Northern Brewer homebrewing starter kit review
A kettle, a fermenter, a bottling setup and an IPA recipe, which is a rare gift that is genuinely complete.
The verdict
Give this kit to someone who likes beer and likes projects, because everything needed for the first batch is genuinely in the box including the recipe. Skip it for someone short on space or patience, because brewing day is several hours and the beer is not drinkable for weeks.
Northern Brewer Homebrewing Starter Kit with Equipment, Chinook IPA, 5 Gal
~$165
A full homebrewing starter kit with kettle, fermenter, bottling equipment and a Chinook IPA recipe, yielding five gallons.
Check price on AmazonSpecifications
| Yield | 5 gallons, filling 50 twelve ounce bottles |
|---|---|
| Recipe included | Chinook IPA, a single-hop American IPA |
| Fermenter | 6.5 gallon with spigot, lid and bubbler airlock |
| Kettle | 5 gallon stainless |
| Bottling | Bottling bucket with spigot assembly, bottle filler, Royal Crown capper and 60 caps |
| Measuring | Hydrometer, test jar and lab thermometer |
| Also included | 21 in stainless spoon, 5 ft clear tubing, oxygen wash cleaner and sanitiser, bottle brush |
Specifications above come from Northern Brewer's published feature list. Treat pricing as approximate, since Amazon pricing moves.
What it does well
- It is genuinely complete. The recipe, the sanitiser, the capper and the caps are all there, which is unusual and is what makes it work as a gift.
- A hydrometer and a thermometer are included, which are the two instruments that turn brewing from guessing into a process.
- Five gallons yields fifty bottles, so the first batch is enough to share and to learn from.
- A single-hop IPA is a good first recipe, because it teaches what one variable actually tastes like.
- The equipment carries over to every future batch, so only the recipe kit is a recurring cost.
Where it falls short
- Brewing day is several hours of active work, and cleaning is most of it. Anyone imagining a thirty minute hobby will not enjoy it.
- The beer is not ready for weeks. Fermenting and conditioning take time and there is no way to hurry them.
- Bottles are not included. Fifty bottles have to come from somewhere, and they need to be the kind that take a crown cap rather than a screw top.
- It needs a space that can hold a fermenter at a stable temperature for a couple of weeks, away from light.
- Sanitation is the entire craft. One careless step spoils five gallons, and beginners usually learn that by losing a batch.
What owners report
Reports on complete starter kits are consistently more positive than reports on piecing equipment together, and the reason is simple: nothing is missing on brewing day. The most common beginner failure is sanitation rather than recipe, which is why the included oxygen wash matters more than it looks.
The second theme is temperature. Fermenting too warm produces off flavours that beginners often blame on the recipe. A cupboard or a basement that stays cool and stable is worth more than any equipment upgrade.
The third is bottles. Fifty bottles is a lot to collect at short notice, and they must take crown caps. Saving bottles for a few weeks before the gift, or including a case, turns this from nearly complete into complete. If you are weighing this against a less involved present, our practical gift versus indulgent gift comparison is a useful frame.
Who it suits
- Beer drinkers who enjoy a project with a deadline and a result.
- Anyone who has said they want to try brewing.
- People with a cool, stable, dark space for a fermenter.
Who should skip it
- Anyone short on time, since brewing day is a real commitment.
- Small flats with nowhere stable to ferment.
- People who want a result the same day, where a pasta machine or a camera fits better.
Alternatives worth considering
Northern Brewer Brew. Share. Enjoy. HomeBrewing Starter Set, 5 Gallon
~$156
The same idea with a different included recipe, at a slightly lower price. Choose on which beer style the recipient actually drinks.
Check price on AmazonMARCATO Atlas 150 Classic Manual Pasta Maker
~$140
A making gift where dinner happens the evening it is opened rather than a month later.
Check price on AmazonVEVOR 14 in Pottery Wheel for Adults Beginners, 450W
~$175
For someone who wants to make objects rather than drinks, though unlike this kit it needs clay, space and a way to fire the results.
Check price on AmazonCommon questions
Is a homebrew kit a good gift?
For someone who likes beer and likes projects, yes, and a complete kit is much better than assembling equipment. The two things that put people off are the length of brewing day and the weeks of waiting, so give it to someone who enjoys both.
How long until the beer is drinkable?
Weeks rather than days. Fermentation takes a couple of weeks and bottle conditioning takes more, and neither can be rushed. It is worth saying so when you give it, so nobody opens a bottle too early and decides brewing is not for them.
Do I need to buy bottles?
Yes. The kit includes the capper and 60 caps but not the fifty bottles. They need to be the kind that take a crown cap rather than a screw top, so saving bottles in advance or including a case makes the gift complete.
What is the most common beginner mistake?
Sanitation, followed by fermenting too warm. The included oxygen wash handles the first if it is used properly on everything that touches the beer after the boil. The second needs a cool, stable spot rather than a warm kitchen.
Does the equipment work for other recipes?
Yes. The equipment is reusable and only the recipe kit is a recurring purchase, which is what makes a starter kit good value if the hobby sticks.
Keep reading
- Practical gift vs indulgent gift compared
- VEVOR pottery wheel review
- Marcato Atlas 150 review
- Breville Barista Express review
This review draws on published specifications, manufacturer figures and the consensus of verified owner reviews. We have not tested this product ourselves, and we say so rather than implying otherwise. Confirm current prices and specifications before buying. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you.