Over the years, the homebrew community has been a big part of Cactus Craft. We’ve had countless great conversations, helped brewers troubleshoot batches, and shared in the excitement of seeing people grow in the craft.
As Cactus has grown, we’ve spent a lot of time looking honestly at how we support homebrewers — what works well, and where things haven’t worked as they should.
One of the most consistent frustrations we’ve heard is this:
you’d come through to us, only to find that the product you needed wasn’t always available.
That’s not a great experience, and it’s not the standard we want to set.
Why we’re changing how retail works
Walk-in retail made sense at one stage, but it no longer allows us to plan stock and fulfilment in a way that gives homebrewers the reliability they deserve. It also ties our team to fixed retail hours, which limits how effectively we can support customers and the broader homebrew community.
So we’ve made a deliberate shift in how our homebrew offering works.
Cactus Craft will no longer operate as a walk-in retail shop from 1 February 2026.
Instead, we’re moving to an order-first, appointment-based model that allows us to focus on:
- better product availability
- fewer out-of-stocks
- faster turnaround on orders
- More individual customer attention
This is not a step away from homebrewing — it’s a change in how we support it.
What stays the same
A lot, actually.
- Our product range stays the same (and will continue to grow)
- We will continue to give you access to the latest tech that our commercial partners have access to
- Our passion for homebrew stays the same
- Advice and support are still a big part of what we do, we love engaging in debate about which yeast is the best!
You can still phone, email, or WhatsApp us anytime to ask questions or get advice.
If you want to chat in person, or for us to taste your beer, we’re very happy to do that! — by appointment.
What’s changing
- There will be no walk-in browsing or shopping
- All purchases happen via:
- our website, or
- phone / email / WhatsApp
- Appointments are required for in-person visits for advice
- Once your order is ready, you’ll be notified and can collect during our new business hours, or choose delivery
We’ll be removing the retail shop infrastructure to fully support this model. Which means hops and yeast will be in our cold rooms and malt on shelving, so browsing is really not an option.
How ordering works now
The flow is simple:
- Contact us via phone, email, WhatsApp, or place an order online
- Get advice (remotely, or in person by appointment if needed) – We still love helping brewers, from beginners to advanced!
- Place your order and complete payment
- We prepare it — typically next business day for warehouse collection or dispatch
- Collect from our warehouse or have it delivered
We’re also expanding collection point options
We currently have one partner collection point in place, with more in the works. Where applicable, you’ll be able to choose a pickup option and we’ll clearly communicate the expected ETA (up to a maximum of around five days, depending on location).
In parallel, we’re adding more shipping options over the next month or two as part of ongoing improvements to our online systems.
Better availability, better planning
This new model allows us to plan stock more deliberately and focus on holding the right products in the right quantities — instead of spreading stock thinly across a walk-in retail setup.
The goal is simple:
when you order, what you need should actually be available — and ready faster and backorder items will be communicated more clearly.
Being more present in the community
An added benefit of this change is that it frees up time outside of fixed retail hours. That allows our team to be more present in the homebrew community itself — attending events, supporting competitions, and planning or hosting activities that bring brewers together.
That’s something we’re genuinely excited about.
A final note
We know change can take some getting used to. This is a considered decision, and it’s one we believe will lead to a better experience for homebrewers and a stronger Cactus Craft.
If you have questions about how to order or book an appointment, you’re always welcome to get in touch.
— Willie
Founder, Cactus Craft