Best Mead Making Kits for Beginners in 2026
Last updated July 22, 2026
Mead — honey wine — is one of the oldest fermented beverages on earth and one of the most forgiving for beginners. You need honey, water, yeast, and a vessel. That's it. A good mead making kit bundles everything you need to get started and removes the intimidation of sourcing equipment and ingredients separately. If you already homebrew beer or make kombucha, you'll find mead surprisingly simple.
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North Mountain Supply 1-Gallon Mead Making Kit
Our Top Picks
1. North Mountain Supply 1-Gallon Mead Making Kit
What we like
- Everything included except honey and bottles (1-gallon batch)
- Quality glass jug, airlock, and stopper
- Includes mead yeast and yeast nutrient
- Step-by-step instructions included
- Reputable homebrewing supplier
Watch out for
- Honey not included — add ~$10-15 for local honey
- Bottles not included
Our verdict: North Mountain Supply is a trusted homebrewing outfit, and their 1-gallon mead kit is thorough and well-made — the yeast and nutrient are already in the box, so you only add honey and bottles. A pleasant, beginner-friendly path to your first gallon of mead. This is the kit most first-timers should reach for.
2. Blue Ox Brewing Deluxe Mead Making Kit
What we like
- Includes storage bottles for the finished mead
- Comes with a hydrometer to track fermentation
- Extra yeast nutrients included
- Detailed instructions for first-time mead makers
Watch out for
- Honey not included
- Higher price point
Our verdict: If you want the most complete box on this list, the Blue Ox Deluxe kit throws in the extras most starter kits skip — storage bottles, a hydrometer, and extra yeast nutrients. That hydrometer is genuinely useful for knowing when fermentation is finished. Just add honey and you're set.
3. FastRack Shepherd Made Mead Making Kit
What we like
- Most affordable complete kit on this list
- Includes mead yeast and yeast nutrient — important for healthy fermentation
- Clear 1-gallon glass fermentation jar included
- Airlocks and rubber stopper included
Watch out for
- Bottles not included
- Honey not included
Our verdict: A solid budget kit that still includes the mead yeast and nutrient many cheaper kits skip. The glass fermentation jar lets you watch the airlock bubble away, and at this price it's the lowest-risk way to try your first batch. Good kit for anyone curious about mead without a big outlay.
4. Craft a Brew Mead Making Kit
What we like
- Nice gift packaging — popular as a present
- Includes recipes for traditional, melomel (fruit), and cyser (apple) mead
- Quality glass jug with handle
- Sanitizer included
Watch out for
- No yeast nutrient in base kit
- Recipe cards could be more detailed
Our verdict: The Craft a Brew kit stands out for its recipe variety and presentation. The fruit mead (melomel) recipe is a great way to use seasonal produce from your garden. A popular gift pick for fermentation enthusiasts.
What to Look for in a Mead Making Kit
Vessel size
Most beginner mead kits use a 1-gallon jug, which makes about 5 bottles of mead. This is a great starting size — small enough that a failure isn't devastating, but large enough to get a real sense of the process. One-gallon kits are easier to store and handle than 5-gallon carboys. Once you're hooked, scaling up to 5-gallon batches is natural.
Airlock quality
The airlock lets CO2 escape during fermentation while keeping oxygen out. Better kits include a 3-piece airlock and rubber stopper that fits snugly. Cheap airlocks can leak or let in contaminants. The airlock is also your fermentation activity monitor — you can literally watch it bubbling.
Yeast type
Beginner kits typically include a Lalvin EC-1118 (champagne yeast) or Lalvin 71B (fruit wine yeast). EC-1118 ferments powerfully and produces dry mead. 71B is more forgiving and retains some residual sweetness. If the kit lets you choose, 71B is friendlier for first batches.
What's included vs. not
Most kits require you to supply honey (typically 2-3 lbs per gallon for a traditional mead). Check whether honey is included — most starter kits don't include it. Also check for yeast nutrient — mead ferments better with it, and not all kits include it.
Frequently Asked Questions
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