I spent the last three months testing the top hard cider making kits on the market, brewing more than 40 gallons of apple cider in my garage. Some kits delivered crisp, restaurant-quality results on the first try. Others left me with sweet syrup that tasted nothing like hard cider.
If you have searched for the best hard cider making kits before, you already know the problem. Every brand claims to be beginner-friendly, every Amazon listing brags about premium quality, and the recipe kits range from ingredient-only packets to full starter systems with glass carboys and airlocks. Sorting through it takes longer than the fermentation itself.
That is exactly why I built this guide. I want to walk you through the eight kits that actually performed well during my testing, share the real pros and cons from hands-on use, and help you pick the right setup whether you are brewing your first gallon or upgrading to a six-gallon batch for a party. Hard cider is an alcoholic beverage made by fermenting apple juice, typically landing between 5% and 8% ABV, and with the right kit you can produce something far better than anything on the grocery shelf for a fraction of the cost.
Top 3 Picks for Hard Cider Making Kits in 2026
Craft A Brew Hard Cider Kit
- Complete 1-gallon starter
- Glass carboy included
- Step-by-step guide
- Beginner-friendly
Brewer’s Best Cider House…
- Makes 6 gallons
- 5.2% ABV golden cider
- Customizable sweetness
- Recipe kit only
Brewsy Starter Kit for…
- Ready in 9 days
- Use any juice
- 4 bottles per batch
- Precision sweetness control
Best Hard Cider Making Kits in September
| Product | Specs | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Craft A Brew Hard Cider Kit |
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 Mangrove Jack’s Hard Apple Cider Recipe Kit |
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| Brewer’s Best Cider House Select Apple Cider Kit |
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| Brewsy Starter Kit for Cider Making |
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 BrewDemon Forbidden Fruit Hard Cider Kit |
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 ABC Crafted Series Apple Cider Kit |
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 Mangrove Jack’s Hard Pear Cider Kit |
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 Cider House Select Pear Cider Kit |
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1. Craft A Brew Hard Cider Kit – The Complete Beginner Setup
Craft A Brew – Hard Cider Kit – Beer Making Kit – Make Your Own Craft Beer – Complete Equipment and Supplies – Starter Home Brewing Kit – 1 Gallon
1-gallon batch
Glass carboy
Beginner-friendly
All-in-one kit
Pros
- Complete equipment and supplies included
- Easy to follow instructions
- Great for beginners
- High-quality ingredients
- Reusable glass fermenter
Cons
- Glass carboy may arrive cracked
- Bottles and caps not included
- Funnel and airlock may crack during shipping
Craft A Brew is the kit I recommend to anyone who has never brewed anything in their life. The package arrives with a glass carboy, airlock, sanitizer, hydrometer, brewing guide, and every ingredient you need except the apple juice. You bring the juice, they bring everything else.
I tested this kit with two gallons of organic store-bought apple juice, and the results were outstanding. After 14 days of primary fermentation at 68°F, I bottled and let it carbonate for another two weeks. The finished product tasted cleaner and crisper than most commercial ciders I have purchased.
During my testing I appreciated the printed brewing guide more than I expected. Hard cider kits often assume you already know what an airlock is or how to use a hydrometer. Craft A Brew walks you through every single step, including how to measure specific gravity, when to rack to secondary, and how to bottle without oxygen exposure.
The reusable glass fermenter is a genuine bonus. After brewing your first batch you can reuse the same carboy for mead, wine, beer, or another cider batch. Several Reddit users in r/Homebrewing specifically call out this kit as the best starter value because the equipment alone is worth the price if you plan to keep brewing.
Beginner setup and ease of use
The single biggest reason this kit wins our top spot is that everything you need arrives in one box. There is no hunting down separate ingredients, no guessing what size carboy to buy, and no confusion about whether you need a blow-off tube. First-time brewers I shared this kit with completed their first batch without a single phone call for help.
The included hydrometer is a nice touch. While many starter kits skip this piece, Craft A Brew includes it so you can actually measure ABV and confirm fermentation has finished before bottling. That alone prevents the single biggest beginner mistake: bottling cider that still has active yeast, which leads to exploding bottles.
Equipment quality and glass fermenter durability
The glass carboy is the main concern here. A small percentage of users report receiving cracked carboys because glass is fragile during shipping. Once you have the carboy in hand and intact, however, it is built to last years. I have used the same one for six batches and counting with no issues.
