Brew's 1 Gallon American Pale Ale kit with complete equipment and supplies, a small-batch way to try brewing at home.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 8/10
- + 1 Gallon batches fit on a kitchen counter and brew on any stove
- + Complete kit includes ingredients and gear, so there is little else to buy
- + American Pale Ale recipe gives a hoppy, familiar beer for first-timers
- - Small batch yields only around ten bottles, which goes fast
- - Glass jug fermenter is easy to break and hard to clean thoroughly
#16Muntons Amber Hopped liquid malt extract in a 3.3 Lbs can, a shortcut to easy amber beer with bitterness built in.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 7/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 8/10
- + Pre-hopped extract simplifies brew day for beginners skipping hop additions
- + Amber malt gives caramel color and flavor without steeping grains
- + 3.3 Lbs can is a common base unit for small or blended batches
- - Built-in bitterness limits control over hop character and IBUs
- - One can alone is not enough for a full five gallon batch
#17Muntons Hopped Dark 3.3 lb liquid malt extract, a simple way to brew stouts and porters from extract.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 7/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 8/10
- + Dark malt extract delivers roasty color and flavor for stouts and porters
- + Hopped version provides bitterness without separate hop additions
- + Easy base for beginners making dark beers on a stovetop
- - Pre-hopped extract limits customization of hop aroma and bitterness
- - Dark extract alone can taste one-dimensional without specialty grains
#18Fastrack's 6.5 Gallon fermenting bucket with lid, a simple food grade primary fermenter for five gallon batches.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 6/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 8/10
- + 6.5 Gallon size leaves headspace for krausen on five gallon batches
- + Wide opening makes cleaning and adding fruit or hops easy
- + Lid seals the bucket for a basic, reliable primary fermenter
- - Check whether an airlock and grommet are included before buying extra fittings
- - Plastic scratches easily, and scratches can harbor bacteria
#19Home Brew Ohio's Five Gallon primary and secondary fermentation set-up for brewers who want to rack beer off the yeast.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 6/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 8/10
- + Two-stage set-up allows clearer beer by racking into secondary
- + Bundled vessels save buying fermenters one at a time
- + Useful for fruit additions and long conditioning in secondary
- - Confirm the exact vessels included before ordering this set-up
- - Secondary racking adds oxygen exposure risk if done carelessly
#20A 25 gallon Brewmaster stainless brew kettle aimed at brewers running double batches or large volume boils.
Fit for the job 7/10 · Features and specs 5/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 7/10
- + 25 gallon capacity lets you brew ten gallon batches with plenty of boil headroom
- + Plain stainless build is simple to clean and can be customized with your own fittings
- + Large diameter pot pairs well with high output burners for faster heat-up
- - Check whether a valve, thermometer or lid is included before ordering
- - Far too large for small batch brewers and hard to store in an apartment
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Home Brew Craft curates picks for US shoppers. Scores are our editorial assessment. We may earn a commission from links on this page.