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 7.0 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 Yeast, 500 g. Value score of 9/10, overall 8.4/10.
- Solid build:BREWSIE Stainless Home Brew Kettle, 16 Gal. Build and materials score of 8/10, overall 8.6/10.
- Feature-rich:Brewsie Stainless Home Brew Kettle, 8 Gal. Features score of 9/10, overall 8.3/10.
Scores are our editorial assessment, not customer ratings. How we score
Start With A Complete Kit
- Northern Brewer Homebrewing Starter SetOur score8.2/10
- Northern Brewer Essential Homebrew Starter SetOur score7.8/10
- Craft A Brew American Pale Ale Kit, 1 GallonOur score7.8/10
- Northern Brewer 1G Kama Citra IPA Starter KitOur score7.0/10
Boil Your Wort
- BREWSIE Stainless Home Brew Kettle, 16 GalOur score8.6/10
- Brewsie Stainless Home Brew Kettle, 8 GalOur score8.3/10
- MRbrew 10 Gal Stainless Brew KettleOur score7.8/10
- Brewmaster 8.5 Gallon Brew KettleOur score7.6/10
Choose Your Malt Extract
- Briess Pilsen Unhopped Liquid Malt Extract, 3.3 lbOur score7.5/10
- Brewer's Best Liquid Malt Extract, Amber, 3.3 lbOur score7.1/10
- Briess Traditional Dark Malt Extract, 3.3 lbOur score7.1/10
- Briess 5864 Golden Light Liquid Malt, 32 lbOur score7.0/10
Pitch The Right Yeast
- Fermentis Safale US-05 (11.5 g) Pack of 5Our score8.8/10
- Fermentis SafAle US-05 Dry Yeast, 500 gOur score8.4/10
- Craft A Brew Safale US-05 American Ale YeastOur score7.9/10
- Lallemand Nottingham Ale YeastOur score7.9/10
Ferment The Batch
- U.S. Solid 6.5 Gal Fermenter with SpigotOur score8.4/10
- U.S. Solid Fermenter with Spigot, 6.5 GalOur score8.4/10
- Fastrack Fermenting Bucket with Lid, 6.5 GallonOur score7.3/10
- Home Brew Ohio 5 Gal 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.
A 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
The 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
A 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
U.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
A 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
BREWSIE'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
Northern 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
- - Recipe kit is Hefeweizen only, so a different style means buying separate ingredients
- - Bottles and caps are often extra, which adds to the real starting cost
Craft 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
Lallemand 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
Northern Brewer starter set with siphonless fermenters and a Block Party Amber Ale recipe kit for 5 gallon batches, aimed at first-time brewers.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 8/10
- + Kit includes a 6.5 gallon fermentor with spigot, a bottling bucket with spigot, bottle filler, stainless spoon, tubing and sanitizer.
- + Comes with a Block Party Amber Ale recipe kit, so the first batch can start right away.
- + Siphonless fermenters, per the listing, cut out one of the messier steps for beginners.
- - The kit has no brew kettle, so you need a pot big enough for the boil, which adds cost for a true beginner.
- - The recipe is a single amber ale, so you cannot pick a different style without buying another recipe kit.
Craft 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
MRbrew 10 gallon (40 quart) stainless steel brew kettle with a composite bottom, an external thermometer reading 0-220 F and a three-part filter set: tray, cylinder and bag.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 8/10
- + 10 gallon capacity leaves boil-over headroom for full-volume 5 gallon batches
- + Includes a filter tray, filter cylinder and filter bag for holding back grain and hop debris
- + External dual-scale thermometer (0-220 F and 0-100 C) and punched ports sealed with 4 O-rings
- - Punched ports rely on O-rings for the seal, parts that need checking and occasional replacement
- - Listing highlights do not give the steel grade or wall thickness, or say whether volume markings are included
Brewmaster 8.5 gallon stainless steel brew kettle with two welded 1/2 inch couplers, a ball valve, a plug for the top port, stamped volume markers and silicone handle grips. Sized for 5 gallon batches.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 7/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 7/10
- + Two welded 1/2 inch couplers, so there are no weldless bulkhead gaskets at the ports
- + Ships with a 1/2 inch stainless ball valve and nipple for the bottom coupler and a plug for the top one
- + Stamped volume markers for reading levels, and silicone grips on the handles
- - 8.5 gallons is far smaller than the 25 gallon kettle it replaces here: it suits 5 gallon batches only
- - No thermometer or lid details appear in the listing, and the steel grade is not specified
Briess Pilsen unhopped liquid malt extract in a 3.3 lb container, sold by Home Brew Ohio. A very light base extract for pilsners, blonde ales and recipes that add color with steeping grains.
Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 6/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 7/10
- + Unhopped, as the title states, so bitterness and hop character stay fully under your control
- + Listing describes it as concentrated brewers wort that is easy to use
- + 3.3 lb size matches standard extract recipes, and the listing marks it as kosher
- - Short listing: color in Lovibond and the malt bill are not given in the highlights
- - Pilsen extract is very pale on its own, so darker styles need specialty grains or a second extract
Fastrack'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
Home 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
Brewer's Best Amber liquid malt extract in a 3.3 lb container, made from 2-row barley with a listed color of 12 to 15 Lovibond. A base for amber ales, red ales and other mid-color beers.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 6/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 7/10
- + Listed color of 12 to 15 L, which gives recipe builders a number to plug into color calculations
- + 3.3 lb size matches the amount most extract recipes call for per container
- + Described as crafted from 2-row barley, from a brand known for homebrew ingredient kits
- - Single 3.3 lb container, while the product it replaces here was a two-can pack
- - Listing highlights do not say whether it is hopped or give the malt blend behind the amber color
Briess Traditional Dark liquid malt extract in a single 3.3 lb pack, made in the United States. A dark base extract for porters, stouts and brown ales.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 5/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 8/10
- + Traditional Dark grade from Briess, a dark base for porter, stout and brown ale recipes
- + Single 3.3 lb pack, the size most extract recipes are written around
- + Country of origin is listed as the United States
- - Listing highlights give only origin, model number and package size, with no color or malt details
- - The title does not mention hops, so plan your own hop additions, unlike the hopped can it replaces
Northern Brewer 1 gallon gift set starter kit with a Kama Citra session IPA recipe, a small-batch way to learn homebrewing without committing to 5 gallons.
Fit for the job 7/10 · Features and specs 7/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 7/10
- + Small 1 gallon batch size means less space, less cost and less beer to dump if a first attempt goes wrong.
- + The listing says it includes everything needed to brew, plus ingredients for a Kama Citra session IPA.
- + Northern Brewer says its brewmasters are available seven days a week to guide you through the process.
- - A 1 gallon batch yields only about a dozen bottles, far less than the 5 gallon kits elsewhere in this guide.
- - The spec sheet gives few details on the exact equipment included, so check the item list before you buy.
Briess Golden Light liquid malt extract in a 32 lb growler, made from 100 percent malted barley extract with a gold to amber color. A bulk buy for frequent brewers, at a far higher upfront price than a can.
Fit for the job 7/10 · Features and specs 7/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 7/10
- + 32 lb growler holds nearly ten times the extract of a 3.3 lb can, for brewers who make batch after batch
- + Made from 100 percent pure malted barley extract, per the listing
- + Gold to amber color and a subtle malty flavor, a base that works under most ale recipes
- - Costs several times more up front than a single can, and only pays off if you brew often
- - 32 lb has to be measured out and kept between brew days, and the listing highlights give no storage guidance
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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.