elbajista

Recipes 

What brewing equipment have you guys been able to purchase at non-HomeBrew stores?

I've heard of buying kettles from a kitchen supply store or department store, and buckets/funnels/brushes at a home improvement store, but is there anything else that can be found at a "normal" store?

Siphon tubing, maybe? Can Star San be purchased at a HomeAceLowesDepot store? What about a bottling spigot?

Where else could I buy a hydrometer?

I ask because the closest thing to a LHBS to me is a Winery that has a very limited selection. Also, paying $8-$10 for a 8" funnel and $15 for a plastic bucket is a bit steep to me....

Parker36

Recipes 

If you are creative enough, you can find just about everything at stores other than a LHBS. Tubing can definitely be found at a hardware store, buckets are easy to find to, you just need to make sure they are food grade. Hydrometer I doubt you will find anywhere except for a specialty store, but I can almost guarantee that your wine store will sell them.

Bernie Brewer

Recipes 

You can get hydrometers at pet supply stores, but they are for aquariums. The difference is that they aren't triple-scale like brewing hydrometers, and the scale only goes to 1.060, so they are no good for OG on big beers. But when mine broke on brewday with no spare and LHBS an hour and a half away round-trip, it worked ina pinch.

As for buckets, check with local bakeries. they may have frosting buckets lying around that they'll give you for free.

Siphon tubing can be gotten at Fleet Farm in the farm department. They sell it by the foot.

Also check if there are any restaurant supply stores near you for funnels, sanitizers, and other what-nots you may need.

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I like to squeeze the nickle until the buffalo craps-mt rob

"Why don't we get drunk and screw?" Jimmy Buffett

Revvy

Recipes 

Don't buy your strainers, funnels...or any cooking utensils at the LHBS...You can find those at hardware, cooking sections of grocery stores...and the dollar store is your friend as well.

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Like my snazzy new avatar? Get Sons of Zymurgy swag, here, and brew with the best.

Revvy's one of the cool reverends. He has a Harley and a t-shirt that says on the back "If you can read this, the bitch was Raptured. - Madman

I gotta tell ya, just between us girls, that Revvy is HOT. Very tall, gorgeous grey hair and a terrific smile. He's very good looking in person, with a charismatic personality... he drives like a ****ing maniac! - YooperBrew

HighPlainsDrifter

Recipes 

I've found quite a few things at junk stores. I've got a couple of flip top growlers there as well as a two and a half gallon carboy. You can also find drip tray options there.

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HTTR

mattm3

Recipes 

I once found 5 gal glass carboys at a discount outlet store for really cheap. I bought a couple of them. Wish I would have bought more.

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Matt
http://www.queencityhomebrew.org/

RICLARK

Recipes 

You can get Hydrometers and many other things at Lab Supply stores.

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OUTLAW ALES

Kegged/Bottled: Boston Lager Clone, Crimson Ale, Guiness Draught Clone, Kilt Warmer Scotch Ale, BBB Blonde Ale, Oberon Clone Pt. 1,000

Do I Look Like A Man.....With A Plan??

Local Home Brew Store

www.theredsalamander.com

malkore

Recipes 

you won't find star-san at any store but a brew shop. its marketed as a brewery sanitizer.

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Malkore
Primary: English Mild
On tap: Pale Ale, Lancelot's Wheat, English Brown Ale, Steam Beer, HoovNuts IPA
Bottled: MOAM, Braggot, Raspberry Melomel, Merlot, Apfelwein, Pyment, Sweet mead, Cabernet
Gal in 2009: 27, Gal in 2010: 34, Gal in 2011: 13, Gal in 2012: 10

Poindexter

Recipes 

Two items:

Check the donught shop and other high volume bakeries for food grade buckets. They tend to go through tons of food grade buckets. I had no idea you could buy strawberry jelly in a five gallon bucket... but I got one for two bucks.

Second, look on the internet for hydrometers. For "about" the same price as a LHBS hydrometer you might find a much nicer, more precise 3 scale hydrometer, shipping included.

Schlenkerla

Recipes 

Bottled water suppliers (Like Culligan): Glass & PET Carboys

Wal-Mart: Mash Tun Coolers, false bottoms, thermometers, brew pots

Lowes & Home Depot: MLT fittings, Oxygen, MLT's

I can go on and on.... time for din din!!!

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Success is getting what you want. Happiness is wanting what you get. - Dale Carnegie

BS Nano-Brewery

Primary: Irish Red Ale, Dead Ringer IPA
2ndary: Red Zinfandel
Drinking: Irish Blonde, House Amber
Next: SNPA Clone, Cali-Common, Another Amber

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