Home brewing is one of the most rewarding hobbies you can pick up. If you are a beer lover, then you can imagine just how satisfying it is opening a cold beer that tastes fresh and crisp, exactly the way you like it.
If you want to get a home brew right, however, the first step is getting yourself the best home brew setup for the process. There are a lot of modern home brew setups available on the market, and this is mostly a good thing, but it can be a bit hard sifting through the many choices to get the best one.
In this guide, we will be doing all the heavy lifting for you and listing the six best home brew setups currently on the market. Then you can take your pick!
Best Home Brew Setup Reviews
Let’s go through the list!
1. GasOne 32QT - 8 Gallon Home Brew Pot, Stainless Steel
The GasOne 32QT is one of the top home brew pots for both beginner home brewers and pros alike. With all the features this system has, it’s easy to see why.
The pot is mainly made of stainless steel, which not only makes it very durable, but also rust-resistant and easy to clean.
For accuracy when you are brewing, the pot comes with calibration tools on the inside to help you make precise measurements when you are pouring your ingredients for brewing. A built-in thermometer on the outside will also help you monitor the brew temperatures easily.
For filtration purposes, the pot incorporates a Bazooka screen and a false bottom to ensure you get a smooth final product without impurities.
This home brew setup has an eight-gallon capacity, which is sufficient for home brewing. The pot can be used for other boiling purposes.
To distribute the heat evenly when you are boiling your brew, this pot’s bottom features a tri-ply aluminum bottom. The lid also helps reduce the evaporation of your brewing contents and keeps the heat in the pot.
The stainless steel construction makes this pot great in terms of durability and aesthetics.
What’s Good
- 8-gallon capacity
- Visually appealing
- Durable
- Multiple purposes
- Incorporated measurements and thermometer for accuracy
What’s Bad
- Not big enough for commercial brewing
2. Grainfather Home Beer Brewing System
If you have been home brewing manually and you think it’s time to step up your game, this is the home brewing setup to go with.
Unlike conventional home brewing setups that require boilers or hot plates to brew, this one is electrically powered, so the hustle of controlling everything manually is taken out of the process.
It’s made of quality 304-grade, corrosion-resistant, stainless steel, which makes it durable and also gives it a sleek look. It has an eight-gallon brewing capacity, and you end up with six gallons of brew at the end of the process, which is good for home brewing.
It’s very user-friendly and also programmable, so you don’t have to be hands-on during the process. The digital thermometer display allows you to accurately monitor the temperature during the entire brewing process. There is also an app through which you can control the process remotely.
With the two-year warranty provided by the manufacturer, you can relax knowing that you are making a worthy investment when buying this brewing setup.
What’s Good
- Remote control option
- Durable
- 2-year warranty provided
- 8-gallon brewing capacity
- Electric
What’s Bad
- The filter might clog if not properly cared for.
3. BrewDemon Conical Fermenter
If you want some small home brew setup without having to pay an arm and a leg for it, this is one of the best options you will find on the market currently.
It features an innovative design with a large mouth at the top and a narrow conical bottom, and this reduces your brew’s contact with hop debris and trub.
It’s made of high-quality food-grade PVC, which is transparent and allows you to monitor the brewing process. With the faucet at the bottom of the fermenter, you can easily attach a hose to collect the brew. It’s adjustable too, and you can easily control the volume.
The setup comes with a stick-on thermometer for accurate temperature monitoring. It’s also curated at the back, which allows you to make accurate measurements of the contents inside.
It has a two to two and a half-gallon capacity, which is ideal for small home brewing requirements.
With the CO2 vent, you can allow the CO2 that builds up during the process to escape without worrying about contaminating your batch.
To assure you that you will be getting a quality product, the manufacturers have a two-year warranty in place and strong customer support in case you have any issues with the fermenter.
What’s Good
- A 2-year warranty
- Affordable
- An adjustable faucet at the bottom for collecting the finished brew
- Comes with a stick-on thermometer for temperature monitoring
What’s Bad
- Small capacity not suitable for large batches
4. NutriChef Double Walled 64 Ounces S Stainless Steel Growler
This is a must-have for any beer enthusiast, especially if you love brewing yours at home. It’s perfect for keeping your beer cold and fresh and you will be serving brewery freshness with this keg system.
It features a double-walled design, which helps maintain your beer’s temperature for up to eight hours. It has a 64-ounce beer capacity.
Some bottles don’t store beer very well, especially if the capper does not do a good job of sealing the bottles. With the Nutrichef keg system, you avoid this problem altogether as it keeps your beer fresh for at least a few weeks after brewing.
It’s made of stainless steel material, which is not only durable but also looks sleek. With the adjustable regulator, you can monitor the pressure inside, which allows you to adjust it when you pour.
With the pressure release valve, you get to safely release the pressure before you remove the tap hardware.
