Bottling vs Kegging Homebrew: Pros and Cons Explained
If you've started making your own beer, you've probably reached the point where you need to choose how to store and serve it—bottling or kegging. Each method has its own pros and cons, and choosing between them depends on your brewing habits, space, and personal taste. This quick homebrewing guide will help you understand the basics so you can pick what works best for you.Let’s start with bottling, which is often the first choice for beginners. It’s cheaper to get started since all you need are clean bottles, caps, and a capper. Bottles are also pretty easy to find—just ask your friends to save some for you. Bottling lets you share your beer more easily, and it’s handy if you want to age your brew for a while.
But bottling can take a lot of time. Filling and capping each bottle one by one can be a bit of a chore, especially if you brew often. You also have to wait a couple of weeks for the beer to carbonate naturally in the bottle. Occasionally, bottles may overcarbonate if there’s too much sugar left behind, which can lead to messy situations.
Now, let’s talk about kegging. Kegging your beer means storing it in a reusable container (like a soda keg) and using CO2 to carbonate and serve it. It’s faster and cleaner once you’ve got your setup. Carbonation is more consistent, and you can start drinking your beer sooner compared to bottles.
However, kegging has a higher startup cost. You’ll need a keg, CO2 tank, regulator, hoses, and either a kegerator or a way to keep the beer cold. It also takes up more space, which might be an issue in smaller homes or apartments. And while kegs are great for serving beer at home, they’re not as portable as bottles if you want to take a few to a friend’s barbecue.
In the end, it boils down to your needs. If you’re brewing once in a while and want something simple and cheap, bottling might be all you need. If you brew often and enjoy having beer on tap, kegging might be worth the upfront investment. Whichever you choose, the most important thing is to enjoy the process—and the beer you’ve made!