FAQs — Shipping, Returns & Brewing Help

I've never brewed before. Where should I start?

Start with our Getting Started guide. For kits, try a starter kit or extract kit — they handle most of the complexity. Most first batches succeed.

How long does a brew take?

Typically 4–6 weeks from brew day to drink. Extract kits are faster (2–3 weeks). The wait is worth it.

Do I need special equipment?

Our starter kits include everything you need to get brewing — fermenter, airlock, thermometer, hydrometer and more. Note that most kits don't include bottles, so you'll need your own (or ours) for bottling day. Beyond that, you might want a heat belt (£24.99) to control fermentation temperature, or a bottling wand (£2.69) to speed up bottling.

How long do yeast, hops and kits keep for?

Dried yeast: Best used within its printed best-before date, stored somewhere cool and dry (or in the fridge for longer life). Still usable a little past this date, but expect a slower start.

Hops: Best kept in the freezer once opened — they'll lose aroma and bittering power over time at room temperature. Sealed, unopened packs keep well for 12+ months in a cool, dark place.

Brew kits: Check the best-before date on the tin or pouch. Unopened, most kits keep well for 12–18 months in a cool, dry cupboard.

How do I place an order?

Add items to your cart and proceed to checkout. Provide your delivery address and select your payment method. Orders placed before 1pm on weekdays are usually dispatched the same day.

Can I amend or cancel my order after placing it?

We'll always do our best to help, but please double-check your order — including your delivery address — before checking out. Once an order is placed, amending or correcting it (including address errors) is the customer's responsibility, and we can't guarantee changes will be possible once an order is being processed or has been dispatched.

If you need to change or cancel an order urgently, the fastest way to reach us is by calling us rather than emailing — we may be able to catch it before it's picked and dispatched.

Can I collect locally?

Yes. Local collection is available Monday–Friday 9am–3:30pm and Saturday 9am–1pm at our Sowerby Bridge shop (closed Sundays). Contact hello@brewco.uk if these times don't work.

Do you offer gift cards?

Yes — BrewCo gift cards are available in a range of values, delivered digitally by email so they're ready to use straight away or forward on as a gift.

What payment methods do you accept?

We accept Credit Cards, Debit Cards, PayPal, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Shop Pay at checkout. Card and cash are both accepted in store.

Address: Unit 4b, The Old Post Office, Sowerby Bridge, Halifax, HX6 3AE

🔒 We're closed on Saturday 29th August and Friday 4th – Saturday 5th September. Orders placed after 1pm on Thursday 3rd September will be dispatched on Monday 7th September.

Delivery Times

Orders placed before 1pm on weekdays are usually dispatched the same day. Delivery times vary by method:

• DPD Next Weekday: Delivered next business day
• Express: 1–3 business days
• International: 2–11 business days

By default, we don't authorise DPD to leave parcels in a safe place, with a neighbour, or at a pickup shop. If you request one of these options directly with DPD yourself (e.g. via their app or tracking link), that's done at your own risk and becomes your responsibility, not ours.

Shipping Costs – UK

Shipping Costs – Channel Islands & International

Jersey, Guernsey, Isle of Man (Express International):

• 1–5kg: £6.49
• 5–15kg: £7.49
• 15kg+: £7.99

Tracking Your Order

All orders are sent with a tracking number via email. Track your package here:

Can I return my order?

Yes. You have 30 calendar days from delivery to return an item. To be eligible:

• Item must be unused and in original condition
• Original packaging must be intact
• You must have proof of purchase (receipt)

Custom or personalised products (including anything made or mixed to order) can't be returned unless faulty, as these can't be resold once created.

My item arrived damaged — what do I do?

Please let us know within 5 days of delivery — we're unable to help with damage reported after this, as couriers won't investigate claims made too long after delivery.

To help us sort this quickly, please email hello@brewco.uk with photos of:

• The outer box, showing the DPD or Royal Mail shipping label
• The outer box itself (all sides, if damage is visible)
• The product as it arrived
• A close-up of the damage

The more photos you can send, the better — this is what the courier needs to investigate the claim properly, and it helps us get things resolved for you faster.

What if something's missing or wrong with my order?

Please check your order as soon as it arrives. We're unable to replace items reported more than 7 days after delivery, so do check everything's present and correct as soon as you can.

Refund Process

Once we receive your return, we'll inspect it and notify you of the status. If approved, we'll process a refund to your original payment method within a few business days (depending on your bank).

Return postage: If you've simply changed your mind, return postage is payable by you and the original shipping cost isn't refundable. If the return is due to our error — for example a faulty, damaged, or incorrect item — we'll cover the cost of the return.

Questions? Contact hello@brewco.uk

Do you offer trade or bulk pricing?

If you're a homebrew club, event organiser, or looking to order in larger quantities, get in touch at hello@brewco.uk with what you're after — we're happy to see what we can do.