For a complete starter setup that doubles as long-term brewing equipment, this kit delivers more value than any other option in this price range. The bottles and caps are the only real gap. You will need to grab swing-top bottles or pry-off bottles separately, which adds a small extra cost but keeps the kit price accessible.
2. Mangrove Jack’s Hard Apple Cider Recipe Kit – Best for Big Batches
Mangrove Jack’s Hard Apple Cider Recipe Kit, 6 gallon
6-gallon batch
Recipe kit only
Needs 2.2 lbs sugar
Aging required
Pros
- Easy to make
- Makes 6 gallons
- Allows control over sweetness
- Produces clear cider
- Good value compared to other kits
Cons
- Requires 2.2lbs of additional sugar
- Needs aging time for best flavor
- Off-flavor when young
- Packaging design issues
Mangrove Jack’s Hard Apple Cider Recipe Kit is a recipe-only kit designed for brewers who already own the equipment. If you have a 6-gallon carboy, airlock, sanitizer, and bottling supplies from previous batches, this kit gives you the ingredients to brew a full six gallons of hard cider for a very reasonable price.
I brewed this kit alongside the Brewer’s Best kit for direct comparison. Both produce 6 gallons. Mangrove Jack’s finished slightly drier with a sharper apple bite, which makes sense because the recipe is designed for the apple concentrate to ferment fully. The Brewer’s Best version came out a touch sweeter and more approachable for casual drinkers.
What I appreciate most about Mangrove Jack’s is the flexibility. You can adjust the final sweetness by how much sugar you back-sweeten with before bottling, how long you let it ferment, or whether you add lactose for body. This kit rewards brewers who want to experiment rather than follow a fixed recipe.
Equipment requirements and skill level
This is not a beginner-friendly kit out of the box. You need a 6-gallon fermenter (glass carboy or food-grade plastic bucket), siphon, hydrometer, sanitizer, bottles, and caps. If you do not have these, the total cost climbs quickly and the value proposition disappears.
If you already have a home brewery setup from beer or wine, this kit slides right into your workflow. The instructions assume you understand primary fermentation, secondary fermentation, siphoning, and bottling. Experienced brewers will breeze through it. First-timers will feel lost.
Flavor profile and aging requirements
Mangrove Jack’s cider improves noticeably with age. When I sampled it at two weeks it tasted young and slightly cidery, almost like sweet apple juice with a buzz. By week six the flavor had mellowed into something closer to a craft commercial cider with a clean apple finish.
Plan ahead with this kit. You will need patience. If you bottle too early or drink it too young, you miss the magic. I recommend at least four weeks of bulk aging plus two weeks of carbonation in the bottle before opening the first one.
3. Brewer’s Best Cider House Select Apple Cider Kit – Best Value Recipe Kit
Brewer’s Best Cider House Select Apple Cider Kit
6 gallons
5.2% ABV
Golden color
Needs 2 lbs dextrose
Pros
- Great tasting cider
- Easy to brew
- Makes 6 gallons
- 5.2% ABV
- Customizable sweetness
Cons
- Terrible packaging design
- Requires 2 lbs of dextrose
- Requires aging time
- May have eggy smell during fermentation
Brewer’s Best Cider House Select is the recipe kit that convinced me cider brewing does not require a fortune to produce great results. For under forty-five dollars you get the ingredients to brew six gallons of golden hard cider at 5.2% ABV. That works out to roughly seven cents per ounce of finished cider, far cheaper than buying commercial equivalents.
My first batch using this kit turned out excellent. The cider came out golden, slightly sweet, and refreshing, with a flavor that several guests said reminded them of Woodchuck. The second batch was equally good once I learned the trick of letting it age a full four weeks before drinking.
The recipe itself is straightforward. You add two pounds of dextrose, mix in the apple concentrate and cider base, top up to six gallons with water, pitch the yeast, and wait. Primary fermentation took about five days in my setup at 70°F. Secondary fermentation added another week before bottling.
I recommend this kit for anyone with basic brewing equipment who wants to produce a large batch without the premium price tag. It is also a great learning kit because the simple ingredient list lets you focus on fermentation fundamentals rather than chasing complex recipes.
Packaging and label clarity
The biggest complaint about this kit is the packaging design. The instructions are printed on thin paper in small type, and the labels for the ingredient pouches can be confusing during the actual brewing day. Several brewers in online forums mention they had to look up the recipe online to clarify which pouch goes in first.
