Best home brew kits: Brew up your own batch of beer or cider at home

Quick Menu

Best home brew

(Image credit: coldsnowstorm - Getty)

1. Product guide
2. Buying advice

The weather is a it gloomy for those of us in the northern hemisphere at the moment, and thoughts are already turning to spring and relaxing with friends and family over a brew or two in the sunshine. But rather than buying all your beer and cider ready-made, have you considered exploring the best home brew kits to make a few drinks?

If the mere mention of home-brewing fills you with fear and brings to mind horror memories of baths full of high-strength, almost unpalatable alcohol, then don't worry as things have definitely evolved since my days hunkered down in a crowded student flat.

I've come up with a list of the best home brew kits available right now and you’ll find my picks below along with information about exactly what you need to know before pouring a perfect pint.

Paul Dimery author photo
Paul Dimery

Paul has spent the past eight years testing and writing about gadgets and technology for the likes of Louder, T3 and TechRadar. He might not have the wealth or the looks of Tony Stark, but when it comes to knowing about the latest cool kit, Paul would surely give Iron-Man a run for his money. As for his musical leanings, Paul likes everything from Weyes Blood to Nirvana. If it's got a good melody, he's on board with it.

The best home brew kits: Product guide

The best home brew kits: Buying Advice

The best home brew kits: Craft A Brew

(Image credit: Craft A Brew)

If you’re thinking of buying a home brew kit or appliance, there are a few things you’ll need to consider. The first of those is how much effort you’re prepared to put in and how confident you are in your ability to produce a palatable pint. 

None of the latest beer-making products are what you’d call complicated, but whereas with some kits you’ll have to stir and mash the ingredients, chill the wort, etc, others – such as the PicoBrew Pico C ‘automatic’ brewing machine – require you to do little more than insert a cartridge and wait (with this one, you can even monitor its progress on your smartphone, via an app).

Obviously, you’ll need to consider what kind of beer you want to make. Happily, the days of having to choose between one or two unidentified real ales are long gone, and you can now pick from a vast array of drink types – from refreshing saisons to authentic German goses – with many world-renowned breweries represented.

Fancy rustling up some of that Brewdog Elvis Juice you tried at the pub? The Brooklyn Brew Shop Beer Making Kit has you covered. Want something a little stronger? Bulldog Brews Evil Dog Double IPA Craft Beer Kit will deliver the goods. 

Other things to think about when selecting the best home brew kit for you is how much beer it makes – 40 pints is a common figure, but this can fluctuate – and how long it takes to yield its results. Both of these concerns take on extra importance if you’re thinking of hosting a party. 

And don’t forget to check what the kit comes with, as many products contain the ingredients but none of the equipment, which would obviously be an added expense.

You can trust Louder Our experienced team has worked for some of the biggest brands in music. From testing headphones to reviewing albums, our experts aim to create reviews you can trust. Find out more about how we review.

Paul Dimery

Paul has spent the past eight years testing and writing about gadgets and technology for the likes of Louder, T3 and TechRadar. He might not have the wealth or the looks of Tony Stark, but when it comes to knowing about the latest cool kit, Paul would surely give Iron-Man a run for his money. As for his musical leanings, Paul likes everything from Weyes Blood to Nirvana. If it's got a good melody, he's on board with it.

With contributions from