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Northern Brewer Brew Share Enjoy Starter Set Review

Updated 2026-09-17 · BrewGearCalc

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Northern Brewer Brew Share Enjoy Starter Set

Northern Brewer

It bundles fermentation equipment with an included recipe for $155.99, removing the research a brand-new brewer has not done yet on what gear actually matters for a first batch.

$155.99 Check price on Amazon

Price last checked at publication and changes often.

What this review is and what it is not

This is not the result of personal hands-on testing, and nobody on this site has brewed with this exact starter set. This review is built from the published product listing, what the bundle includes and does not include according to that listing, and the pattern found across verified owner reviews of Northern Brewer starter kits generally, and it says so directly rather than implying first-hand use that did not happen.

What a starter kit actually solves

The hardest part of a first brewing attempt is rarely the brewing itself, it is knowing which of dozens of possible equipment pieces you actually need for a first batch, in what sizes, and how they fit together. A complete starter kit like this one solves that specific problem by bundling a matched set of fermentation gear with an included recipe, so a first-time brewer is not separately researching fermenter size, airlock type, sanitizer choice and a recipe all at once before ever starting a batch.

At $155.99, this is priced as a complete route into the hobby rather than a discount bundle, and that is the honest way to think about it: you are paying for curation and completeness, not necessarily the lowest possible price on each individual component inside it.

Buying a kit versus buying pieces separately

It is genuinely true that buying a fermenting bucket, a hydrometer, a sanitizer and a recipe kit separately can add up to less than $155.99 in some combinations. But that comparison assumes a buyer already knows which fermenter size to buy, which sanitizer is appropriate for the equipment they own, and which recipe kit matches their taste and skill level, and that research takes real time a brand-new brewer has usually not done yet. The honest way to frame this tradeoff is that buying pieces separately can cost less in dollars, but it costs more in research time and carries a higher risk of buying the wrong piece the first time around.

What the listing tells you to check

Because the exact contents of a bundled starter kit can be adjusted or updated by the manufacturer over time, always check the current listing for this specific set to confirm what is included right now, particularly the recipe style, fermenter size and whether a hydrometer and sanitizer are part of the box. This review will not state a specific item list beyond what is confirmed in the product name and category, since a starter kit's exact contents are the kind of detail that can change and should be verified at the point of purchase rather than assumed from a review.

• Confirm the recipe style included matches a beer you actually want to drink, since the recipe is often the single differentiator between similarly priced Northern Brewer starter kits.
• Confirm the fermenter size in the kit fits a standard 5 gallon batch if that is your intended batch size, since starter kits can be sized differently between listings.

What verified owner feedback consistently raises

Across owner reviews of complete starter kits in this category, the recurring praise is exactly the completeness this review describes: not having to guess at compatible pieces for a first batch. The recurring caution is closer to what this review already states plainly, that the per-piece cost inside a bundle is not always the lowest available price, and that a returning brewer building a second setup often finds it cheaper to buy replacement pieces individually once they know exactly what they want.

How this fits into a first year of brewing

A starter kit like this one is reasonably expected to cover your first one to a handful of batches using the included fermenter and any gear it contains, not your entire brewing future. As you keep brewing, expect to add a proper thermometer if the kit does not already include one you trust, a second fermenter so a new batch can start before the first is finished aging, and eventually equipment for whichever direction you take the hobby, whether that is kegging, all-grain brewing or both. Thinking of this kit as the on-ramp rather than the complete toolkit sets the right expectation from the start.

Who should buy this, and who should not

Buy this if you are brewing for the first time and would rather pay a bundled price for a curated, matched set of gear plus a recipe than spend hours researching each individual piece before you have even brewed a batch. Skip it if you already know exactly which fermenter, hydrometer and sanitizer you want, since buying those specific pieces individually can cost less once you already have the knowledge a first-time buyer typically does not. It is also not the right purchase for someone who already brews and just needs to replace one broken piece of gear, since paying for a full bundle to replace a single item is an inefficient way to solve that problem.

Why the included recipe matters more than it looks

A recipe kit bundled into a starter set is doing more work than it first appears. Beyond providing the fermentables and hops for a first batch, it removes an entire category of first-timer decisions, ingredient sourcing, recipe scaling, and matching a style to available equipment, that would otherwise have to happen before a beginner ever gets to the actual brewing steps. That is a meaningful part of what the $155.99 price is paying for, and it is worth treating the recipe choice as a real factor in the purchase decision rather than an afterthought to the equipment.

Because the specific recipe bundled with a given starter kit can change, confirm the current style on the listing before buying if you have a strong preference. A kit brewed around a style you do not enjoy drinking is a worse first experience than the equipment quality alone would suggest, since enjoying the finished beer is a large part of what keeps a new brewer motivated to brew a second batch.

