Brew this month

Gifts for home brewers (21+)

Gifts for brewers 21 and over, from a first kit to upgrades for the brewer who has everything. No prices, just what each gift does and who it suits.

Beginner kits & first brew 51Kegging & draft 6Bottling & capping 5Wine, cider, mead & kombucha 29
A tasting flight of four beers from pale to stout on a chalkboard paddle
Photo: Runner1928, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

How to pick a gift for a home brewer

The best gifts for home brewers fit where the brewer is today. Someone curious needs a complete starter kit; a year-one brewer wants the upgrade they keep postponing; a veteran appreciates consumables, glassware or a book. These gifts are for brewers 21 and over only. Never give brewing kits to anyone under 21.

For someone who wants to start

For the year-one brewer

Know what’s in the glassHomebrew is often stronger than commercial beer. One US standard drink is 14 g of alcohol: 12 oz of 5% beer or 5 oz of 12% wine. Brewing and drinking are for adults 21 and over; never drink and drive.Source: NIAAA: What is a standard drink?

Beginner kits & first brew

All 51 in beginner kits & first brew

Kegging & draft

All 6 in kegging & draft

Bottling & capping

All 5 in bottling & capping

Wine, cider, mead & kombucha

All 29 in wine, cider, mead & kombucha

Gifts for the brewer who has everything

Ask what they brew most. A beer brewer moving to kegs will use a homebrew kegerator for years; a wine maker may want a floor corker; anyone with a cold garage can use a better controller. Glassware and books are safe bets when you're unsure.

BrewerGift ideaCheck first
Curious, no gear1 or 2 gal complete kit~ Kitchen space; bottles included?
Year one, bottlingBench capper, wireless hydrometer~ Their fermenter fits the device
Ready for kegsHomebrew kegerator~ Ball lock vs commercial kegs
Wine or mead makerFloor corker, mead book~ Bottle and cork sizes

Gift etiquette for alcohol hobbies

Homebrew is for adults of legal drinking age. If you receive bottles in return, remember homebrew can be stronger than store beer; one 12 oz pour of a 7% IPA is more than one NIAAA standard drink. Never drink and drive.

ABV calculatorConverts any serving to NIAAA standard drinks.

Gift mistakes to avoid

  • Buying a 5-gallon kit for someone without a large pot or storage space.
  • Gifting a kegerator to someone who bottles happily; ask first.
  • Buying liquid yeast or fresh ingredients far ahead of time.
  • Choosing a gadget that doesn't fit their fermenter or bottles.

Unsure? Consumables they always use (sanitizer, caps, yeast) and books never go to waste.

Related reading: Tilt wireless hydrometer review and best hydrometers for homebrewing.

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Gifts for brewers (21+): questions

What is a good gift for a beginner home brewer?
A complete kit sized for their kitchen, such as a 1-gallon starter set or the 2-gallon Mr. Beer, plus a book like John Palmer's How to Brew. Gift only to adults 21 and over.
What do you buy a home brewer who has everything?
Upgrades they rarely buy themselves: a wireless hydrometer, a dual-stage temperature controller, an instant-read thermometer, glassware or a homebrew kegerator if they are ready for kegs.
Can I gift a homebrew kit to someone under 21?
No. Homebrewing is legal only for adults of legal drinking age, which is 21 in the US. These gift ideas are for brewers 21 and over.
Are wine and kombucha kits good gifts?
Yes, for adults who prefer wine, cider or kombucha. Wine kits need an equipment set; kombucha kits include a SCOBY and should be brewed in glass, not ceramic.
Can I give homebrew as a gift?
Federal rules allow homebrew for personal or family use and removal for organized events and competitions, but never for sale. State rules on sharing and transport vary.