Picking the right craft beer making kit in 2026 comes down to three things: how much beer you want per batch, how many refills come with it, and which style you actually like to drink — not which box has the flashiest label.
This guide ranks five Mr. Beer craft beer making kits by what each one is actually built for, so you can match a kit to your kitchen counter, your batch-size goals, and your taste in beer instead of guessing.
- Complete Bonus Beer Making Kit (includes 2 refills) is the best overall craft beer making kit for brewers who want equipment plus two batches in one order.
- St. Patrick's Irish Stout Complete Beer Making Kit suits stout and malt lovers who want a complete setup built around a rich style.
- American Lager Complete Kit fits brewers who mainly drink light, easy-drinking lager styles.
- Coopers DIY 5 Gallon Complete Beer Making Kit is the pick for brewers who want a bigger batch size.
- Bewitched Amber Ale Complete Kit works for brewers who want a balanced, malt-forward amber ale.
Why This Matters
A craft beer making kit isn't one product — it's a category that spans single-batch starter kits, complete kits bundled with a beer style, and bigger-format systems built for larger batches. Buying the wrong size or style means either brewing less beer than you wanted or paying for equipment you don't need yet.
Before you pick one, it helps to scan Mr. Beer's full lineup of craft beer making kits side by side, because batch size and refill count vary more than the marketing photos suggest. The five kits below cover distinct use cases — new brewer, stout drinker, lager drinker, amber ale fan, and bigger-batch brewer — so you're choosing based on what you'll actually use in 2026, not which one has the best cover art.
What Makes a Good Craft Beer Making Kit
Before the ranking, here's what actually separates one craft beer making kit from another:
- Kit completeness — does it include fermentation equipment, or just a refill for gear you already own
- Refill count — how many batches you can brew before buying more ingredients
- Batch size — how much finished beer one brew cycle produces
- Beer style — the flavor profile baked into that specific kit
- Space required — smaller fermenters versus larger multi-gallon systems
- Price relative to what's included — equipment-plus-ingredients bundles cost more than refill-only kits, and that's expected
Craft Beer Making Kits at a Glance
| Kit | Best For | Standout Feature | Starting Price | Key Limitation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Complete Bonus Beer Making Kit (2 Refills) | New brewers wanting two batches from one order | Equipment plus two refill kits included | Check product page | Refill styles are fixed by the kit |
| St. Patrick's Irish Stout Complete Beer Making Kit | Stout and malt lovers | Complete equipment paired with a stout-style refill | $69.95 (as of 2026) | One beer style per kit |
| American Lager Complete Kit | Light beer drinkers | Complete equipment paired with a lager-style refill | Check product page | One beer style per kit |
| Bewitched Amber Ale Complete Kit | Amber ale fans | Complete equipment paired with an amber ale refill | Check product page | One beer style per kit |
| Coopers DIY 5 Gallon Complete Beer Making Kit | Bigger batches | 5-gallon batch size | $129.95 (as of 2026) | Needs more storage space |
1. Complete Bonus Beer Making Kit: Best Overall Craft Beer Making Kit
The Complete Bonus Beer Making Kit pairs brewing equipment with two refill kits in a single order, which matters if you've never brewed before and don't want to shop for ingredients separately on day one. Equipment plus two refills works out to two batches — not three, so don't plan a third brew day off this one purchase.
Complete Bonus Beer Making Kit pros:
- Two refills included, so the second batch doesn't require an immediate follow-up order
- Equipment and ingredients bundled together in one purchase
- Straightforward starting point if this is your first craft beer making kit
Complete Bonus Beer Making Kit cons:
- The two included refill styles are fixed by the kit, not chosen by you
- Once both refills are brewed, you'll need to order refills separately to keep going
Complete Bonus Beer Making Kit pricing: current pricing is listed on the product page and can shift with seasonal promotions through 2026, so check before you order.
Best for: new brewers who want equipment and two batches covered in one purchase.
2. St. Patrick's Irish Stout Complete Beer Making Kit: Best for Stout and Malt Lovers
The St. Patrick's Irish Stout Complete Beer Making Kit bundles equipment with a stout-style refill, built for brewers who already know they want a rich, malt-forward beer as their first pour. It's priced at $69.95 as of 2026, though promotions can change that.
St. Patrick's Irish Stout pros:
- Complete kit format, so no separate equipment purchase needed
- Stout style suits drinkers who prefer a bold, malt-heavy beer over something light
- Priced at $69.95 as of 2026
St. Patrick's Irish Stout cons:
- Only one beer style included, so your first batch is committed to stout
- If you already own fermentation equipment, you're paying for gear you don't need
St. Patrick's Irish Stout pricing: $69.95 as of 2026, before any current promotions.
Best for: brewers who want a rich stout as their next batch and don't yet own equipment.
3. American Lager Complete Kit: Best for Light Beer Drinkers
The American Lager Complete Kit pairs equipment with a lager-style refill for brewers whose everyday drink is a lighter, easy-drinking beer rather than something heavy or hoppy. Like the other complete kits on this list, it's built around one specific style.