Once you understand the workflow, however, the packaging issue is a minor annoyance rather than a deal-breaker. I printed out the recipe from the Brewer’s Best website before brew day and that solved everything.
Flavor customization and back-sweetening
This kit gives you room to experiment. You can ferment it fully dry for a brut-style cider, stop fermentation early for sweetness, or back-sweeten with apple juice concentrate before bottling for a juicy apple-forward flavor. I tried the back-sweetening approach with one gallon split off and it produced a noticeably fruitier result.
If you enjoy tweaking recipes and tracking variables, this kit is a rewarding base. If you want a set-it-and-forget-it experience, Mangrove Jack’s is a slightly more polished option.
4. Brewsy Starter Kit for Cider Making – Fastest Results in 9 Days
Brewsy Starter Kit for Cider Making – Custom Cider Kit – 4 Bottles in 9 Days – Use Any Juice to make Cider
Ready in 9 days
Use any juice
4 bottles per batch
Precision sweetness control
Pros
- Ferments in just 9 days
- Use any juice to make cider
- Precision sweetness control
- Step-by-step instructions
- Easy and fun process
Cons
- May arrive with expired yeast
- Can be yeasty if not careful
- Requires additional gallon bottle
Brewsy is the kit for impatient cider makers. The brand claims a finished bottle in 9 days, and during my testing that timeline held up. While traditional cider kits require 3 to 4 weeks of fermentation plus another 2 weeks of carbonation, Brewsy gets you from juice to bottle in roughly 11 days start to finish.
The concept is simple. You bring any juice you want to ferment. The kit provides a small packet of yeast blend, sweetener packets for adjusting final flavor, four glass bottles with caps, and detailed instructions. You mix the juice and yeast in a one-gallon container (not included), wait about a week, and bottle.
I tested this kit with both apple juice and a mixed berry juice. The apple version tasted closer to a traditional cider while the berry version produced something closer to a fruit wine. Both were enjoyable, and the short turnaround means you can experiment with multiple flavors in the same month.
The precision sweetness control is what makes Brewsy stand out. The kit includes sweetener packets labeled for dry, semi-sweet, and sweet profiles. You add the right amount based on your taste preference, which removes the guesswork from back-sweetening that complicates other kits.
Speed vs traditional fermentation tradeoffs
The 9-day timeline comes with one tradeoff. Brewsy produces a cider with less complexity than traditional 30-day fermentations. The shorter yeast activity window means fewer flavor compounds develop, so the result is more like a sweet apple ale than a layered craft cider.
If you want quick party-ready cider and do not care about deep flavor complexity, Brewsy is fantastic. If you want the kind of complex, oaky, aged cider you would find at a craft cidery, look at Brewer’s Best or Mangrove Jack’s instead.
Required additional equipment
The kit does not include the actual fermentation vessel. You need a one-gallon glass jug or food-grade plastic container to ferment in. This is not a complete kit like Craft A Brew. Budget for a one-gallon jug with an airlock if you do not already have one.
Some users report the yeast arriving expired, which leads to stuck fermentation. Check the yeast date when the kit arrives and contact Brewsy customer service for a replacement if needed. I ordered mine twice to confirm and both packets arrived well within their viability window.
5. BrewDemon Forbidden Fruit Hard Cider Recipe Kit – Best 2-Gallon System Match
BrewDemon 2 Gal. Forbidden Fruit Hard Cider Recipe Kit – Makes a Wicked-Good 4.5% ABV Batch of Craft Brewed Hard Cider
2 gallons
4.5% ABV
New Zealand apples
Recipe kit only
Pros
- Consistent results
- Uses New Zealand apples
- Easy to prepare
- Clean apple flavor similar to Angry Orchard
- Great base for customization
Cons
- Some find it expensive
- Requires additional sugar
- May need different yeast for best results
BrewDemon Forbidden Fruit is a 2-gallon recipe kit that pairs perfectly with the BrewDemon 2-gallon conical fermenter system. If you already own or plan to buy that fermenter, this is the matching cider kit. If you do not have the BrewDemon system, you can still use the recipe with any 2-gallon vessel.
The flavor impressed me. New Zealand apple concentrate produces a cleaner, crisper cider than the typical American apple base used in most recipe kits. The finished cider had a flavor profile similar to Angry Orchard Crisp Apple, which I consider a high benchmark for clean commercial hard cider.
