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Your first brew day

Extract kits for 1–5 gallons, a step-by-step brew-day timeline and the short list of extras a first batch really needs. For adults 21+.

Beginner kits & first brew 40Brewing systems & chillers 14Fermenters & temp control 16Kegging & draft 3Bottling & capping 48Hydrometers & meters 8Ingredients & milling 9Yeast & nutrients 3Brewing chemicals & water 5Cleaning & sanitizing 7Wine, cider, mead & kombucha 12
A large stainless pot of wort heating on a kitchen stove
Photo: PierreSelim, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

What your first brew day looks like

Your first brew day is mostly cleaning, boiling and waiting. With an extract kit, the active part takes about two to three hours (Mr. Beer lists about 30 minutes for its no-boil kit), then the yeast does the work for two weeks or so, and bottles condition for about two more. Pick a kit sized for your kitchen, read its "you still need" line, and set aside an afternoon.

  1. Clean and sanitize

    Clean everything, then sanitize what touches cooled wort, per the sanitizer's label.

    Five Star Star San Acid Sanitizer, 32 ozLogic OneStep No-Rinse Cleanser, 2.5 oz
  2. Steep, boil and add hops

    Follow the kit's timings. Stay at the stove: boil-overs happen fast when the extract goes in.

  3. Chill and top up

    Cool the wort quickly in an ice bath or with an immersion chiller, then top up to volume and take an original gravity reading.

    NY Brew Supply Copper Immersion Wort Chiller, 3/8 in. x 25 ftFastRack Triple Scale Hydrometer
  4. Pitch yeast and ferment

    Pitch at the temperature on the yeast packet and keep the fermenter in a steady, cool spot for about two weeks.

    Fermentis SafAle US-05 Dry Ale Yeast, 11.5 g
  5. Bottle at a stable gravity

    When the gravity reads the same 2–3 days in a row, prime and bottle. Let bottles condition at room temperature for about two weeks.

    FastRack Red Baron Bottle CapperFastRack 12 oz Amber Longneck Beer Bottles, 24-Pack

Beginner kits & first brew

All 40 in beginner kits & first brew

Brewing systems & chillers

All 14 in brewing systems & chillers

Fermenters & temp control

All 16 in fermenters & temp control

Kegging & draft

All 3 in kegging & draft

Bottling & capping

All 48 in bottling & capping

Hydrometers & meters

All 8 in hydrometers & meters

Ingredients & milling

All 9 in ingredients & milling

Yeast & nutrients

All 3 in yeast & nutrients

Brewing chemicals & water

All 5 in brewing chemicals & water

Cleaning & sanitizing

All 7 in cleaning & sanitizing

Wine, cider, mead & kombucha

All 12 in wine, cider, mead & kombucha
ABV calculatorWork out ABV from OG and FG with the standard and high-gravity formulas, hydrometer temperature correction,…Priming sugar calculatorHow much corn sugar, table sugar or DME to prime homebrew: CO2 volumes by style, residual CO2 from the…Homebrew startup budget builderAdd up what it costs to start homebrewing with your own prices: 1-gallon kit, 5-gallon extract or a 120V or…Printable brew-day log and recipe sheetFree brew-day log: record recipe, water and salts, mash, gravities, yeast, fermentation temperatures,…

Which kit for a first batch?

KitBatchGood if youYou still need
Mr. Beer 2 gal complete2 galWant the fewest extra parts~ Refills for batch two
Craft A Brew or Northern Brewer 1 gal1 galBrew on a small stoveBottles and caps
Northern Brewer 5 gal starter5 galHave a 5 gal+ kettleAbout 50 bottles, a kettle

Source: Product listings

Every product below shows its batch size and what it leaves out. Compare a few, then add up the extras with the budget builder, which lets you type your own prices.

Avoid bottle bombsBottle only after the gravity reads the same 2–3 days in a row, measure priming sugar with a calculator, use standard bottles only to about 3 volumes, store them in a closed box at room temperature and refrigerate once carbonated.Source: BYO carbonation priming chart
Chemicals: label directions onlyUse sanitizers, cleaners, acids and salts only at the dilution and contact time on the label. Wear eye protection with acids and powders, add acid to water, keep them away from children and food prep. Star San is EPA-registered (Reg. No. 65001-1) as a no-rinse sanitizer at label dilution.Source: EPA Star San label

First-batch mistakes to avoid

  • Skipping sanitizer on anything that touches cooled wort
  • Fermenting too warm: a fermenter runs several degrees above the room
  • Opening the fermenter to check on it every day
  • Bottling early because the airlock stopped bubbling; trust the hydrometer
  • Forgetting that homebrew can be stronger than store beer: check it with the ABV calculator and never drink and drive

After the first batch

Once the first bottles are open, most brewers change one thing at a time: better temperature control, a bigger kettle, or a recipe kit with steeping grains. Record each batch in the brew-day log so you know what changed. When bottling starts to feel like a chore, see the kegging switch hub; when you want full control of the recipe, see going all-grain.

Related reading: Northern Brewer starter kit review, Mr. Beer 2 gallon kit review and best hydrometers for homebrewing.

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Your first brew day: questions

How long does a first batch of homebrew take?
About three to four weeks from brew day: roughly two weeks of fermentation and two weeks of bottle conditioning for an extract ale. Mr. Beer lists 10–14 days fermenting plus 7–14 days conditioning.
What do I need for my first brew day?
A kit, a pot big enough for its boil (unless it is no-boil), sanitizer, bottles and caps or swing-tops, and a capper if your kit doesn't include one. A hydrometer is strongly recommended.
Can I brew my first batch in an apartment?
Yes, with a 1-gallon or Mr. Beer kit on the kitchen stove. Never use a propane burner indoors; see the small-space hub.
Why isn't my airlock bubbling?
A leaky lid lets CO2 escape elsewhere, or fermentation may already be done. Take a gravity reading instead of judging by bubbles.
Who can brew beer at home?
Adults of legal drinking age, 21 in the US, within federal household limits of 100 gal a year (one adult) or 200 gal (two or more adults). Homebrew can't be sold.