Buying guide
Hard Cider Kit
Updated How we research
Turn juice into crisp hard cider. The page is split into five sections (Start With A Cider Kit; Ferment Your Juice; Prep With Campden; Pitch Cider Yeast; Bottle With A Seal), 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 6.3 to 8.8 out of 10.
- Best overall:Lalvin EC-1118 Wine Yeast, 5 g, 10 Pack. Highest overall score in this guide at 8.8/10.
- Also great value:Lalvin EC-1118 Wine Yeast, 10 Pack. Value score of 9/10, overall 8.5/10.
- Solid build:Lalvin EC-1118 Wine Yeast, 5 grams - 100-Pack. Build and materials score of 9/10, overall 8.4/10.
- Feature-rich:Fermonster PET Wide Mouth Carboy, 6 Gal. Features score of 8/10, overall 8.4/10.
Scores are our editorial assessment, not customer ratings. How we score
Start With A Cider Kit
- Craft A Brew Hard Cider Kit, 1 GallonOur score8.2/10
- Brooklyn Brew Shop Hard Cider Making KitOur score7.8/10
- HomeBrewStuff 1 Gallon Hard Apple Cider Recipe KitOur score7.6/10
- Hard Apple Cider Brewing Kit, Reusable EquipmentOur score6.3/10
Ferment Your Juice
- Fermonster PET Wide Mouth Carboy, 6 GalOur score8.4/10
- PET Plastic Fermenter | 6 Gallon Carboy for Beer, Wine and Cider | 1 Pack | PET Plastic 6 Gal Carboy | Wine Carboy 6 Gallon Shatter resistant & BPA Free for beer, wine, cider, home brewing & storageOur score7.6/10
- Plastic Carboy - 6 Gallon - PETOur score7.3/10
- PET Plastic Fermenter | 5 Gallon Carboy for Beer, Wine and Cider | 1 Pack | PET Plastic 5 Gal Carboy | Wine Carboy 5 gallon Shatter resistant & BPA Free for beer, wine, cider, kombucha & storageOur score7.0/10
Prep With Campden
- CAMPDEN Tablets Potassium Metabisulfite, 1 lbOur score8.2/10
- Campden Tablets, 2 ozOur score7.9/10
- Craft A Brew Campden Tablets, 50 CountOur score7.8/10
- Campden Tablets Potassium Metabisulfite, 50 CountOur score7.4/10
Pitch Cider Yeast
- Lalvin EC-1118 Wine Yeast, 5 g, 10 PackOur score8.8/10
- Lalvin EC-1118 Wine Yeast, 10 PackOur score8.5/10
- Lalvin EC-1118 Wine Yeast, 5 grams - 100-PackOur score8.4/10
- Lalvin EC-1118 Wine Yeast, 5 gramsOur score8.1/10
Bottle With A Seal
- Swing Top Glass Bottles, 16 oz, 8 SetOur score8.4/10
- Zelomithe Amber Swing Top Bottles, 16 oz, 10 PackOur score8.2/10
- Swing Top Glass Bottles, 16 oz, 8 SetOur score7.9/10
- Otis Classic Swing Top Glass Bottles, 16 oz, 6 SetOur score7.8/10
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.
Lalvin EC-1118 champagne yeast in a 10 Pack of 5 g sachets for wine, cider and mead.
Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 9/10 · Value 9/10
- + EC-1118 ferments reliably even in high alcohol musts
- + 10 Pack of 5 g sachets covers many small batches
- + Neutral profile lets fruit and honey flavors show through
- - Ferments very dry, so sweet meads need backsweetening
- - Strong strain can overpower other yeasts in mixed ferments
Lalvin EC-1118 wine yeast in a 10pk of active dry yeast packets for wines, ciders and meads.
Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 7/10 · Build and materials 9/10 · Value 9/10
- + 10pk keeps enough sachets on hand for a season of fermenting
- + Fast, clean starting strain tolerates cool temperatures
- + Great for restarting stuck fermentations
- - Check the sachet weight before ordering to plan your batch size
- - Very high attenuation leaves little residual sweetness
Fermonster's 6 Gallon wide mouth PET plastic carboy with an extra drilled lid for airlock or thermowell use.
Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 8/10
- + Wide mouth opening is easy to clean by hand
- + Extra drilled lid adds flexibility for airlocks, thermowells or blow-off tubes
- + 6 Gallon PET body is light and shatterproof
- - Lid seal must be tightened properly to avoid slow leaks
- - Plastic should not be cleaned with abrasive pads
Lalvin EC-1118 wine yeast in 5 grams sachets, a bulk 100-Pack for serious winemakers and cider makers.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 9/10 · Value 9/10
- + 100-Pack drives the cost per sachet very low
- + Consistent EC-1118 performance batch after batch
- + 5 grams sachets suit batches up to typical carboy size
- - Far more yeast than a hobbyist can use before expiry dates
- - Needs cool storage to keep a large stock viable
An 8 Set of 16 OZ swing top glass bottles with stoppers and bonus 2 pourers for beer and kombucha.
Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 9/10
- + 16 OZ bottles are a good size for sharing homebrew
- + Bonus 2 pourers help fill bottles with less spillage
- + Swing tops hold carbonation for second fermentation
- - Check whether the glass is clear or amber, since darker glass blocks more light
- - Gaskets need periodic replacement with heavy use
Craft A Brew hard cider complete starter kit for 1 Gallon batches of homemade cider.
Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 8/10
- + Complete kit includes equipment for a first cider batch
- + 1 Gallon size keeps juice costs low while you learn
- + Cider is one of the easiest fermented drinks to learn with
- - Apple juice is usually not included, so buy preservative-free juice
- - Small batch yields only a handful of bottles
LD Carlson factory packed CAMPDEN tablets in a 1 Pound bag of potassium metabisulfite for winemaking.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 9/10
- + 1 Pound supply lasts a very long time for home winemakers
- + Factory packed by LD Carlson for consistent quality
- + Potassium form is the preferred choice for wine
- - Bulk bag must stay dry to prevent tablets degrading
- - Far more tablets than casual brewers will use
Zelomithe set of 10 amber 16.5 oz swing top glass bottles with 304 stainless wire caps and silicone seals, plus a funnel, erasable pen and labels.
Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 8/10
- + Ten amber bottles with airtight flip caps, a good count for bottling a batch of beer or kombucha.
- + Includes a silicone funnel, erasable pen and waterproof stickers for labeling.
- + Thick glass is described as dishwasher safe, and the wire cap is 304 stainless steel with a thick rubber gasket.
- - Amber glass hides the contents, so you cannot check clarity or sediment through the bottle.
- - Unknown brand, and the 16.5 oz size means a 5 gallon batch needs about 45 bottles.
A single Lalvin EC-1118 wine yeast sachet of 5 grams for one batch of wine, cider or mead.
Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 7/10 · Build and materials 9/10 · Value 7/10
- + Single sachet is ideal for a one-off batch
- + EC-1118 handles tough musts and high sugar levels
- + Easy rehydration for dependable fermentation
- - Buying single packets costs more per sachet than packs
- - Neutral character adds little complexity to simple wines
Campden tablets of potassium metabisulfite in a 2oz pack for stabilizing wine and treating chlorinated water.
Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 7/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 8/10
- + Potassium metabisulfite adds no sodium to wine or cider
- + Neutralizes chlorine and chloramine in brewing water
- + 2oz pack covers many batches of wine or beer
- - Tablets must be crushed before dissolving
- - Sulfite sensitive drinkers should avoid heavy use
An 8 Set of 16 OZ swing top glass bottles with stoppers, marketed for 2nd fermentation of kombucha and beer.
Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 7/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 8/10
- + Airtight stoppers build carbonation during 2nd fermentation
- + 8 Set covers a typical one gallon kombucha batch
- + Flip tops make opening and resealing easy
- - Very similar to other generic 8 Set listings
- - Over-primed bottles can build dangerous pressure if left too long
Brooklyn Brew Shop hard cider making kit with reusable glass fermenter for small batch cider.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 7/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 8/10
- + Reusable glass fermenter supports many future batches
- + Brooklyn Brew Shop kits are known for clear, friendly guides
- + Glass vessel does not hold odors from previous batches
- - Check the fermenter volume needed before ordering this kit
- - Juice is not included, so buy fresh apple juice separately
Craft A Brew Campden tablets in sodium metabisulfite form, a 50 Count sterilant for winemaking.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 8/10
- + 50 Count suits several small batch wine and cider projects
- + Pre-measured tablets simplify dosing for one gallon kits
- + Helps prevent wild yeast and bacteria in fresh must
- - Sodium form adds a little sodium, unlike potassium tablets
- - Small pack runs out fast for larger carboy batches
Otis Classic swing top glass bottles, a Set of 6 16oz bottles with a marker and labels for gifting homebrew.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 7/10
- + Marker and labels included for tracking batches and dates
- + Otis Classic bottles have a clean, gift-ready look
- + 16oz size is a satisfying single serving
- - Set of 6 is only a small part of a full batch
- - Pricier per bottle than bulk swing top multi-packs
HomeBrewStuff One Gallon hard apple cider recipe kit made with 100% concentrate.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 7/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 8/10
- + 100% concentrate gives consistent apple flavor
- + Recipe kit removes guesswork on sugar and yeast amounts
- + One Gallon size suits small jugs and apartment fermenters
- - Ingredients only, so fermenter and airlock are needed
- - Concentrate-based cider can taste less complex than fresh juice
FastRack 6 gallon PET plastic carboy, BPA free and shatter resistant, with a smooth rib free design for beer, wine, cider and kombucha.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 7/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 8/10
- + The listing says thick food grade PET is shatter resistant and does not carry odors between batches.
- + A smooth, rib free design is described as easy to clean, and the clear walls let you watch fermentation.
- + At 6 gallons it gives headroom for a standard 5 gallon batch.
- - It lacks the side port of the Big Mouth Bubbler it replaces, so you have to siphon or use a separate valve.
- - PET is permeable to oxygen over time, so it is not ideal for long aging.
A pack of 50 Campden tablets of potassium metabisulfite for grape, cider and fruit wine making.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 7/10 · Build and materials 6/10 · Value 8/10
- + 50 tablets are a practical amount for several batches
- + Works with grape, cider and fruit wines alike
- + Potassium metabisulfite protects against oxidation and spoilage
- - Check the tablet quality and packaging before ordering in bulk
- - Tablets need crushing and dissolving before adding
Home Brew Ohio 6 gallon PET plastic carboy, 11-3/4 inch diameter and 19-1/2 inch tall, which accepts a #10 stopper.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 6/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 8/10
- + The listing gives exact dimensions, 11-3/4 inch diameter and 19-1/2 inch height, so it is easy to check against shelf and chamber space.
- + A #10 stopper fits the neck, and PET is lighter than glass.
- + The 6 gallon size gives room for a 5 gallon batch plus krausen.
- - The listing is brief and does not say whether it is BPA free or give a wall thickness.
- - The #10 stopper and airlock are not mentioned as included.
FastRack 5 gallon PET plastic carboy, BPA free and shatter resistant, with a smooth rib free design for beer, wine, cider and kombucha.
Fit for the job 7/10 · Features and specs 6/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 8/10
- + The listing says it is made of thick food grade PET, so it will not shatter like glass.
- + Clear, rib free walls are described as easy to clean and to monitor.
- + The 5 gallon size matches a standard 5 gallon batch when you want a low-headspace secondary.
- - A 5 gallon size leaves little headspace for the foam of an active primary fermentation.
- - The listing does not mention a stopper or airlock being included.
A hard apple cider brewing kit with natural ingredients and reusable equipment.
Fit for the job 7/10 · Features and specs 5/10 · Build and materials 6/10 · Value 7/10
- + Reusable equipment supports multiple cider batches
- + Natural ingredients appeal to brewers wanting simple recipes
- + Kit format simplifies the first cider attempt
- - Compare the brand, batch size and contents against other kits before buying
- - Vague listing makes comparison with other kits hard
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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.