Northern Brewer Beer Making Kit Review (Updated | Apr 7th)

Northern Brewer’s Brew. Share.

Enjoy. Starter Set stands out as one of the most beginner-friendly all-in-one homebrew kits on the market, and B07Q38WQ91 includes the crowd-pleasing Hank’s Hefeweizen recipe.

This kit is ideal for first-time brewers who want a complete, no-fuss setup with clear instructions and quality equipment. The 6.5-gallon fermentor with spigot simplifies transfers, and the durable stainless steel kettle is a standout.

The trade-off is bulk — it’s not compact for small kitchens. Still, it delivers consistent, tasty beer with minimal learning curve.

This Northern Brewer starter kit (B0765CZ6P9) is nearly identical to others in the line but features the Chinook IPA recipe, making it a solid pick for hop lovers diving into homebrewing. It’s best suited for beginners who want bold, modern American flavors right out of the gate.

The kit includes all essential tools — from a stainless kettle to bottling gear — and uses the same reliable 6.5-gallon spigoted fermentor. While the single-hop IPA is approachable, it may lack complexity for seasoned palates.

The main trade-off is the same as other kits: limited upgrade potential without additional purchases.

Northern Brewer’s Nut Brown Dark Ale Extract Kit stands out for its authentic English-style profile, delivering a balanced blend of toasty, fruity, and caramelly notes in every batch. Ideal for beginners and homebrewers seeking reliable, flavorful results without advanced techniques.

The all-in-one kit simplifies the brewing process, yielding 5 gallons of rich, deep-copper ale in about four weeks. While it requires standard 5-gallon equipment not included, its consistent performance and high-quality ingredients make it a solid foundation for learning or batch-sharing.

The trade-off is limited recipe complexity—perfect for entry-level enthusiasts but less exciting for seasoned brewers.

The Siphonless 1 Gallon Craft Beer Making Starter Kit is a smart entry point for new brewers intimidated by traditional setups. Northern Brewer eliminates the siphon step with its innovative Little Big Mouth Bubbler, reducing contamination risks and simplifying transfers.

Designed for apartment dwellers or casual hobbyists, it requires minimal space and tools, making it perfect for low-commitment experimentation. The included American Wheat IPA recipe offers a crisp, hoppy introduction to craft styles.

However, the 1-gallon yield limits sharing, and you’ll need to source bottles and a kettle separately. It’s convenient but not fully all-inclusive.

The Northern Brewer Bavarian Hefeweizen Extract Kit stands out for delivering an authentic, traditional German-style wheat beer with minimal effort. Ideal for beginners and intermediate homebrewers, it produces a cloudy, aromatic 5-gallon batch rich in banana and clove notes from quality German yeast.

The all-inclusive ingredients make it easy to start brewing immediately, though it requires some basic equipment not included. While the flavor profile is excellent, those seeking crystal-clear beer may be disappointed—this kit embraces traditional cloudiness as a feature, not a flaw.

The Northern Brewer Brew. Share.

Enjoy. Starter Set is one of the most complete entry-level homebrew kits on the market, perfect for true beginners with no prior experience.

What sets it apart is the inclusion of a spigot-equipped fermenter and bottling bucket—rare in starter kits—which simplifies transfer and reduces contamination risk. It comes with the approachable Block Party Amber Ale recipe, delivering a balanced, crowd-pleasing flavor.

While the kit is comprehensive, the single recipe limits variety, and the plastic fermenter, though durable, isn’t as long-lasting as glass or stainless steel options.

This Northern Brewer Irish Red Ale kit stands out for its simplicity and consistent results, making it ideal for beginners and casual home brewers. It delivers a smooth, balanced beer without aggressive hop bitterness or high alcohol, perfect for those new to brewing or seeking a sessionable ale.

The six-week timeline includes aging, which is reasonable but not instant. While it lacks the complexity of all-grain kits, that’s the trade-off for ease and reliability.

Includes malt extract, hops, yeast, and clear instructions—everything needed for 5 gallons of crowd-pleasing beer.

The Northern Brewer Siphonless 1 Gallon Kit is a standout for first-time brewers who want a simple, clean process without the hassle of siphoning. Its siphonless glass fermenter reduces contamination risk and equipment needs, making it perfect for small spaces or apartment brewing.

It includes an Irish Red recipe, capper, caps, and customizable labels, offering a complete starter experience. However, it requires additional bottles and a 2-gallon kettle not included.

While the 1-gallon batch size limits volume, it’s ideal for testing recipes or brewing occasionally without commitment.

The Northern Brewer Siphonless 1 Gallon Craft Beer Making Starter Kit stands out for simplifying the brewing process without sacrificing quality. Its siphonless glass fermenter eliminates transfer steps, reducing contamination risk—ideal for beginners or educators introducing brewing.

The included Kama Citra IPA recipe delivers a crisp, hoppy beer that rivals commercial craft brews. While the kit is beginner-friendly, it lacks bottles and a brew kettle, which must be sourced separately—a minor gap that could frustrate true first-timers.

Still, it’s a smart, streamlined entry into all-grain-adjacent brewing.

This 2-Pack Holiday Brews Recipe Kit from Northern Brewer delivers seasonal charm with minimal effort, perfect for gift-giving or festive home brewing. The Smashing Pumpkin Ale and Festivus Miracle Ale offer rich, spiced profiles that capture holiday flavors authentically—no artificial aftertaste.

Each makes a full gallon, allowing experimentation without large commitment. While it’s a recipe-only bundle, experienced brewers will appreciate the balanced formulations and reliable yeast performance.

However, beginners may struggle without additional equipment, as fermenters, bottles, and kettles are sold separately. Great for flavor variety, but not a complete starter solution.