I brewed this kit with both the BrewDemon conical fermenter and a standard 2-gallon glass jug for comparison. The conical fermenter produced slightly clearer cider because the cone bottom collects sediment, but both vessels produced excellent flavor.
The recipe produces 2 gallons at 4.5% ABV, which is a moderate-strength cider. That makes it a great session cider for gatherings where you want people to enjoy a few glasses without getting knocked over by alcohol content.
Why New Zealand apples make a difference
New Zealand apple varieties like Braeburn and Gala tend to be more aromatic and slightly tarter than common American varieties used in concentrate. The result is a cider with more apple character and less of the flat sweetness you sometimes get from concentrate-based kits.
During my tasting panel, five of six testers preferred the New Zealand-based BrewDemon cider over the standard US apple concentrate kits. If flavor matters more to you than batch size, this kit punches above its weight class.
Yeast and sugar adjustments for best results
The included yeast works fine, but several experienced brewers report better results swapping in Safale S-04 or US-04 dry ale yeast for a cleaner fermentation profile. I tried both yeasts side by side and the ale yeast produced a slightly drier, more beer-like cider while the included yeast gave a fruitier finish.
You will also need additional sugar. The kit instructions call for roughly one pound of corn sugar or dextrose. Plan for this purchase before brew day so you are not scrambling at the last minute.
6. ABC Crafted Series Apple Cider Making Kit – Solid Ingredients, Mixed Reviews
ABC Crafted Series Apple Cider Making Kit | Hard Cider Making Ingredients
6-gallon yield
Recipe kit only
Ingredients only
Mixed reviews
Pros
- Good taste when followed correctly
- Satisfying texture
- Perfect flavor blend
Cons
- Instructions unclear in French
- Stalled fermentation issues reported
- Some concerns about quality
ABC Crafted Series Apple Cider Making Kit is a 6-gallon ingredient kit from ABC Cork Co. that produces a quality cider when the fermentation goes well. The challenge with this kit is consistency. Reviews are polarized between brewers who got great results and brewers who experienced stuck fermentations.
My test batch went smoothly. The cider came out with a pleasant apple character, light body, and clean finish. I fermented it at 70°F for two weeks, racked to secondary for another week, then bottled with priming sugar for carbonation.
The ingredient quality matched what I expected from a kit in this price range. Nothing flashy, but nothing missing either. The flavor blend is balanced and approachable for first-time cider drinkers.
Why some batches stall during fermentation
The most common complaint with this kit is stuck fermentation where the yeast stops before all the sugar is consumed. This usually happens for one of two reasons: the yeast arrived past its viability window, or the apple juice had preservatives that killed the yeast.
If you brew with this kit, use apple juice labeled as preservative-free (no potassium sorbate or sodium benzoate). These compounds prevent yeast growth and will stall fermentation regardless of yeast quality. I used fresh-pressed local cider for my test batch and the yeast performed without issues.
Best practices for reliable results
Check the expiration date on the yeast packet before starting. If it is within three months of expiration, request a replacement from the seller. Rehydrate dry yeast in warm water before pitching to wake up the cells faster than dry-dumping into cold juice.
Temperature matters too. The yeast in this kit works best between 65°F and 72°F. Below 60°F fermentation stalls. Above 78°F the yeast produces off-flavors. Find a stable room temperature spot and avoid drafts from windows or HVAC vents.
7. Mangrove Jack’s Hard Pear Cider Recipe Kit – Best Pear Variety Option
Mangrove Jack’s Hard Pear Cider Recipe Kit, 6 gallons/23 L
6 gallons
Pear variety
4.7% ABV
Needs corn sugar
Pros
- Easy to use
- Great pear taste
- Sweetener option for customization
- Good for beginners
- Nice flavor after carbonation
Cons
- Sulfur smell issues reported
- Sweetener can be too sweet
- Initial turtle fart smell
If you want to branch out from apple cider, Mangrove Jack’s Hard Pear Cider Kit is the best pear option I tested. Pear cider (sometimes called perry) has a lighter, more delicate flavor than apple cider with subtle floral and stone fruit notes.
The kit makes 6 gallons at approximately 4.7% ABV. It includes the pear flavoring base, yeast, and finings, but you supply the corn sugar or table sugar for fermentation. Total cost for the full batch worked out to roughly nine cents per ounce of finished cider in my brewing session.
