5 Homebrewing Products to DIY Your Booze at Home

Pico

The PicoBrew Pico is a beer brewing appliance that takes all the measuring and questioning out of the process of brewing beer at home. It uses packages of ready-made ingredients called PicoPaks and (almost) all you have to do is press start. The company has partnered with breweries from around the world to create PicoPaks for hundreds of beers and the machine lets you adjust the alcohol percentage and bitterness to your liking. You can also create and buy your own custom PicoPaks on PicoBrew’s website.

Depending on the type of beer, Pico’s brew cycle takes about two hours to complete, though you’ll still have to let it ferment for up to a week after brewing. The machine weighs about 23 pounds and is designed to fit on most kitchen countertops.

You can find [amazon_textlink asin=’B01G715NHU’ text=’your own Pico on Amazon’ template=’ProductLink’ store=’thinkglink-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=”] for $799.00.

BrewDemon

The BrewDemon is a small batch fermenter for brewing beer. All you have to do is prepare the wort (the ground malt used for fermenting beer) and combine it with the rest of the ingredients in the BrewDemon fermenter. Its conical shape makes it easier to transfer beer into bottles and keeps the trub (all that yeast and other stuff that falls out of the beer during fermentation) in the cone at the bottom. BrewDemon sells premade kits for beer and cider, but you’re not locked in to BrewDemon recipes alone if you want to craft your own.

The BrewDemon comes in two sizes: the 3 gallon BrewDemon and the 8 gallon Big Demon. You can get BrewDemon’s signature kit, including the 3 gallon Brew Demon fermenter and a premade recipe kit [amazon_textlink asin=’B00DCB842U’ text=’to get you started on Amazon’ template=’ProductLink’ store=’thinkglink-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’9347c9a6-4f9b-11e7-8aec-e96c3f70427e’] for $99.00 (plus shipping).

Brew-Magic

If the Pico and BrewDemon aren’t quite serious enough for you, there are professional-grade systems like the Brew-Magic V350MS by SABCO. It’s a semi-automated recirculating infusion mash system designed for professional brewers and advanced amateurs. The V350MS has a touchscreen for programming recipes that can be saved in the system to use again.

At more than 6 feet long, 5 feet high and 289 pounds, the Brew-Magic won’t exactly fit on your kitchen counter. You’ll want to be dedicated (and practiced) enough to set aside the space in your home. The Brew-Magic V350MS [amazon_textlink asin=’B01M9E5F0P’ text=’can be found on Amazon’ template=’ProductLink’ store=’thinkglink-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’fb61911e-4f9b-11e7-855b-454c87c6bb8e’] for $6,995.00 (plus a hefty $270.00 shipping fee).

Master Vintner

Beer isn’t the only type of adult beverage you can make at home. The Master Vintner winemaking kit lets you make five-bottle batches in your kitchen. The small batch starter kit comes with everything you need to get started, including all the equipment, instructions and a grape concentrate recipe kit. Master Vintner also sells separate wine recipe kits for different types of wine, as well as individual ingredients for you to craft your own.

Wine takes a good deal longer to ferment than beer. While the initial process is quick, it will take up to a month of fermentation before you bottle your wine. Since the fermentation is completed in one of two single-gallon jars, the whole process can be done on your kitchen counter. The Master Vintner small batch starter kit [amazon_textlink asin=’B00WIL1GZW’ text=’is on Amazon’ template=’ProductLink’ store=’thinkglink-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’538050e1-4f9c-11e7-a243-2d56087eae50′] for $86.95.

The HomeMade Gin Kit

While distilling your own liquor without a license is illegal in all 50 states, you don’t have to set all your DIY dreams aside. The HomeMade Gin Kit doesn’t involve any distilling. Instead, it lets you transform a standard bottle of vodka into home-blend gin. The kit comes with juniper berries and a secret botanical blend, as well as all the equipment you’ll need to make 750 mL bottle of gin.

The transformation takes about 36 hours and is completed in two 375 mL bottles, so it can be done anywhere in your own house. The HomeMade Gin Kit, including extra blends and equipment, [amazon_textlink asin=’B018GUA4LU’ text=’is available on Amazon’ template=’ProductLink’ store=’thinkglink-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’fad9a766-4f9c-11e7-9c87-11bebfa9c1ad’] for $125.99 plus shipping.