Fresh wort kits have revolutionised homebrewing for thousands of beer enthusiasts. They make it possible to brew real craft beer in a simple, time-saving way – without mashing or boiling. But not all fresh wort kits are equal. Today there are two main types on the market: 15 litre kits that have to be topped up with water, and Brewshop's 20 litre kits, which are 100 % finished wort, ready to ferment. The difference is bigger than many think – and is largely about quality.
15L fresh wort kits: simple, but a compromise
15 litre fresh wort kits come with 15 litres of ready-brewed wort, which has to be topped up with 5 litres of water at home to reach the correct volume of 20 litres. This may seem practical, but there are several drawbacks:
-
Dependent on your water quality at home – which varies widely and affects flavour, aroma and fermentation conditions.
-
No water adjustment – you risk poorer mouthfeel and unbalanced flavour profiles.
-
Increased risk of contamination when water is added afterwards.
-
Made for lower shipping costs and higher margins (?), not to deliver maximum quality.
-
For beginners it can be tempting to choose this type of kit, but the result is rarely on a par with what professional brewers expect – precisely because the water, which makes up as much as 95 % of the beer, is not controlled.
Water chemistry – the very foundation of good beer
Water is not just a base for beer – it is an active ingredient that affects flavour, mouthfeel, fermentation and aroma. Different beer styles require different mineral balances in the water, and professional breweries adjust their water with salts such as calcium sulphate (gypsum), calcium chloride, sodium bicarbonate and more to suit the beer style. A classic pilsner, for example, needs soft water with a low mineral content, while an IPA needs more sulphate to bring out the hop profile.
Poorly adjusted or impure water can give a metallic taste, make the beer flat or stress the yeast. That is why it is crucial that the wort you use is based on the right water profile. In Brewshop's 20L fresh wort kits this has already been done by professional brewers – you get optimal water chemistry that gives the beer the right balance, a clean flavour and greater stability in both fermentation and the end result. This is a big advantage compared with kits where you have to add your own water – which is often not ideally adjusted for brewing beer.
20L fresh wort kits: fully water-adjusted and brewed by the pros
Brewshop's 20L fresh wort kits are something else entirely. Here you get 20 litres of 100 % finished wort – precisely water-adjusted and professionally brewed by some of Norway's best microbreweries, such as Austmann and Amundsen Bryggeri.
-
No water to be added – you get exactly the wort the brewery made, ready to ferment.
-
Perfect water adjustment with the right salts for flavour, aroma, mouthfeel and fermentation conditions.
-
Safety and purity – no risk of contamination from water added at home.
Yeast and any additions such as dry hops are included – and all you need is a fermenter. These kits are made for those who value simplicity without compromising on quality.
As long as you control the temperature during fermentation and keep everything clean, you have a starting point for making beer as good as the very best breweries – while being guaranteed a fresh product, something you do not always get in the shop or at Vinmonopolet. This applies especially to aromatic, hop-forward beers, which are perishable even if a long best-before date suggests otherwise.
Brewshop's 20L kits – in a class of their own
Whether you are new to the game or an experienced homebrewer, you will notice the difference. Brewshop's 20L fresh wort kits from Austmann and Amundsen give you professionally brewed, fresh and water-adjusted wort – ready to use, with no shortcuts. You do not have to worry about water quality, oxygen or the wrong mixing ratio.
See our range of 20L fresh wort kits.
