Best Home Brew Starter Kits for Christmas 2026 (UK)
A home brew starter kit is one of the best Christmas presents for anyone who enjoys a pint or a glass of wine - and it's a gift that keeps giving, because the equipment can be used again and again. Our own starter kits pair your choice of beer, wine or cider kit with a fermenter and all the equipment, so all you need to add is bottles. Every one comes with a downloadable step-by-step guide.
Here are our picks for Christmas 2026, from a first beer to a premium wine - plus the dates to start brewing if you want to be drinking it yourself on Christmas Day.
At a glance
- Coopers Beer Making Starter Kit – Best for a first beer
- Geordie Beer Making Starter Kit – Best value
- Muntons Gold Beer Making Starter Kit – Best all-malt ale
- Woodforde's Real Ale Starter Kit – Best for real ale fans
- Mangrove Jack's Craft Series Starter Kit – Best for craft beer drinkers
- SG Wines 6 Bottle Wine Making Starter Kit – Best small first wine
- Cellar 7 Wine Making Starter Kit – Best quick 30 bottles
- Winexpert Reserve Wine Making Starter Kit – Best premium wine
- Bulldog Cider Making Starter Kit – Best cider
Best for a first beer: Coopers Beer Making Starter Kit
Coopers kits are some of the easiest beers to get right, and this set includes the brewing sugar they need, so there's nothing to work out. Five Thomas Coopers beers to choose from, from Golden Crown Lager to Bootmaker Pale Ale.
From £41.99 · Beer: start by 22 November to be drinking it on Christmas Day.
See the Coopers Beer Making Starter Kit
Best value: Geordie Beer Making Starter Kit
The lowest-cost way into brewing 40 pints, with the sugar included. Choose from seven classic Geordie beers - Lager, Bitter, IPA, Scottish Export and more.
From £38.99 · Beer: start by 22 November.
See the Geordie Beer Making Starter Kit
Best all-malt ale: Muntons Gold Beer Making Starter Kit
Two cans of malt and no sugar needed, for a richer, more authentic beer. Six styles including India Pale Ale, Old English Bitter and Imperial Stout.
From £46.99 · Beer: start by 22 November.
See the Muntons Gold Beer Making Starter Kit
Best for real ale fans: Woodforde's Real Ale Starter Kit
Brew award-winning Norfolk ales at home - Wherry, Nog, Admiral's Reserve and more - with everything in the box but the bottles.
From £46.99 · Beer: start by 22 November.
See the Woodforde's Real Ale Starter Kit
Best for craft beer drinkers: Mangrove Jack's Craft Series Starter Kit
Modern craft styles with real dry hops and style-matched yeast - Pink Grapefruit IPA, Mango Pale Ale, Hazy IPA and more.
From £49.99 · Beer: start by 22 November.
See the Mangrove Jack's Craft Series Beer Starter Kit
Best small first wine: SG Wines 6 Bottle Wine Making Starter Kit
A gentle introduction - six bottles of wine with two 5 litre fermenters, from Classic Dry White to Country Elderflower. Choose it with brewing sugar and it's just add bottles.
From £26.99 · 7-day wine: start by 4 December.
See the SG Wines 6 Bottle Wine Making Starter Kit
Best quick 30 bottles: Cellar 7 Wine Making Starter Kit
Thirty bottles of wine made in seven days, no sugar needed. Fifteen styles from Pinot Grigio to Spanish Rojo and fruit wines.
From £62.99 · 7-day wine: start by 4 December.
See the Cellar 7 Wine Making Starter Kit
Best premium wine: Winexpert Reserve Wine Making Starter Kit
For the wine lover who wants the best: premium Winexpert Reserve concentrate, no sugar needed, nineteen styles.
From £108.99 · Premium wine: start by 8 November - it needs about six weeks.
See the Winexpert Reserve Wine Making Starter Kit
Best cider: Bulldog Cider Making Starter Kit
Big, fruity ciders with no added sugar needed - Perfect Apple, Perfect Pear, Toffee Apple and more.
From £48.99 · Cider: start by 22 November.
See the Bulldog Cider Making Starter Kit
Brewing it yourself for Christmas?
If you want to be pouring on Christmas Day, these are the latest start dates (see our full Brew for Christmas 2026 brew-by dates):
- 8 November – premium wines such as Winexpert Reserve (about six weeks)
- 22 November – beer and cider kits, and Winexpert Classic wines
- 4 December – 7-day wines such as SG Wines and Cellar 7
Giving one as a present? The recipient can start whenever they like - a starter kit makes a great project for the Christmas holidays.
What else will they need?
- Bottles – about 40 × 500ml for beer or cider, or 30 × 75cl wine bottles (6 for the 6 bottle kits)
- A capper and crown caps for glass beer bottles, or corks and a corker for wine
- Personalised labels – a lovely finishing touch for gifts
Frequently asked questions
Are these kits suitable for complete beginners?
Yes. Each one includes everything except bottles, and comes with a step-by-step guide you can download.
Is yeast included?
Yes – every kit includes its yeast.
Can the equipment be used again?
Yes. After the first batch, they only need a new kit – any standard 40 pint beer or cider kit, or 30 bottle wine kit, fits the 25 litre fermenter.
See all our just add bottles starter kits, or browse every home brew starter kit and gift for home brewers.