Everyone knows somebody at uni who tried to brew their own moonshine and for months had a bath full of beer or lots of “special stuff” that was handed out at raucous parties. The stakes are higher now for those in the home-brewing business. Being a craft beer producer is very “in”, but it can take months to get a decent batch together - who has time to be cool and patient? These homebrewing kits will help you brew some special concoctions without having to revert to beer brewing in the bath. Most require you to collect your own bottles before you start bottling, but most provide the basics - yeast, thermometer, and funnel. Bear in mind that the longer you leave your home brew to ferment the stronger it will be. The product you’ll get at the end of it might be a little rough around the edges, but for the most part, home brew kits provide simple, uncomplicated alcohol. Don’t expect lagers or ales with enormous depth of flavour - these are your smooth, rich, beers that are flat, hearty brews.

Don’t be that person who leaves beer brewing over the winter and rediscovers it in summer only to find that they’ve managed to create pure alcohol. The actual brewing process isn’t as complicated you might imagine. The toughest part of testing these was locating enough empty bottles and containers to store the elixir in - luckily friends and family helped sink a few in the name of research. Choose a cool, dry room in your house in which to brew your beer, although I certainly don’t have the luxury of a spare room and it must be noted that the smell of fermenting can get a bit cheesy. best wine to drink indiaA dry cellar, attic, or (if you’re truly blessed) a kitchen pantry is your best bet, but in the living room behind the sofa works fine too.what red wine has the highest alcohol content If you’re excited by clean, smooth-tasting beer that’s suitable for both beer aficionados and those new to the craft, this is the beer for you. best wine australia 2012

This kit comes with a craft brewing guide, an airlock, thermometer, and a funnel to make sure that you don’t end up tipping your elixir all over the carpet. After some easily-explained step-by-step brewing instructions, expect to ferment your beer for around two weeks with delectable results. 2. Victor’s Drinks Mixed Berry Cider Kit: £15.99, findmeagift.co.uk For just £15.99 you can make yourself a lot of mixed berry cider. Around 10 pints in fact. Don’t expect the sparkling fruitiness you get from that shop-bought nonsense. Instead, this is a smooth, rich, flat flavour, which makes it perfect for autumn. It only takes 10 days to brew - shorter than most beers - and the alcohol percentage isn’t massive. Expect around 4.5% alcohol for your efforts (which pretty much amounts to adding yeast and warm water to a sachet.) Leave it longer if you’re after more of an alcoholic kick. If you’re more of a bitters person. Kilner is a great place to start. This home brew packet contains everything you need to get started — a trial jar, a thermometer, a mixing spoon, a siphon, a knock on bottle capper, and a 25 litre fermentation bucket.

This set makes up to 40 pints of bitters by just adding water, so it really does provide everything you need to make a great pint. 5. Woodforde’s Admiral’s Reserve Starter Kit: £22.99, lakeland.co.uk If dark and fruity is more your thing then opt for this, an excellent starter kit for aspiring brewers. It makes 40 pints, and all you need to do is add water. The flavour is pretty fruity, so for beer purists it might not quite hit the spot. If you follow their instructions comprehensively you should create a beer with an APV of around 5.5%, so not too strong at all. It makes 40 pints at 4.5% but 32 pints at 5.5%, so choose your poison wisely. If you’re after lots of beer, fast, this is the kit for you. In just 14 days you’ll have 25 pints of Moonshine home brew to drink. Choose from Four Candles Bitter, Cheesemaker’s Golden Ale (great with, you guessed it, cheese), or their newest option, the Dark Adder Dark Ale. The Four Candles Bitter is their mildest brew, while the dark ale is full bodied with notes of liquorice.

This is one for ale purists, who like strong flavours with a mild alcohol percentage (4.2%). 3. Victor’s Drinks Pale Ale Kit: £24.99, findmeagift.co.uk If you follow all the instructions, in 10 days you’ll have 20 pints of pale ale to sup. Not only will this set you up throughout winter, it’ll also impress your friends that you are, indeed, a craft brewer (of sorts). The makers promise it’s so simple that you could “brew after a few pints”. The ingredients are basic - hopped barley, malt extract, and malted barley. Simply add water and voila — beer! 7. California Connoisseur Cabernet Merlot 6 bottle: £12.48, brewuk.co.uk If ale isn’t for you, you can also brew your own wine. The California Connoisseur kits promise that, in just 28 days, you’ll have a quaffable red wine that’s actually decent to drink. The kits require no extra sugar or ingredients, but you will need a five litre demi-john, a narrow-necked bottle. The step-by step guide is easy, and requires you to just add yeast, water, and ferment — 28 days later and you’ll have six bottles of wine to share around your table and pretend you’re a professional vintner.

You end up with a strong flavour - the addition of oak chips give it a nice, rounded, deep flavour. Brewing isn’t for everybody. Other than craft beer aficionados, most people see it as a bit of fun rather than a lifestyle choice. The easiest option with the best results was the Woodforde’s Reserve - the flavour of the beer was palatable and the instructions were some of the easiest to follow. I got the sense that this was a brand aimed at making some pretty solid beer, without too many hipster pretensions. This’ll be making my Christmas list. IndyBest product reviews are unbiased, independent advice you can trust. On some occasions, we earn revenue if you click the links and buy the products, but we never allow this to bias our coverage. The reviews are compiled through a mix of expert opinion and real-world testing HomeWinemaking EquipmentMaster Vintner® Wine Making Starter Kit Master Vintner® Wine Making Starter Kit Announcing a partnership of epic proportions—Master Vintner® and winemaking authority Tim Vandergrift have combined forces to bring you the ultimate winemaking starter kit.

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