AHB Starter Beer Making Kit - Basic Essentials

Everything you need to brew your first batch of beer at home, at the most accessible price point. The AHB Basic Starter Kit covers fermentation, hydrometer testing and basic bottling with quality gear that will last years of brewing. Choose your recipe from the drop-down and you are ready to go.

What's In The Kit

• 30L fermenter — food-grade plastic, screw-top barrel with tap, airlock and thermometer
• Hydrometer and test flask — to confirm fermentation is complete before bottling
• Bottling valve — attaches to fermenter tap for quick, clean bottle fills
• Carbonation drops — pre-measured sugar for consistent bottle conditioning
• Hand capper — knock-on style, use with a mallet; suits standard crown-seal bottles
• Mixing spoon (39cm)
• Bottle brush
• No-rinse brew sanitiser and cleaner
• Step-by-step instructions
• Recipe kit of your choice: malt extract, hops, yeast and specialty grains where the style calls for them (20–21L batch)

Kit Specifications

Choose Your First Recipe

Every kit ships with a full recipe kit of your choice. Pick the beer you actually like drinking, that is the best predictor of a first batch you will finish and want to rebrew. Aussie Pub Draught is included in the price shown; the other six add $15 to $22. Each of those sells separately as a $64.50 to $73.50 recipe kit, so upgrading here is the cheap way to start on a bigger beer.

• Aussie Pub Draught (included): classic Australian bitter, clean balanced bitterness and a light golden amber pour. 4.4 to 4.6% ABV. The easiest first brew of the seven.
• Sticks & Stones Pacific Ale (+$15): Byron Bay style Pacific ale driven by Australian-grown Galaxy hops, passionfruit and citrus over a light wheat body. 4.5 to 5% ABV.
• Critters Pale Ale (+$15): our best-selling recipe kit, a golden Australian pale ale with herbal, spicy and grapefruit hop character and a crisp finish. 4.5 to 5% ABV.
• Chimay Blue (+$20): dark Belgian strong ale in the Trappist style, fruity and peppery with a deep copper pour. 5.8 to 6% ABV. One for patient brewers.
• Double Choc Porter (+$20): rich dark ale layering cocoa, espresso and caramel, with Fuggles hops keeping it from turning cloying. 4.7 to 5.2% ABV.
• The Famous Irish Stout (+$20): dry Irish stout with roasty coffee and chocolate character, smooth and medium bodied. 4.8% ABV.
• Fancy Pant Amber Ale (+$22): toffee amber malt body with tropical Galaxy and Ella hops over the top. Looks like an amber, drinks like a Pacific ale. 4.8 to 5.2% ABV.

Who Is This Kit For

Ideal for first-time brewers who want to get started without spending too much upfront. The hand capper is a budget option — it works fine, but if you plan to brew regularly you may want to upgrade to a bench capper later. Everything needed to complete your first batch is included.

Reviewed by the AHB Brewing Team — July 2026.