Home Brew Supplies FAQs
What home brewing equipment do I need to start brewing at home?
Home brewing equipment is easiest to think of by process stage: brewing, fermentation, then packaging. The same core setup covers beer, cider and wine – the differences are usually in ingredients and timings, not the fundamentals of the kit.
A solid starter setup includes:
- for all-grain brewing, you’ll need something to brew in (a brew kettle or an all-in-one),
- a fermenter (bucket, PET or stainless),
- and a way to package (bottling accessories or a keg).
Add a couple of measuring tools (thermometer + hydrometer), plus a cleaning/sanitising kit, and you’ve got the core equipment for home brewing at home.
Is it cheaper to buy equipment for beer brewing as a starter kit or separately?
Often, a starter kit works out cheaper upfront because you’re getting the core home beer brewing equipment in one bundle. Buying separately can be better value if you already know what you want (or you’re likely to upgrade quickly), because you can put the budget into the bits that genuinely make brew days smoother.
Starter kit usually makes sense if you:
- want a simple “open the box and brew” route (especially with extract kits)
- don’t yet know whether you’ll bottle or move to kegging later
- would rather spend time brewing than comparing every component
Buying separately usually makes sense if you:
- already know your batch size and preferred setup
- want to prioritise fermentation (often the best place to spend money early)
- want to avoid ending up with extras you won’t use after a couple of batches
If you’re starting with extract kits, our beer kit equipment options are a tidy “get brewing now” route – then you can upgrade piece by piece once you’ve got a couple of brews under your belt and know what you’d change next time.
What equipment do I need for all-grain brewing vs extract brewing?
Extract brewing needs the basics: something to boil in (brew kettle or all-in-one), a fermenter, packaging kit (bottling accessories or a keg), plus measuring tools and cleaning/sanitising.
All-grain brewing uses the same core setup, but adds mash gear: a BIAB bag + kettle, a mash tun, or an all-in-one built for all-grain (with a way to separate wort from grain).
If you want the simplest route in, start with extract. If you want more control and don’t mind a longer brew day, go all-grain.
What are the best brands for brewing supplies?
We stock the home brew equipment brands we trust on our own brew days. A few of the names you’ll see a lot on our shelves:
- Kegland – great value across pressure fermentation and dispensing bits and pieces.
- Grainfather – all-in-one electric brewing systems that keep brew day simple.
- BrewTools – higher-end, modular systems for when you’re going beyond “bucket and boiler”.
Can I use the same brewing equipment for beer, cider, and wine?
Yes – in most cases, you can use the same core brewing equipment for beer, cider and wine. Fermenters, airlocks, siphons/tubing, and measuring tools (thermometer + hydrometer) all carry across nicely, and the same goes for bottling accessories if you’re packaging in bottles.
The main thing is cleaning and sanitising properly, and being mindful that some plastics and soft tubing can hang on to strong aromas. If you’re jumping between hop-heavy beers and something more delicate, it can be worth keeping a couple of small bits (like tubing or bottling wands) dedicated.
Equipment for a Microbrewery – Scaling Up Without Starting Over
A lot of the equipment that works for serious homebrewing works just as well at micro brewery scale — and that’s no accident. The same principles apply, what changes is the volume, build quality expectations, and how often the kit needs to perform.
At The Malt Miller, a large portion of the brewing equipment stocked here is used regularly by small commercial and pilot breweries alongside homebrew customers – particularly for supplementary kit, consumables and smaller production runs. If you’re looking for a specific piece of kit, a second opinion on what suits your setup, or just want to know what’s in stock, the team is happy to help – we’ve been supplying UK brewers at every scale for over 15 years.
The Best Microbrewery Equipment at The Malt Miller
- 100L Three-Vessel Electric Brewing System with HERMS: Fully pump-driven, stainless throughout, with precise mash temperature control via HERMS. One of the most capable pieces of UK micro brewery equipment available at this scale — replicates a professional brewery layout with no manual liquid movement required, designed for repeatable results batch after batch.
- Brewtools Modular Brewing Systems: Stainless, modular and built for regular commercial use. Add vessels and components as production grows rather than replacing the whole setup when batch sizes change.
- Stainless Steel Pressure Fermenters: Tri-clamp compatible throughout, built for repeated use, and considerably easier to keep genuinely clean over time than plastic. Conical and unitank options available.
- Tri-Clamp Fittings and Stainless Valves: Stocked with no minimum order, making The Malt Miller a practical micro brewing equipment supplier for smaller breweries sourcing consumables and spares.
Where can I buy micro brewery equipment in the UK?
You can buy UK micro brewery equipment at The Malt Miller – from complete brewing systems through to consumables and spares, with no minimum order requirements. We carry Brewtools, Brewbuilt and KegLand alongside our own stainless range, and have been helping UK brewers at every scale put their setups together for over 15 years. If you want to talk through what suits your setup, drop the team a message.
