Northern Brewer Big Mouth Bubbler EVO 2 with Harness, 5 Gallon Glass Review (2026)

Who this fermenter suits

The Big Mouth Bubbler line from Northern Brewer solves a real annoyance with traditional narrow neck carboys, which is that you cannot get a hand or a brush inside to clean them properly. This EVO 2 version is a 5 gallon glass fermenter with a 5.25 inch wide mouth opening, sold here with a carrying harness included, which suits homebrewers who have dealt with the anxiety of lifting a full 40-plus pound glass vessel by the neck alone. It fits brewers who want the oxygen barrier and inert feel of glass over plastic but who have been put off glass carboys in the past specifically because of how awkward and risky they are to move once full of beer or cider.

Specs and design explained in plain English

Northern Brewer describes the EVO 2 as hand-formed from extra thick glass, which is meant to eliminate oxygen permeation through the vessel wall compared with thinner glass or plastic that can slowly let oxygen in over a long secondary. The wide 5.25 inch mouth is the main design change from a standard carboy, letting you reach in for cleaning and making transfers in and out faster since liquid and sediment are not squeezing through a narrow neck. A taller, narrower body than some competing wide mouth designs is intended to reduce headspace and the amount of beer left behind during transfers, and the carboy includes a universal lid along with gallon graduation marks molded into the glass so you can gauge volume without a separate measuring tool.

Living with it day to day

Northern Brewer positions the 5 gallon Big Mouth Bubbler primarily as a secondary fermenter, though it can serve as a primary for smaller batches where the reduced headspace actually helps by limiting the oxygen exposed to the beer's surface. The carrying harness is the feature that changes daily handling the most: instead of gripping the neck or trying to hug a slippery, full glass vessel, the harness distributes the weight and gives you real handles, which the manufacturer specifically recommends using for safety. After use, the straps get wet and need to be hung to dry fully before storage, since damp fabric harnesses left balled up in a cabinet can start to mildew, which is a small but real maintenance step glass-only fermenters do not require.

Honest trade-offs and how it compares

This wide mouth harness bundle costs more than a standard narrow neck glass carboy of the same 5 gallon size, and more than the same Big Mouth Bubbler sold without a harness, so you are paying specifically for the safety and convenience upgrade rather than a difference in fermentation performance. Against plastic wide mouth fermenters like a Fermonster or similar PET options, glass avoids the risk of oxygen slowly permeating through the vessel wall and the risk of scratches harboring bacteria, but it is heavier and can still break if dropped, which is exactly the risk the harness is designed to reduce. If you already own a narrow neck carboy and a hauler strap you are happy with, the upgrade here is mainly about mouth width for easier cleaning rather than a completely different experience.

Verdict and who should pick something else

Choose this if you want a glass fermenter but have been nervous about lifting a full one, or if you specifically want an easy to clean wide mouth over a narrow neck carboy. It is a sensible upgrade for anyone who has had a close call moving glass equipment before. If cost is the priority and you are comfortable with a narrow neck carboy and a separate hauler strap, you can save money going that route instead. Brewers who want to avoid glass entirely, whether for weight or breakage concerns, should look at a plastic wide mouth fermenter or a stainless conical instead of this carboy.

Frequently asked questions