Demijohns & Carboys

Shop demijohns and carboys for making wine, cider, beer and mead at home. Choose from traditional glass demijohns, lightweight PET demijohns and larger glass or plastic carboys for fermentation, conditioning, clearing and storage.

Demijohns and Carboys for Home Brewing

A demijohn or carboy gives you a narrow-necked fermentation vessel that can be sealed with the correct bung, cap and airlock. The clear body makes it easy to watch fermentation, check sediment and judge when a drink is ready to rack.

Our range includes compact 4.5–5 litre vessels for small batches and larger 11 litre and 23 litre carboys for full-size brews. If you need a different style of fermenter, browse all fermentation vessels.

What Size Demijohn Do I Need?

• 4.5–5 litre demijohn: the familiar one-gallon size, suitable for roughly six 750ml wine bottles and ideal for country wine, mead, cider and experimental batches.
• 11 litre carboy: useful for medium batches, splitting a larger brew or keeping different recipes separate.
• 23 litre carboy: suited to many standard beer, wine and cider kit batch sizes.

Always allow suitable headspace during vigorous primary fermentation. For clearing, conditioning or ageing, use a vessel that keeps excess headspace to a minimum.

Glass Demijohns and Glass Carboys

Glass demijohns are non-porous, do not absorb odours and allow you to see fermentation and sediment clearly. A traditional 1 gallon glass demijohn is a dependable choice for wine making, secondary fermentation and maturation.

Glass is heavy and can break, so inspect the vessel before every use, avoid sudden temperature changes and never lift a full carboy by its neck or an accessory handle alone.

PET Demijohns and Plastic Carboys

PET demijohns and carboys are lighter, easier to move and resistant to shattering. Wide-neck PET vessels are also easier to reach inside when cleaning. Use non-abrasive cleaning tools to avoid scratches, then replace the vessel if it becomes damaged or difficult to sanitise.

Do I Need a Bung and Airlock?

Check the individual product description because fittings vary. Some vessels include a solid cap, some have a drilled cap or grommet, and others require a separate bung. For active fermentation, pair the correct drilled closure with an airlock and bung. A solid cap does not accept an airlock.

Cleaning and Using a Demijohn

Clean the vessel promptly after emptying it, then sanitise it immediately before use. A suitable demijohn brush can help reach the shoulders of a narrow-neck vessel. Browse cleaning and sanitising products and use syphons and racking equipment to transfer liquid without disturbing sediment.

Demijohn and Carboy FAQs

Is a demijohn the same as a carboy?

The names overlap, but in UK home brewing a demijohn usually means a smaller vessel of about one gallon, while carboy often refers to a larger fermentation vessel.

Can I make wine in a demijohn?

Yes. One-gallon demijohns are widely used for country wine, fruit wine and mead, while larger carboys suit full-size wine making kits.

Can I ferment beer or cider in a carboy?

Yes. Carboys can be used for beer and cider when their capacity provides the correct headspace and they are fitted with a suitable closure and airlock.

Which is better, glass or PET?

Glass is non-porous and scratch resistant, while PET is lighter and shatter resistant. The best choice depends on how often you move the vessel, the batch size and whether easy handling or long-term durability matters most.

Do demijohns come with bungs or airlocks?

Not always. Included fittings differ between products, so check the product listing and add the correct bung, cap or airlock where required.

Order demijohns, carboys and compatible fermentation equipment online for UK delivery, or visit The Hop Shop in Plymouth for practical advice before you buy.