What Comes in a Home Brew Starter Kit, and What Else Do You Need?
Quick answer: A beer starter kit usually includes a 25-litre fermenter with a tap, an airlock, a hydrometer, a thermometer, a mixing spoon, a cleaner/sanitiser and often a beer kit and brewing sugar. Most don't include bottles, crown caps, a capper or a pressure barrel, so check the contents list. Wine starter kits follow the same idea, with demijohns for 6-bottle batches or a fermenter for 30.
A starter kit is the easiest way to begin, because everything in it is sized to work together. Contents vary from kit to kit, though, and the most common surprise is finding there's nothing to bottle into. Here's what to expect.
What's in a typical beer starter kit?
Taking the Simply Starter Kit as an example, you get:
- 25-litre fermenter with tap
- Airlock
- Hydrometer, to check when fermentation has finished
- Stick-on thermometer strip
- Mixing spoon
- Bottling attachment
- Brew sugar
- Cleaner and sanitiser
- A Simply beer kit of your choice, plus instructions
Bottles, kegs or pressure barrels aren't included, because brewers like to choose their own. If you'd like everything in one box, the Simply Starter Kit with 48 PET bottles adds screw-cap bottles, so you won't need a capper.
Comparing starter kits
| Kit | What it's for | Ingredients included? |
|---|---|---|
| Simply Starter Kit | Beer, 23 litres | Yes, a Simply beer kit |
| BrewBuddy Starter Kit | Beer, 40 pints | Yes |
| Coopers DIY Beer Starter Kit | Beer, 23 litres, with a Coopers fermenter | Choose your beer kit separately |
| Handcraft Fermentation Equipment Kit | Beer, wine or cider, 23-litre batches (30-litre fermenter) | No, equipment only. Add your own cleaner and sanitiser |
| WineBuddy 6 Bottle Starter Kit | Wine, 4.5 litres in about 7 days | Yes |
| 6 Bottle Wine Starter Kit | Wine: 2 demijohns, bungs, airlock, syphon, hydrometer, trial jar, cleaner/steriliser | No |
| Young's Cellar 7 Equipment Starter Kit | Wine, 30 bottles | No, and bottles aren't included |
What else will I need?
For beer
- Bottles or a pressure barrel. A 23-litre batch fills up to 46 bottles of 500ml, so have about 48 ready. Glass needs crown caps and a capper. PET bottles use screw caps.
- Priming sugar or carbonation drops. These give the beer its fizz. With drops, it's one per 500ml bottle.
- A no-rinse sanitiser such as ChemSan. It's handy on bottling day, even if your kit includes a cleaner.
- A syphon, if your fermenter doesn't have a bottling attachment.
For wine
- A wine kit, if your starter kit is equipment only.
- Wine bottles and corks: 6 for a 6-bottle kit, about 30 for a 30-bottle kit.
- Sugar, if the kit asks for it. Some 30-bottle kits need 3 to 4kg added, so check the kit page.
Things that make a difference
- Somewhere with a steady temperature. A heat belt or pad helps in a cold house.
- Using the hydrometer. It's the only reliable way to know when it's safe to bottle.
- Time. Beer improves with conditioning in the bottle, so don't rush the first one.
For a full walkthrough of your first brew, read How to Use a Home Brew Beer Kit.
Frequently asked questions
Do home brew starter kits come with bottles?
Usually not. Most beer starter kits leave bottles, kegs or pressure barrels to you. Some bundles, like the Simply Starter Kit with 48 PET bottles, include them.
What's the best starter kit for a complete beginner?
Choose a kit that includes the ingredients as well as the equipment, such as the Simply Starter Kit or a BrewBuddy Starter Kit for beer, or a WineBuddy 6 Bottle Starter Kit for wine. Then you can brew as soon as it arrives.
Do I need a hydrometer?
Yes. Kit timings are only a guide. Two matching hydrometer readings are the reliable way to know fermentation has finished and it's safe to bottle.
Can I use a beer starter kit to make wine?
Equipment-only kits such as the Handcraft Fermentation Equipment Kit are designed for beer, wine or cider. Wine kits can need a different fermenter size, so check the kit's volume.
How many bottles do I need for my first beer?
A 23-litre kit fills up to 46 bottles of 500ml. Have about 48 ready.