You also get a manual with very clear instructions on how to use it, which is very helpful if it’s your first time using it.
What’s Good
- Double-walled for superior insulation
- Keeps your beer carbonated and fresh
- Easy to use
- Made of stainless steel, which is durable
What’s Bad
- Small capacity
5. NutriChef Pressurized Growler Tap System
If you loved the 64-ounce Nutrichef keg system, but you are looking for a bigger one for family gatherings or friends, then this 128-ounce one ought to serve your needs just right.
You get to keep your beer well carbonated for up to two months so that you get a fresh brewery-quality beer.
With the adjustable regulator, you monitor the beer pressure and regulate it when you pour to get the perfect beer head with each pour. The 128-ounce capacity makes this grower tap system perfect for a small group when you are having a small event.
It’s made of high-quality stainless steel, which makes it both durable and easy on the eye. It’s also well insulated to keep your beer at the desired temperature.
With the pressure release valve, you can safely remove the tap hardware when you need to.
What’s Good
- Durable
- Keeps your home brew beer well carbonated
- Well insulated to keep your beer temperature constant
- Suitable for a group
What’s Bad
- Larger capacity than the previous option, but still not ideal for large gatherings
- Homebrew CO2 System Keeps Carbonated Beverages Fresh All Day
- Includes All Necessary Installation Components & Hardware
- Solid Stainless Steel Construction Keep Beverage Colder, Longer
- Made of Food Grade S/S 304 Rust Proof Stainless Steel
- Easy to Assemble - Easy to Fill - Easy to Clean
6. Pressurized Beer Mini Keg System, 64-ounces
This is yet another great portable keg system from Nutrichef for all the beer lovers. There is nothing as off-putting as looking forward to having a beer after a long day only to pour some flat beer.
Unlike the conventional growers that lose the beer carbonation after your first pour, this keg system keeps your beer well carbonated for around two months.
It conveniently fits into your regular home fridge or a kegerator. It’s also made of high-quality stainless steel, which makes it very durable. You will enjoy it for a very long time.
To allow for the safe removal of the tap, the keg comes with a pressure release valve, and for the perfect pour, there is a pressure regulator that you can adjust.
What’s Good
- Keeps your beer fresh and carbonated
- Made of stainless steel
- Very durable
- Pressure regulator for the perfect pour
What’s Bad
- Small capacity
Considerations for the Best Home Brew Setup
If you are new to home brewing, you might be a bit confused when it comes to picking out home brew setup for your brewing needs. If you want to nail it, you have to know what to look for when you are picking out the ultimate home brew setup to avoid wasting money on one does not work as you expected.
Here are the things that make a home brew setup great.
Construction and Durability
Home brew setups are made of different materials and if you are looking for one to use for a long time, you ought to look for one with sturdy construction. Home brew pots made of stainless steel are usually the best and last the longest.
Capacity
Different setups have different batch capacities. You have to think of how much beer you want to brew in one batch. Also, remember you will not be getting the full capacity of the pot as you need to leave a little room for boiling. Get a pot capacity that allows you to brew your desired volume of beer.
Ease of Use
There are home brew systems with varying levels of complexity, depending on what you can afford. Pick a setup that makes brewing easy for you. Some pots are electric, for instance, this makes it easy to control the process. Some will even allow remote control with an app. These come in handy, especially if you are new to home brewing.
Accessories
Some brewing setups will come with some things like ingredients to get you started on your first batch. Others will come with clear instruction manuals. This is very helpful, especially if you are a first time home brewer.
Frequently Asked Questions About Home Brew Setups
Why Is My Beer Not Fermenting?
Fermentation takes some time to start. It can be anywhere between eight to 72 hours before you start noticing any fermentation signs. If 72 hours have not passed yet, be patient.
Sometimes, however, it might be 72 hours already, and you are not seeing any signs of fermentation. This is caused by several factors like a low temperature. Normally, yeast will activate the fermentation process between 17 to 24 degrees Celsius. If your pot is colder than this, you might want to move it to a warmer part of the room to kick start the process.
Do I Have to Use Brown Bottles to Store the Beer?
Most beer bottles are brown and for a good reason. Some rays of light can interfere with the beer chemistry and lower the quality of your home brew. The brown bottles prevent this from happening.
If you don’t have brown beer bottles, however, you can use another color but keep it in a dark room.
Why Do I Need to Boil the Ingredients Before Fermenting?
Boiling is done to eliminate some compounds that if left in the beer would make the beer undrinkable.
Conclusion
Home brewing is fun and rewarding at the same time. If you are looking to get a quality beer, you have to get the right home brewing setup for the job.
While all the setups on this list are great for your home brewing needs, check out the Grainfather home beer brewing system. It’s a great system, especially if you are new to home brewing, as it is mostly hands-free. It’s electric with an app for remote control.
Happy home brewing!
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