American Lager Complete Kit pros:
- Matches the flavor profile of mainstream light lagers people already drink
- Complete kit format bundles equipment and ingredients together
- A logical entry point if lager is your go-to style at the bar
American Lager Complete Kit cons:
- Single style means less variety in your first batch compared to a multi-refill setup
- Specifics vary by listing, so check the current product page before ordering
Best for: home brewers whose regular drink of choice is a light, easy-drinking lager.
4. Bewitched Amber Ale Complete Kit: Best for Amber Ale Fans
The Bewitched Amber Ale Complete Kit sits between the lighter lager option and the heavier stout option on this list, built around a smooth, malty amber ale. It gives you equipment plus a refill in the amber ale style rather than requiring you to hunt down ingredients separately.
Bewitched Amber Ale pros:
- Amber ale covers a middle-ground flavor between light lager and heavier stout
- Complete kit format includes equipment, not just ingredients
- A reasonable choice if you like a malt-forward beer without going as heavy as a stout
Bewitched Amber Ale cons:
- Single style per kit, same limitation as the lager and stout options above
- Equipment included may duplicate gear you already own if this isn't your first kit
Best for: brewers who want a balanced, malt-forward amber ale without committing to a stout.
5. Coopers DIY 5 Gallon Complete Beer Making Kit: Best for Bigger Batches
The Coopers DIY 5 Gallon Complete Beer Making Kit is built around a 5-gallon batch size, meaning more finished beer per brew day than the smaller-format complete kits above. It's priced at $129.95 as of 2026.
Coopers DIY pros:
- 5-gallon batch size yields more beer per brew session
- Complete kit includes equipment sized for the larger batch
- A logical step up once you've brewed a batch or two already
Coopers DIY cons:
- Larger fermenter needs more shelf or floor space than the smaller complete kits
- Higher upfront price than the smaller-format options on this list
Coopers DIY pricing: $129.95 as of 2026, before any current promotions.
Best for: brewers who've brewed before and want to scale up their batch size.
How We Chose These Kits
Each pick above earns its spot on a different criterion from the list: refill count for the Complete Bonus kit, style fit for the stout, lager, and amber ale kits, and batch size for the Coopers DIY option. None of these five compete for the same slot — that's the point of a decision tree over a leaderboard.
Which Craft Beer Making Kit Should You Choose?
If you're still deciding, start with what you already own. No equipment yet and want the most beer per dollar out of one order? The Complete Bonus Beer Making Kit (includes 2 refills) is the default pick for 2026 — one purchase, two batches. Already have equipment and just want a specific style? Match the flavor: stout for St. Patrick's Irish Stout, light lager for American Lager, or a balanced amber ale for Bewitched. Want more beer per brew day and don't mind the extra space? Go with the Coopers DIY 5 Gallon kit.
FAQ
What is the best craft beer making kit for beginners in 2026?
The Complete Bonus Beer Making Kit, which includes equipment plus two refills, is the strongest starting point in 2026 because it covers two batches without a separate ingredient purchase. New brewers who already know their preferred style can also start with a single-style complete kit like the St. Patrick's Irish Stout kit.
Is a complete beer making kit better than a refill-only kit?
A complete kit is better if you don't own brewing equipment yet, since it bundles the fermenter and tools with the ingredients. If you already have equipment from a previous batch, a refill-only purchase avoids paying for gear you don't need again.
How many batches can I brew with a kit that includes two refills?
A kit with equipment plus two refills yields two batches, not three — the equipment is reusable but each refill only covers one brew cycle. Once both refills are used, you'll need to buy additional refills to keep brewing.
What's the difference between a stout kit and a lager kit?
The difference is the beer style and resulting flavor profile — stout kits like St. Patrick's Irish Stout are built for a rich, malt-forward beer, while lager kits like the American Lager Complete Kit are built for a lighter, easy-drinking style. Check each product page for the specific ingredients included rather than assuming based on the style name alone.
Do craft beer making kits include carbonation drops?
It depends on the specific kit — some complete kits include carbonation drops and others require them as a separate purchase. Check the contents listed on each product page before assuming they're included, since Mr. Beer also sells carbonation drops separately for kits that don't include them.
How much does a craft beer making kit cost in 2026?
Complete craft beer making kits from Mr. Beer run from about $69.95 to $129.95 as of 2026, depending mostly on batch size and whether equipment is included. Prices can shift with seasonal promotions, so check the current listing before ordering.
Can I brew a bigger batch than what's included in a starter kit?
Yes — the Coopers DIY 5 Gallon Complete Beer Making Kit is built specifically for a larger batch size than the smaller complete kits on this list. It requires more storage space for the larger fermenter, so factor that in before upgrading.
What's included in a Mr. Beer complete beer making kit?
Contents vary by specific kit, but complete kits generally pair fermentation equipment with an ingredient refill for one named beer style. Always check the current product page for the exact contents before you order, since lineups and included accessories can change.
One Last Thing
The easiest mistake to make when comparing craft beer making kits isn't picking the wrong style — it's misreading the batch math. A kit labeled "includes 2 refills" gives you equipment plus two refills, which equals two batches, not three. Read the batch count on the product page literally before you assume you're getting more beer than what's actually in the box.
