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Zamial · 01-30-2011, 04:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Torg

I bought my grain crusher from another LHBS they were very knowledgeable about its use and actually told me I did not need to use rice hulls if I set the crush right. About 50 batches later, I know what they told me was true.

Rice hulls are mainly used when we add something "sticky" to the mash like oatmeal or toasted pumpkin. Crush is not normally what causes a stuck sparge or a reason to add or not to add rice hulls, that I know of.

So, if you are mashing crushed barley only, you should never need rice hulls (They do not hurt to add them in anyway) but bet your last dollar I will be adding some into my pumpkin ale's mash...

Stoutman82 · 01-30-2011, 07:39 PM

I'm lucky to have homebrewit.com have their shop less then 5 min from my house. As a new brewer I have lots of questions and they help out a lot. They are very nice and knowledgeable.
Homebrewit.com elkhart indiana

**catdaddy66** · 02-01-2011, 01:05 AM

My LHBS was very helpful when I was a virgin brewer, but they moved across town and sold to another owner. This guy was jerk-central and had not the first clue regarding good customer service. I never patronized his store again and now he has closed down. I currently use online suppliers exclusively.

Cpt_Kirks · 02-01-2011, 03:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zamial

Rice hulls are mainly used when we add something "sticky" to the mash like oatmeal or toasted pumpkin. Crush is not normally what causes a stuck sparge or a reason to add or not to add rice hulls, that I know of.

So, if you are mashing crushed barley only, you should never need rice hulls (They do not hurt to add them in anyway) but bet your last dollar I will be adding some into my pumpkin ale's mash...

Rice hulls are about 50 cents for insurance against a stuck sparge. I always add them. I might not need them, but I HATE stuck sparges.

My LHBS is great, but I mostly order online. I get a better selection, I save a few bucks, and it comes right to my door.

**TheMan** · 02-01-2011, 03:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sujeto

Wall of text FTW!

I'm sure the majority of us have had bad customer service at one point. And there is one guy at my LHBS that i avoid because he is lazy and acts superior.

If you feel the staff at your LHBS is incompetent, ask your questions here and order online! My LHBS still preaches secondaries after 5-7 days in the primary. I ignore the majority of what they tell me. I also order the ocassional supplies online when I'm spending over $100. Free shipping and it saves me a 45 minute trip to the LHBS.

I hope this helps and remember RDWHAHB!

45 minute trip? I don't know about you, but my time and gas are worth more than a $7.99 shipping charge, so even if you don't get free shipping it's probably worth it to order online rather than go see these dimwits that you don't listen to.

I don't like the LHBS by me. I order online for almost everything. If I have an emergency brewing need then I go there, and even then I don't really chat with them anymore. I just get what I want and leave. After brewing for 2 years and reading this site I find their advice was horrible.

Seven · 02-01-2011, 03:38 PM

My LHBS sucks. It's all the way across town, they rarely have what I need in stock, and the main guy there is not very friendly. I've pretty much gotten into the habit of ordering everything I need online. Now I just pay the $7.99 shipping charge, enjoy the fact that I don't need to drive all the way across town for a bad experience, and RDWHAHB.

Whenever I hear the "support your LHBS" propaganda I cringe and think to myself their LHBS must be a lot better than mine.

marcycaulkins · 02-01-2011, 04:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AnOldUR

Just keep in mind that whether its your LHBS or HBT you'll have to sift through BS and come to your own conclusions.

Agreed!!

**sjbeerman** · 02-01-2011, 04:28 PM

Morebeer is my LHBS, but I still order online. I barely have time to brew, much less drive there. Sometimes I still order online from them, sometimes from other vendors. It just depends. I recently ordered from Austin Homebrew because I like how they combine the grain bill so I don't have to buy additional grain that I may never use. So far, it's the only HBS that I have seen that provides that service.

**TheMan** · 02-01-2011, 05:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sjbeerman

Morebeer is my LHBS, but I still order online. I barely have time to brew, much less drive there. Sometimes I still order online from them, sometimes from other vendors. It just depends. I recently ordered from Austin Homebrew because I like how they combine the grain bill so I don't have to buy additional grain that I may never use. So far, it's the only HBS that I have seen that provides that service.

You obviously haven't heard of www.brewmasterswarehouse.com.

Zamial · 02-01-2011, 05:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cpt_Kirks

Rice hulls are about 50 cents for insurance against a stuck sparge. I always add them. I might not need them, but I HATE stuck sparges.

lol I learned again...darn you HBT!!!!!