These days, homebrewers have access to a wide variety of malt extracts. These include hopped beer kits and  concentrated brewers worts. It also includes hopped and unhopped malt extract in both liquid and dried form.  

BYO contacted the manufacturers and compiled a chart of every beer kit and malt extract available in North America — our Ultimate Ex-tract Chart. 

Hopped Beer Kits

Most hopped beer kits are designed to make beer using the no-boil method. The extract is simply heated in a small amount of water to Pasteurization temperature (160 °F/71 °C) and held for a short amount of time. The wort is then cooled, diluted to working strength and pitched with the supplied yeast.  

In the hopped beer kit section, we list the amount of extract in each kit, the amount of yeast provided and the amount of beer the kit is designed to yield. For most kits, the level of bitterness (in IBUs), color (in °Lovibond) and percent alcohol by volume (ABV) are also listed. The bitterness and color values refers to the beer, when made to the specified volume, not the extract itself. (i.e. If you make more or less beer, these values will change.) The percent alcohol is an estimate based on the projected final gravity, given an average fermentation.  

Concentrated Brewers Worts

Most of these kits contain lightly concentrated wort that brewers add water to and then ferment, similar to a wine kit. 

For each type of concentrated wort, we give the amount supplied by the kit — in either pounds (and kg) or gallons (and liters) — and the amount of yeast included. All concentrated brewers worts are designed to make 6 gallons (23 L) of beer. In most cases, the IBUs of the final beer is also given. 

Dried and Liquid Malt Extracts

Finally, we list individual types of dried and liquid malt extract. For each extract, the color is given at a specific wort gravity. For hopped malt extracts, the level of bitterness (in IBUs) is also given. For some of the extracts, the grains used to make the extract are listed.  

Making Extract Kits and Extract Beers

You can make these kits per the manufacturers’ in-structions with success, or you can modify them to suit your needs. See Marlon Lang’s article, “Kick Up Your Kit,” in the March 2004 issue, for our guide to customizing your kit beer. Extract users may also want to review “Method to Your Madness,” in the September 2006 issue, for an outline of the different methods of making extract beer on their stovetop. 

However you approach your extract beer making, have fun with the process and enjoy the final product. Cheers!

File >> extract chart.pdf