Brew Your First Batch (Beer)

Once you've unboxed your BBP Beer Brewing Kit, this guide will walk you through exactly what to do to make your first batch — from mixing your ingredients to pouring your first cold one.

All you need is your BBP Beer Brewing Kit (the BBP Instant Brewery Kits can also be used, however, they do not currently contain bottles), your Just Add Water - BEER KIT, and water.

Active time required: approximately 30–40 minutes (across the whole process) Total time from start to finish: around 3 weeks

What You'll Need

From your BBP Beer Brewing Kit:

  • Fermenting tub
  • Swing Top Bottles

From your Just Add Water Beer Kit:

  • Beer extract can
  • Brew enhancer
  • Carbonation drops

From your kitchen:

  • A spoon for stirring
  • Tap water
  • A thermometer
  • Can opener

Step 1 — Clean and Sanitise Your Equipment

This is the step most first-time brewers are tempted to rush — don't. The biggest cause of a failed or off-tasting batch isn't a bad recipe, it's bacteria getting into your brew from equipment that wasn't properly cleaned.

Use a no-rinse sanitiser if you have one, or wash thoroughly with hot soapy water, rinse well, and allow to air dry completely. Do not skip this step — it is the single most important thing you can do for quality.

Avoid scrubbing with anything abrasive — fine scratches in the plastic can harbour bacteria that survive future cleans.

Step 2 — Start Filling Your Fermenter

Add a small amount of cold water to your fermenter first — just enough to cover the bottom, roughly 2 litres. This makes it easier to mix in your extract in the next step without it sticking to the base.

Step 3 — Mix in Your Extract and Brew Enhancer

Sit your brewing extract can in a sink of warm water for 10–15 minutes first — this loosens it up and makes it much easier to pour.

Open the can and pour the extract into your fermenter, along with the brew enhancer sachet. Stir well with your spoon, being careful not to scratch the bottom of the vessel.

Don't worry if it looks lumpy at this stage — it will fully dissolve and ferment out over the coming days.

Step 4 — Top Up to 23 Litres

Continue topping up your fermenter with water, using hot or cold as needed, until you reach the 23-litre mark and land between 18°C and 21°C.

Getting the temperature right matters because your yeast needs to land in a comfortable range to get going properly. If your tap water tends to run warm, chill a few bottles of water in the fridge beforehand to bring the temperature down when topping up.

Step 5 — Add Your Yeast

Sprinkle the yeast sachet evenly across the top of the liquid — no need to stir it in immediately, just let it sit on top for 30 seconds, then give it one gentle stir to incorporate.

Fit the lid and airlock, and leave the brew somewhere stable to start fermenting.

A useful rule of thumb: even if your brew temperature isn't perfectly within range, getting the yeast in promptly matters more than waiting for ideal conditions. As long as you're roughly between 18°C and 32°C, go ahead and pitch the yeast.

Step 6 — Let It Ferment

Find a spot for your fermenter that's out of direct sunlight and holds a fairly steady temperature, ideally toward the lower end of 21°C–27°C.

Signs your fermentation is underway: a layer of foam on top of the brew, and sediment building up at the bottom of the vessel.

After a few days the foam will subside. At this point you can remove the lid briefly to check on things, then reseal.

As a general guide, fermentation is usually complete within 7 days. You'll know it's getting close when the airlock activity slows right down to barely a bubble every minute or two — that's your sign your beer is ready to bottle.

Step 7 — Bottle Your Beer

Rinse your bottles with cold water — for your first brew, a rinse is enough; sanitise them on future brews.

Open your tap, place a bottle underneath, and fill each one right to the brim. When you remove the bottle, the beer level will drop slightly, leaving the correct amount of headspace for carbonation.

Drop 1 to 1.5 carbonation drops into each bottle before sealing, then swing the tops on. The carbonation drops are what give your beer its fizz — without them you'll end up with a flat brew.

⚠️ A genuine safety note: glass bottles can occasionally crack or even explode if a brew is infected, over-primed, or bottled before fermentation has fully finished. This is rare if you've followed the steps above, but always store bottles somewhere safe (like a cupboard or garage shelf) rather than somewhere you'd be standing right next to them, just in case.

Step 8 — Wait and Condition

Store your bottles upright, away from direct sunlight, somewhere that stays at or above 18°C, for at least two weeks. This is where the carbonation actually happens — the yeast left in the bottle consumes the sugar from the carbonation drops and produces the fizz.

The two-week mark is the minimum, not the goal. Your beer will taste good at two weeks, but letting it condition for three to four weeks will noticeably improve the aroma, flavour, and head — the foam on top will be finer and longer-lasting the more time you give it.

Step 9 — Refrigerate and Enjoy

Once carbonation is complete (after at least two weeks of conditioning) move them to the fridge to chill before drinking.

Pour into a glass or drink straight from the bottle. And rinse your bottles out while they're still slightly moist after consuming; it makes cleaning for the next batch far easier.


Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know fermentation is actually finished? The most reliable sign is airlock activity slowing right down — from regular bubbling to barely one bubble every minute or two. Combined with the 7-day timeframe, this is a solid indicator your beer is ready to bottle.

My brew still has foam after a week — is that normal? Foam levels vary brew to brew. As long as airlock activity has clearly slowed and you're at or past the 7-day mark, your beer is ready regardless of whether a little foam is still present.

Can I reuse my fermenter for a spirits wash as well? Yes — thoroughly clean and sanitise between uses and the same fermenter works for both beer and fermenting washes for the BBP Instant Brew & Distill Kit.

How long will my finished beer keep? Properly sealed and stored away from heat and light, your bottled beer will keep well for several months, though most people find it doesn't last that long once it's ready to drink.

What if my bottles don't feel firm after two weeks? Give them more time — cooler storage temperatures slow carbonation down. Check again every few days; most batches firm up within three weeks at most.


Start you Backyard Brewery Journey today! Check out our simple kits here.