Beer Kit vs Extract vs All-Grain: Which Should a Beginner Choose?
Quick answer: Most beginners should start with a beer kit. You mix a can or pouch of hopped malt extract with water, add yeast, and you're done in under an hour. Extract brewing, where you boil malt extract with your own hops, is the natural next step. All-grain brewing gives you the most control, but it needs more equipment and a brew day of several hours.
There are three main ways to brew beer at home. They all make real beer. The difference is how much of the work you do yourself, how much equipment you need and how much control you get over the recipe.
The three methods compared
| Beer kit | Extract brewing | All-grain | |
|---|---|---|---|
| What you start with | Pre-hopped malt extract plus yeast | Unhopped malt extract, hops, sometimes steeped grains | Crushed malted grain and hops |
| Brew day | Under an hour | A couple of hours, including a boil | Several hours: mash, sparge, boil, chill |
| Extra equipment | Fermenter, airlock, hydrometer, bottles | Plus a large pan for boiling | Plus a mash tun or all-in-one system |
| Recipe control | Low. You can tweak sugar, yeast and dry hops | Good. You choose the hops and their timing | Full control over every ingredient |
| Best for | First brews | Your second or third step | Hobbyists who want to design beers |
Beer kits: the easiest start
A beer kit contains malt extract that has already been hopped, plus a sachet of yeast. You dissolve it in hot water, top up with cold water, check the temperature and add the yeast. Most standard kits make 23 litres (about 40 pints).
Kit beer has a reputation for tasting "home-brewy", but that usually comes down to fermentation, not the kit itself. Clean and sanitise properly and keep the temperature steady, and kits make very drinkable beer. Premium kits such as Woodforde's or the Mangrove Jack's Craft Series go further, with more malt and, on some styles, separate dry hops.
You can also improve any kit by swapping table sugar for spray malt or brew enhancer, which gives more body and better head retention.
Extract brewing: the middle ground
With extract brewing you buy unhopped liquid or dried malt extract and boil it with your own hops. Early hop additions add bitterness and late ones add aroma. Many brewers also steep a little crushed specialty grain for colour and flavour.
The malt extract does the hard work of providing fermentable sugar, so you skip mashing. That means you learn how hops behave without needing all-grain equipment. Our guide to all-grain vs extract brewing goes into more detail.
All-grain: full control
All-grain brewers start with crushed malted barley and "mash" it in hot water. Enzymes in the malt turn the starches into sugars. The sweet liquid (wort) is drained off, boiled with hops, then chilled and fermented.
All-in-one systems such as the Grainfather make the process much easier, but it's still the most time-consuming method. Have a look at our all-grain equipment and ingredients to see what's involved.
Our recommendation
- Start with a kit. It lets you get good at the habits every method shares: cleaning, sanitising, temperature control and using a hydrometer.
- Upgrade the kit. Try better yeast, spray malt instead of sugar, and dry hops.
- Move to extract once you want to choose your own hops.
- Go all-grain if you enjoy designing recipes and don't mind a longer brew day.
Want to try all-grain cheaply first? A small brew-in-a-bag batch on the hob is a good test. See our guide to brewing on your hob.
Frequently asked questions
Is a beer kit good enough to make decent beer?
Yes. Good sanitation, a steady fermentation temperature and enough conditioning time matter more than the method. Premium kits and simple upgrades like spray malt make a noticeable difference.
What's the difference between a beer kit and extract brewing?
A beer kit uses malt extract that's already hopped, so there's no boil. Extract brewing uses unhopped extract that you boil with your own hops, so you decide the bitterness and aroma. See our beer kit comparison chart.
Do I need special equipment for all-grain brewing?
Yes. As well as fermenting equipment, you need a way to mash and boil, such as a mash tun and boiler, or an all-in-one system like the Grainfather.
How long does an all-grain brew day take?
Several hours, because you have to mash, sparge, boil and chill. A beer kit brew day usually takes under an hour.
Can I go straight to all-grain as a beginner?
You can, but we suggest a kit or a small hob batch first. It teaches you the cleaning and fermentation basics without the extra variables.