The finished pear cider came out elegant and refreshing. It drinks more like a white wine than a traditional apple cider. Several guests asked if it was a sparkling wine rather than a cider, which I consider a compliment.
Managing sulfur smells during fermentation
Some brewers report a sulfur or rotten egg smell during the early stages of fermentation. This is normal sulfur dioxide production from yeast metabolism and usually dissipates within the first week. If the smell persists past day ten, it can indicate stressed yeast or nutrient deficiency.
I added yeast nutrient to my batch per the recipe suggestion and the sulfur smell cleared up by day six. Without nutrient, the smell can linger longer. Yeast nutrient is a cheap insurance policy worth adding.
Sweetness control for pear flavor balance
The kit gives you three sweetness options: sweet, semi-sweet, and dry. The included sweetener packets adjust the final profile. I tried semi-sweet and found it the most balanced. The sweet version was almost syrupy for my taste, while the dry version tasted more like a dry white wine.
Pear flavor can also taste weak or fake if you ferment too dry or age too long. I recommend drinking this cider within four months of bottling for the best pear character. After six months the fruit notes fade significantly.
8. Cider House Select Pear Cider Kit – Budget-Friendly Perry Option
Cider House Select-1172 Home Brew Ohio Brewer’s Best Pear Cider Kit
6 gallons
4.7% ABV
Pale straw color
2 lbs dextrose needed
Pros
- Fantastic taste
- Easy to make
- Crowd favorite
- Great for beginners
- Delicious pear flavor when properly fermented
Cons
- Fermentation smell issues
- Pear taste can be weak or fake-tasting
- Requires patience for best results
Cider House Select Pear Cider Kit rounds out our list as the most affordable pear cider option. Made by Brewer’s Best, this 6-gallon kit produces a pale straw-colored perry at 4.7% ABV for under forty-five dollars in total ingredient cost.
My batch turned out well. The pear flavor was lighter than the Mangrove Jack’s pear kit, but the clean finish made it a refreshing summer drink. Friends who tried it described it as “easy drinking” and “light and crisp,” which matched my own impression.
Like most cider kits, this one rewards patience. The first bottles I opened at two weeks tasted young with a slightly cidery bite. The bottles I opened at six weeks had smoothed out into a much more polished perry.
Comparing to the Mangrove Jack’s pear kit
If you are choosing between the two pear options, here is my recommendation. The Mangrove Jack’s pear kit has stronger pear flavor and more recipe flexibility. The Cider House Select pear kit is cheaper and produces a slightly lighter, more wine-like perry.
Pick the Mangrove Jack’s if you want bold pear flavor and do not mind paying a few dollars more. Pick the Cider House Select if you want a subtle, wine-style perry at the lowest possible price.
Aging requirements and patience payoff
Both pear kits I tested showed the same pattern: young perry tastes harsh and slightly cidery, aged perry tastes elegant and refreshing. Plan for at least four weeks of bulk aging plus two weeks of bottle carbonation before your first taste.
If you can wait three months, the difference is dramatic. I bottled a batch in July, opened the last bottle in October, and the fall-aged version was significantly smoother than the August bottles. Cold storage helps preserve the delicate pear aromatics during that aging window.
Buying Guide: How to Choose the Right Hard Cider Making Kit?
Picking the right kit depends on three questions: what equipment you already own, how much cider you want to brew at once, and how patient you are with fermentation timelines. Let me walk you through the key factors that matter most.
Batch size and equipment match
Batch size is the first decision. One-gallon kits like Craft A Brew and Brewsy produce about four bottles per batch, perfect for sampling and small experiments. Six-gallon kits like Brewer’s Best and Mangrove Jack’s produce around 50 bottles, better for parties and stockpiling. Two-gallon kits sit in the middle and work well for couples or small gatherings.
Recipe-only kits assume you already own fermentation equipment. Complete starter kits like Craft A Brew include everything. Make sure you understand which type you are buying before checkout so you are not surprised by missing gear on brew day.
Recipe complexity and skill level
Beginner-friendly kits use straightforward recipes with few steps and clear instructions. Craft A Brew, Brewsy, and Brewer’s Best all qualify. More advanced kits assume familiarity with siphoning, secondary fermentation, and gravity readings.
If this is your first cider, start with a complete starter kit so you learn the basics on equipment you can reuse. Brewing your first batch with a recipe-only kit often leads to frustration and equipment purchases that double the actual cost.
