Northern Brewer Homebrew Starter & Recipe Kit

Last updated: November 16, 2020

Northern Brewer Homebrew Starter & Recipe Kit
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We looked at the top Homebrew Kits and dug through the reviews from some of the most popular review sites. Through this analysis, we've determined the best Homebrew Kit you should buy.

Overall Take

For a large brew, you’ll find the five-gallon, Northern Brewer Homebrew Starter and Recipe Kit is the product to use. The items included are of the highest quality, and the kit produces beer within just three days. The instructions are not only in written form, but also on a DVD, and the recipe is fool-proof.

In our analysis of 47 expert reviews, the Northern Brewer Homebrew Starter & Recipe Kit placed 5th when we looked at the top 12 products in the category. For the full ranking, see below.

From The Manufacturer

20 YEARS. THOUSANDS OF BREWERS The Brewery in a Box is our top-of-the-line starter kit. We’ve run it through countless iterations, tweaking the equipment and ingredients every time to make it as perfect as we possibly can.The result? An exhaustively researched brewing formula: Top-quality equipment 2 full-size glass carboys (fermentors) Your choice of recipe Much more Brew In A Box THE BREWERY IN A BOX CUTS NO CORNERS This is what you buy if you want to make beer that tastes fresh-from-the-tap of a premium brewery, right from the first batch. Your hand-selected beer recipe kit includes: Premium grains and malt Flavorful & aromatic hops Expert-selected yeast Brew In A Box EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO BREW Along with absolutely everything you need to brew, this starter kit also comes with the very best resources for learning to make craft beer: Print instructions with visuals Digital manuals Online videos DESIGNED BY BREWMASTERS FOR THE BEST BREWING EXPERIENCE Brew In A Box DESIGNED Brew In A Box SERVING THE HOMEBREWER COMMUNITY SINCE 1993 Talking about brewing is almost as fun as brewing; having a beer while talking about brewing gives it a run for its money. We believe this conversation is important, ongoing, dynamic, and bridges the gaps of age, gender, politics, etc. We bring homebrew to the masses (classes, demonstrations, competitions, beer festivals, and advertising outside hobby publications), Northern Brewer has been in the thick of it since 1993. THE PERFECT STARTER KIT FOR CRAFT BEER ENTHUSIASTS We’ve built this all-inclusive kit to be fun and foolproof with some of the most trusted instruction in homebrewing. Rest assured that no matter what your method of learning is, your first homebrew is sure to be a success. Our Deluxe Brewing Starter Kit rewards the brewer with a clearer, clean-tasting beer. WATCH. LEARN. ENJOY. Our Brewmasters are very passionate about brewing and want you to have an amazing brewing experience. Watch our detailed step by step brewmaster videos so you too can brew your best. Someday we want homebrewing to be as common a household craft in America as vegetable gardening, and we know that our hobby/craft/shared passion/obsession won’t get there through complacency.

Expert Reviews


What experts liked

An all-inclusive package containing glasses, thermometers, and even cleaning supplies. Kit produces five gallons of high-quality beer in just three days. Easy directions
Includes two glass carboys for two-step fermentation, excellent instructional DVD, auto-siphon
This kit provides (almost) everything you need to make an American IPA with Chinook hops. These hops lend a herbal, acidic hop punch and are often used when dry hopping, according to BeerAdvocate.
- Heavy
It comes with a instruction, a DVD and recipe kit
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Brewery in a Box put this together with the highest quality products with the brewers in mind. These kits contain everything you need for quick, clean, and accurate execution of your craft beer premium and hops.
The kit has every component you will ever need as a newbie to get started with making beers that will taste as if professionals made them. Also included in the kit are full-proof instruction to guarantee the success of your very first home beer.
One good thing about this kit is that, while it’s very suitable for beginners, it also has high-quality components that would be useful additions to an experienced home brewer’s arsenal.
The extract makes it easier and faster to make your beer. Additionally, the ingredients for Chinook IPA offer high quality, and the flavor follows suit. That's as long as you follow the instructions, though!

What experts didn't like

It's on the expensive side
It's expensive
The only separate items that need to be purchased are glass bottles for use with pry-off caps and a five gallon kettle.
- Heavy
Missing bottles and stainless steel kettle
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The only things not included are a kettle and beer bottles.
Gallon brew kettle is not included
The only things missing from this home brewing kit that prevent it from being a true “out of the box” home brewing system are a kettle, and of course, bottles. Neither of these omissions is as bad as they sound, though, since most home brew kits don’t include these items.
Leaking during the bottling process also seems to be somewhat commonplace.

Our Expert Consultant

Julie Chernoff
Culinary Expert

Julie Chernoff is a long-time member of Les Dames d’Escoffier (past president of the Chicago Chapter, and current co-chair of the LDEI Legacy Awards Committee), the Association of Food Journalists (AFJ) and the International Association of Culinary Professionals.

Chernoff is the dining editor of Better, a lifestyle website and print magazine. Her journalism started in the test kitchens of Weight Watchers Magazine. She holds a BA in English from Yale University and is a graduate of the California Culinary Academy. She has spent the last few decades styling, photographing, teaching, developing recipes, editing, thinking and writing about food.

View our Homebrew Kit buying guide for in-depth advice and recommendations.

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