You’ve bottled your last batch. It took an entire evening — washing, sanitising, filling, capping, cleaning up the spills. Fifty bottles lined up on the kitchen floor, each one a tiny monument to tedium. And now you’re watching someone on a homebrew forum pour a perfect pint from a keg they filled in five minutes, and thinking: there has to be a better way.
There is. Kegging your homebrew saves hours of work per batch, gives you better carbonation control, and means you can pour a fresh pint whenever you want. The best kegging kit for UK homebrewers getting started is the Keg That Premium Starter Kit at about £180-200 — it comes with everything you need, including a reconditioned Cornelius keg, CO2 regulator, and all the disconnects and tubing.
Here’s how kegging works, what equipment you need, and which kits are worth buying.
Why Kegging Beats Bottling
If you’ve been bottling homebrew, you already know the pain. But the practical advantages of kegging go beyond saving time.
The case for kegging:
- Speed — fill a 19-litre keg in 5 minutes vs 45-60 minutes for 50 bottles
- Better carbonation — force carbonation with CO2 gives you precise control over fizz levels. No more flat pints or bottle bombs
- Consistency — every pour from a keg is the same. Bottle conditioning varies between bottles
- No sediment — kegged beer is clear from the first pour. No yeast sediment in the bottom of each bottle
- Freshness — kegged beer stays fresh for months under CO2 pressure. Bottled beer oxidises faster once opened
- Draft experience — pouring from a tap at home is deeply satisfying. Your mates will be impressed
The costs:
- Initial setup: £150-300 depending on the kit
- CO2 refills: about £15-25 per 2.6kg cylinder (lasts 4-8 kegs depending on carbonation level)
- Ongoing: replacement O-rings and seals, about £5-10 per year
- Space: a keg, CO2 cylinder, and potentially a fridge take up more room than a shelf of bottles
If you’re new to kegging, our beginner’s guide to kegging homebrew covers the full process from start to first pour.
Best Overall: Keg That Premium Starter Kit
Keg That is a UK-based homebrew supplier in Bournemouth, and their Premium Starter Kit has become the default recommendation for first-time keggers. It’s a complete system — nothing else to buy before you can start kegging.
What’s in the box:
- Reconditioned 19L Cornelius (Corny) keg — ball-lock fittings, pressure-tested and sealed
- CO2 regulator — dual gauge (cylinder pressure + serving pressure), adjustable from 0-60 PSI
- 2.6kg CO2 cylinder — empty (you’ll need to fill it, about £15-25 at a local pub gas supplier or SodaStream refill)
- Ball-lock disconnects — gas and liquid, with John Guest push-fit connectors
- Beer and gas line — pre-cut to length, with clamps
- Cobra tap — basic hand-held dispensing tap
- Replacement O-ring set — for the keg lid and posts
Why it’s the best starter:
- Everything works together out of the box — no compatibility issues
- The reconditioned corny kegs from Keg That are well-tested (they reject about 20% of kegs that don’t pass pressure tests)
- The regulator is a proper dual-gauge unit, not the cheap single-gauge type some budget kits include
- UK-based customer support that actually understands homebrew
The downsides:
- The cobra tap works but isn’t great for everyday use — you’ll want a proper tap and tower eventually
- The CO2 cylinder arrives empty (safety regulations), so factor in a refill trip before your first use
- At £180-200, it’s not cheap — but it’s the last bottling day you’ll ever have
Price: About £180-200 from kegthat.co.uk.
Best for Small Batches: iKegger 4L Mini Keg System
Not everyone brews 19-litre batches. If you’re doing small experimental brews — 5-litre extract kits, 4-litre stove-top sessions, or single-gallon recipe tests — a mini keg system makes more sense than a full Corny setup.
What makes it work for small batches:
- 4-litre stainless steel mini keg — insulated, portable, and good-looking enough to put on a bar
- Integrated tap — no separate dispensing equipment needed
- 16g CO2 cartridge system — small disposable cartridges that carbonate and serve. No bulky CO2 cylinder
- Portable — take it to a barbecue, a mate’s house, or a homebrew club meeting
The trade-offs:
- Cost per serve is higher — 16g CO2 cartridges cost about £1-2 each and you’ll use one per fill
- 4 litres is only about 7 pints — not enough for a session
- No force carbonation control — the cartridge either carbonates or it doesn’t. Fine tuning is limited
- Not a full kegging system — it’s a serving solution, not a replacement for proper kegging
Price: About £80-100 for the 4L kit from ikegger.com or Amazon UK.
Best Budget: Keg Kingdom Basic Ball Lock Kit
If you already have a CO2 cylinder and regulator from another hobby (aquarium, SodaStream, paintball) or can source a cheap corny keg separately, the Keg Kingdom basic kit fills in the missing pieces affordably.
What you get:
- Ball-lock disconnects (gas and liquid)
- Beer line and gas line — pre-cut with clamps
- Cobra tap
- O-ring kit
- Line cleaning kit
What you don’t get: A keg, CO2 cylinder, or regulator. This is a parts kit, not a complete system.
Why it exists: Reconditioned corny kegs pop up on eBay, Facebook Marketplace, and homebrew forums for £30-50. If you snag a cheap keg, Keg Kingdom’s parts kit turns it into a working system for about £40-50 total.
Price: About £35-45 from kegkingdom.co.uk.
Best Premium: Kegland Series X Flow Control System
If you’re the type who reads about brewing water chemistry for fun and wants precision control over everything, Kegland’s Series X is the enthusiast’s choice.
