Best Beginner Homebrewing Kits 2026: Mr. Beer vs Northern Brewer vs Brooklyn Brew

Starting your homebrewing journey is exciting — but the kit you choose can make or break your first batch. We tested and compared the three most popular beginner kits so you don't have to.

Why Kit Choice Matters for Beginners

A good starter kit teaches you the process without overwhelming you. The wrong one either oversimplifies (limiting what you can brew) or throws too many variables at a first-timer.

Mr. Beer 2-Gallon Premium Gold Edition

What You Get

• 2.1-gallon Little Brown Keg fermenter
• Two 740mL PET bottles
• Premium Gold refill (lager)
• Sanitizer, carbonation drops, bottle caps

Pros

• Lowest barrier to entry
• Self-contained keg design minimizes contamination risk
• Produces a drinkable beer in ~2 weeks

Cons

• Only 2 gallons per batch
• Limited to extract brewing
• PET bottles not ideal for long aging

Best For

Absolute beginners who want a quick, low-risk first batch.

Northern Brewer Brew. Share. Love. Kit

What You Get

• 5-gallon equipment set (kettle, fermenter, auto-siphon, tubing)
• Extract ingredient kit of your choice
• DVD tutorial

Pros

• Full 5-gallon batches (40+ bottles)
• Real brewing equipment you'll use for years
• Covers all the fundamentals

Cons

• Steeper learning curve
• More gear to clean and store
• Requires separate bottling equipment purchase

Best For

Beginners committed to the hobby who want proper equipment from day one.

Brooklyn Brew Shop Beer Making Kit

What You Get

• 1-gallon glass fermenter
• Grain bill, hops, yeast
• Tubing and stopper

Pros

• All-grain process — real brewer skills
• Beautiful glass jug doubles as display piece
• Specialty flavor varieties (Grapefruit IPA, Chestnut Brown Ale)

Cons

• Tiny 1-gallon yield (~8 beers)
• All-grain is harder for true beginners
• Glass fermenter is fragile

Best For

Curious beginners who want the full craft experience and don't mind the challenge.

Head-to-Head Comparison

Our Recommendation

For most beginners: Northern Brewer. Yes, it costs more upfront, but you get real equipment that grows with you. The Mr. Beer kit is great for gift-giving or if you're genuinely unsure whether you'll stick with the hobby.

If you want craft variety: Brooklyn Brew Shop. The all-grain process produces more complex flavors and teaches you the real craft.

Final Verdict

All three kits make drinkable beer. The difference is how much of the homebrewing process you want to experience — and how many bottles you want at the end.