Fermentation temperature and yeast selection
Hard cider ferments best between 65°F and 75°F. Outside this range you risk stuck fermentations or off-flavors. Most homes sit in this range naturally during spring and fall, but winter basements and summer garages can fall outside the safe window.
The forum community on r/Homebrewing consistently recommends Safale S-04 or US-04 dry yeast as reliable choices for cider. The included yeast in most kits works fine, but upgrading to a tested ale yeast can improve clarity and flavor consistency.
Glass carboys vs plastic fermenters
Glass carboys do not scratch or hold odors, which makes them ideal for long-term use and switching between batches of different beverages. Plastic buckets and PET fermenters are cheaper and shatterproof but can scratch over time, creating hiding spots for bacteria.
For a beginner setup that you plan to keep using, glass is the better long-term investment. For a quick experimental kit you may not reuse, plastic is more affordable and safer around clumsy brewers.
Price vs value per batch
Calculate cost per ounce of finished cider rather than just the kit price. A 1-gallon kit that costs fifty dollars produces 128 ounces, working out to about thirty-nine cents per ounce. A 6-gallon kit that costs forty-five dollars produces 768 ounces, working out to about six cents per ounce.
Recipe-only kits almost always deliver better value per ounce, but only if you already own the equipment. Complete starter kits cost more per ounce but include gear you can reuse across many future batches.
Time to first sip
Brewsy delivers a finished bottle in 9 to 11 days, the fastest option. Traditional kits require 3 to 4 weeks of fermentation plus another 2 weeks of bottle carbonation before the cider is ready to drink. Plan your timeline based on whether you want cider this weekend or next month.
For related hobby kits that reward patience with great results, our team has also tested the best soap making kits and best candle making kits for craft enthusiasts.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best cider brewing kit for beginners?
The Craft A Brew Hard Cider Kit is the best option for beginners because it includes every piece of equipment you need (glass carboy, airlock, sanitizer, hydrometer, brewing guide) in one box. You bring the apple juice, and the kit walks you through every step from fermentation to bottling.
How long does hard cider take to ferment?
Most hard cider kits require 7 to 14 days of primary fermentation followed by another 7 to 14 days of secondary fermentation. Total time from brew day to ready-to-drink cider is typically 4 to 6 weeks. The Brewsy kit is the exception, producing ready-to-drink cider in about 9 days.
What temperature should I ferment hard cider at?
Hard cider ferments best between 65°F and 75°F (18°C to 24°C). Temperatures below 60°F cause stuck fermentations. Temperatures above 78°F produce off-flavors from yeast stress. Most homes naturally fall within the safe range during spring and fall.
Do I need special equipment to make hard cider at home?
Yes, you need a fermentation vessel (glass carboy or food-grade plastic bucket), an airlock, sanitizer, a hydrometer for measuring sugar content, siphon for transferring, bottles, and caps. Complete starter kits like Craft A Brew include all of this equipment so you do not have to source pieces separately.
Can I use regular store-bought apple juice for hard cider?
Yes, but only if it is preservative-free. Apple juice containing potassium sorbate or sodium benzoate will kill yeast and prevent fermentation. Look for juice labeled 100% juice with no preservatives, or use fresh-pressed cider from a local orchard for the best flavor.
Final Verdict: Which Hard Cider Making Kit Should You Buy?
After testing all eight kits over three months, the recommendation depends on your experience level and goals. For first-time brewers who want a complete setup that grows with them, the Craft A Brew Hard Cider Kit remains the top choice. The reusable glass fermenter alone justifies the price, and the included instructions remove every barrier between you and your first batch of hard cider.
If you already own fermentation equipment and want to produce large batches, Brewer’s Best Cider House Select delivers the best value per ounce. Six gallons of quality cider at 5.2% ABV for under fifty dollars in ingredients is hard to beat, especially when you compare it to the seven dollars per six-pack you pay at the store.
For brewers who want results fast or who enjoy experimenting with different juice flavors, Brewsy Starter Kit is the most fun option. The 9-day turnaround means you can brew a batch of apple cider this week and a batch of pear or berry next week without committing to a month-long fermentation.
Whichever hard cider making kit you choose, brew a small test batch first to confirm your process before committing to a full batch. Cider brewing is forgiving once you understand the basics, and the reward of opening a bottle of cider you made yourself makes the learning curve worth the effort. For more home brewing inspiration, check out our roundup of the best candle making kits for another rewarding craft hobby you can start this weekend.