What sets it apart:
- Flow control taps — adjust pour rate and foam independently for each tap. Game-changing for dialling in different beer styles
- Dual-body CO2 regulator — run two kegs at different pressures simultaneously
- Stainless steel John Guest fittings — no plastic connectors
- Duotight push-in connections — the best connector system in homebrewing. Leak-free, tool-free, and infinitely reconfigurable
- Quality that lasts decades — Kegland is an Australian brand that builds for serious brewers
The investment:
- Flow control tap and shank: about £50-70 per tap
- Dual-body regulator: about £80-100
- Complete system with two kegs: about £400-500
Who it’s for: Brewers who’ve outgrown their starter kit, want multiple beers on tap, and care about pour quality. Not a beginner purchase, but the upgrade you’ll eventually want.
For understanding the science behind carbonation and fermentation, our guide on brewing water chemistry covers the technical side.
Corny Keg vs Mini Keg: Which Is Right for You?
Choose a Corny keg system (19L) if:
- You brew full batches (19-23 litres)
- You have space for a keg and CO2 cylinder (a standard fridge works)
- You want proper force carbonation with fine control
- You drink enough homebrew to justify the setup (a keg lasts 2-4 weeks for most people)
Choose a mini keg system (2-5L) if:
- You brew small experimental batches
- Portability matters — barbecues, gatherings, homebrew clubs
- You don’t have space for a full keg setup
- You want a lower entry cost and simpler operation
Most homebrewers start with a Corny system because the per-pint economics are better and the carbonation control is superior. Mini kegs are a nice complement, not a replacement.
Setting Up Your First Keg
Getting started is simpler than it looks. Here’s the basic process:
Before your first use:
- Pressure test the keg — fill with water, pressurise to 30 PSI, and check for leaks with soapy water on all seals and posts
- Replace O-rings — even reconditioned kegs benefit from fresh O-rings. They’re cheap and save headaches
- Clean everything — a PBW soak for the keg, then sanitise with Star San
- Get your CO2 filled — find a local pub gas supplier, fire extinguisher service, or welding supply shop. A 2.6kg fill costs about £15-25
Filling the keg:
- Transfer beer from fermenter to sanitised keg (closed transfer is ideal — an all-in-one brewing system makes this easier)
- Purge headspace with CO2 — pull the pressure relief valve while pushing CO2 in, three times
- Seal the lid and pressurise to serving pressure (10-14 PSI for most ales)
Force carbonation:
- Quick method — chill keg to 2-4°C, set regulator to 30 PSI, shake vigorously for 2-3 minutes. Reduce to serving pressure. Drinkable in 24 hours
- Set and forget — connect at serving pressure (10-14 PSI), leave in the fridge for 7-10 days. Better results, less effort
Where to Buy Kegging Equipment in the UK
The UK homebrew market for kegging has several reliable suppliers:
- Keg That (kegthat.co.uk) — the go-to for starter kits and reconditioned kegs
- Keg Kingdom (kegkingdom.co.uk) — good for parts and accessories
- The Malt Miller (themaltmiller.co.uk) — stocks Kegland products and premium equipment
- BrewUK (brewuk.co.uk) — wide range of kegging accessories
- Amazon UK — mini keg systems and basic equipment
For CO2 refills, search for “pub gas supplier” or “CO2 refill” in your area. Many fire extinguisher services also refill beverage-grade CO2 cylinders.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does a CO2 cylinder last for kegging? A standard 2.6kg CO2 cylinder lasts about 4-8 kegs depending on how you carbonate. Force carbonation (shaking at high pressure) uses more gas than the set-and-forget method. Budget about £15-25 per refill, so the ongoing gas cost is roughly £2-6 per keg.
Can I use a SodaStream cylinder for homebrew kegging? Not directly — SodaStream uses a proprietary connector. However, you can buy an adapter (about £15-20) that lets you connect a SodaStream cylinder to a standard regulator. The cylinders are small (425g) so they won’t last long, but it’s a cheap way to test kegging before investing in a proper CO2 setup.
Do I need a dedicated beer fridge for kegging? Ideally yes, but not necessarily. A Corny keg fits in most standard fridges with a shelf removed. The CO2 cylinder can sit outside the fridge with a gas line running through the door seal (most fridge seals are flexible enough). A dedicated mini fridge or chest freezer with a temperature controller is the proper long-term solution.
How long does kegged homebrew stay fresh? Under CO2 pressure at fridge temperature (2-6°C), homebrew stays fresh for 2-4 months easily. Some styles improve with time. The key is keeping a CO2 blanket on the beer to prevent oxidation — as long as the keg stays pressurised, freshness is maintained.
Is kegging cheaper than bottling in the long run? Yes. After the initial equipment cost (£150-300), the ongoing costs are minimal — CO2 refills and occasional O-ring replacements. No more buying caps, using priming sugar, or replacing bottles. Most homebrewers recoup the investment within 5-10 batches compared to buying new bottles and caps each time.
The Bottom Line
Kegging your homebrew is one of those upgrades where you wonder why you didn’t do it sooner. The Keg That Premium Starter Kit at about £180-200 is the best entry point for UK brewers — it’s complete, well-supported, and turns bottling day from a chore into a five-minute job. If you’re brewing small batches or want portability, the iKegger 4L is a clever complement to your setup. And once you’ve caught the bug, the Kegland Series X will let you build the home bar you’ve always wanted.
Your first pour from your own keg — watching clear, perfectly carbonated beer flow from the tap — is one of the best moments in homebrewing. It’s worth every penny.