Sanitation habits the kit cannot teach on its own

No bundle, however complete, replaces the discipline of consistent sanitation, and that habit matters more to a successful first batch than any individual piece of equipment in the box. Everything that touches the beer after the boil, the fermenter, the airlock, the hydrometer, the bottling gear, needs to be sanitized every time, not just at the start of the process. A product like Five Star Star San (starsan-32) at $28.98 is a common no-rinse sanitizer choice alongside a kit like this one, and building the sanitizing step into every session from the first batch onward matters more than which specific kit got you started.

What a starter set typically does not include

A bundle framed around fermentation equipment is generally built to get a batch from boil to bottle, not to supply every possible piece a brewer might eventually want. Bottles to package the finished beer into are commonly a separate purchase from an equipment-and-recipe starter set, since bottle count and style, amber versus swing top, vary by preference and are often already on hand from commercial beer for a first-time brewer. Ingredients beyond the single included recipe are also not part of the ongoing cost: every batch after the first one requires buying a new recipe kit or individual ingredients, which is an ongoing cost distinct from the one-time equipment purchase. Confirm exactly what ships against the current listing rather than assume a specific starter set includes bottles, a capper or extra ingredient kits beyond the first recipe.

The three tiers

These are three genuinely different builds, not the same product at three prices. Buy the tier that matches how much you already know you will use it.

Everything else worth considering

Northern Brewer

Northern Brewer Starter Kit with Chinook IPA

Full equipment kit supplied with a Chinook IPA recipe.

$164.99 View on Amazon

Craft A Brew

Craft A Brew Oktoberfest Beer Making Kit

One gallon complete equipment and ingredient kit, a low cost way to find out whether you enjoy the process.

$54.95 View on Amazon

Mr. Beer

Mr. Beer 2 Gallon Craft Beer Making Kit

The simplest possible entry kit. It makes real beer, though the fermenter is small and the process skips most of what all-grain brewing teaches.

$59.95 View on Amazon

BrewDemon

BrewDemon Craft Beer Kit Pro (2 gallon conical)

Two gallon conical starter kit, which lets a beginner dump trub the way a stainless conical does.

$135.00 View on Amazon

FastRack

FastRack 21 inch Stainless Brewing Spoon

Long stainless spoon that reaches the bottom of a boil kettle without putting your hand over the steam.

$10.05 View on Amazon

Home Brew Ohio

Star San 32 oz and PBW 1 lb Bundle

The cleaner and the sanitiser together, which is the pair every brewer needs and beginners often confuse.

$40.79 View on Amazon

Related on BrewGearCalc

• How to brew all-grain
• Extract vs all-grain
• Best fermenters
• Best hydrometers
• Priming sugar calculator
• How to read a hydrometer

Frequently asked questions

What comes in the Northern Brewer Brew Share Enjoy Starter Set?

It is sold as a complete equipment and recipe kit for a first brewing attempt, but exact bundled contents can change, so check the current product listing to confirm what ships with this specific set right now, particularly fermenter size, recipe style, and whether a hydrometer and sanitizer are included. This review does not state a specific item list beyond what the current listing confirms, since bundle contents are the kind of detail that should be verified at purchase.

Is it cheaper to buy brewing equipment separately instead of a starter kit?

Sometimes, in dollar terms, if you already know exactly which fermenter size, hydrometer and sanitizer you need. But that comparison assumes research a first-time brewer typically has not done yet, and buying the wrong piece the first time costs more than the price difference. For a true first batch, the bundled price buys curation and completeness alongside the physical gear, which has real value even when the per-item cost is not the lowest available.

How many batches does a starter kit cover?

A kit like this is reasonably expected to get you through your first one to a handful of batches using its included fermenter and gear, not your entire brewing future. As you continue brewing, plan to add a second fermenter, a dedicated thermometer if needed, and eventually gear specific to whichever direction you take the hobby, such as kegging equipment or all-grain brewing tools, since a starter kit is an on-ramp rather than a complete permanent toolkit.

Does a starter kit come with a hydrometer?

That depends on the specific bundle and can change over time, so check the current listing to confirm before assuming either way. If your kit does not include one, a basic glass hydrometer kit such as the Fermtech Glass Triple Scale Hydrometer Kit at $14.99 is an inexpensive add. A hydrometer is essential regardless of the kit, since it is how you confirm fermentation has actually finished before packaging.

What should I add after finishing my first starter kit batch?

Most brewers next add a second fermenter so a new batch can start fermenting while the first is still conditioning, plus a dedicated digital or waterproof thermometer if the kit did not already include one you trust. From there, the direction depends on your interests: kegging equipment if you want to skip bottling, or an all-grain system and grain mill if you want more control over recipes than extract kits allow.

How do I know if fermentation has finished before bottling my first batch?

Stable gravity readings across several consecutive days on a hydrometer, not a single reading and not just the number of days elapsed, is the only real check that fermentation has finished. Bottling before that point, or adding too much priming sugar at packaging, is how bottle bombs happen. Take a reading, wait a couple of days, and take another; only proceed to bottling once the two readings match.

Researched from published brewing formulas, manufacturer specifications and verified owner reviews. This is general guidance, not professional advice.