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Jade_The_Raw · 08-09-2012, 06:47 PM

I was thinking once I go and get my brew kit from the local shop maybe I can ask for an extra 5 gal glass or something considering I am
Going to be a future customer. Iv been in there
Before and they seemed chill.

**tre9er** · 08-09-2012, 06:51 PM

Anything in bulk I buy elsewhere because my LHBS doesn't do any bulk discounts, really. I buy 5lbs. of Crystal 40 or a pound of flaked maize or an airlock, yeast, etc. there because it's reasonable and I'm not paying shipping on something that I rarely need.

For ingredients that I use a lot, I'd pay 40% more at the LHBS...more at times.

kanta · 08-09-2012, 06:58 PM

Austin Homebrew is afaik the only LHBS within 2 hours of me. I guess that's good since I get the online store prices but no shipping since it's a 15 min drive for me to go there.

**tre9er** · 08-09-2012, 06:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kanta

Austin Homebrew is afaik the only LHBS within 2 hours of me. I guess that's good since I get the online store prices but no shipping since it's a 15 min drive for me to go there.

You're incredibly lucky in that way. Northern Brewer sells grain as cheap as I can get it in a group-buy...but the closest one is 8 hours from here. There aren't any other HBS remotely near me that sell grain off the shelf in 50# sacks for much under $50. Hence the bulk-buys we have to do.

**dkwolf** · 08-09-2012, 07:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jade_The_Raw

I was thinking once I go and get my brew kit from the local shop maybe I can ask for an extra 5 gal glass or something considering I am
Going to be a future customer. Iv been in there
Before and they seemed chill.

Asking for an extra glass carboy on top of your kit? A ~$30 item thrown on top of a $60-150 (depending on the kit you buy) purchase......

Do you clank when you walk?

Jade_The_Raw · 08-09-2012, 07:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dkwolf

Asking for an extra glass carboy on top of your kit? A ~$30 item thrown on top of a $60-150 (depending on the kit you buy) purchase......

Do you clank when you walk?

Are they really that cheap?

EnjoyGoodBeer · 08-09-2012, 07:21 PM

Well I live in a big enough city. We have a Brew and Grow. Wich is were we bought our brewing stuff to start off. For the price of online and the home brew store the store is way cheaper than anywere I have looked. Besides paying our high local taxes. Its good to support local but it also depends on your budget. But try not and ever to go to wally world (walmart).

**dkwolf** · 08-09-2012, 07:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jade_The_Raw

Are they really that cheap?

Your basic equipment kit? Yeah, if you get the bottom-of-the-line (which is what I started with). Ale pail, bottling bucket, hydrometer, airlock, racking cane, bottle filler, capper, etc... basically everything you need to start, you can find a kit for about $60-70. Start upgrading the kit, and the price climbs, obviously.

If you save pry-top bottles from commercial beer while you're getting ready to start (you'll need ~50 for a 5 gallon batch), you can be started brewing with the basic equipment kit and an extract ingredient box for right around $100.

loki993 · 08-09-2012, 07:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cm_laflamme

For equipment it's nearly impossible for your LHBS to beat or even match the online prices, so I would suggest going that route for the equipment purchases if you don't have everything already. For everything else I use my LHBS. I've found that the price are about the same as you would pay online, and even if it's a little more the price difference makes up for the convenience and the ability to have a place to make emergency trips on brew days. If you have several LHBSs visit them all, and within 5 minutes of talking to the owner (this might be a generalization but I have yet to visit a LHBS that didn't have an owner/operator there) you'll know if it's someplace that you want to give your hard earned money for you. There are 3 in my area, I've gone to one once and will never go back due to the combination of poor customer service and over pricing, another was a run of the mill store that left me feeling like a 40 degree day, and lastly the one that I frequent which has a knowledgable owner that engages pretty much every customer, takes pride in his work and is honest about his prices. The third store I've sent all my fellow home brewers to with rave reviews and will continue to do as such.

Around here for starter kits at least that's not what I'm seeing. All the places I've been to have the BB kits, starter is like 70ish and the next one up is around a hundred. Online they're about the same price, throw shipping in on top of that and Im well over what I can get it for locally.

I would have assumed equipment would be one thing you wouldn't be able to save on because of shipping. Maybe single items are different. Ive only been looking at kits.

EnjoyGoodBeer · 08-09-2012, 08:16 PM

Local brew and grow. Deluxe BB kit $148. 6 gallon Stainless steel kettle $80. BB Robust Porter kit $35. Bought 20" of copper wiring at menards with hose and hose clamps for $40 (for wort chiller) All on a 8.025% sales tax. Thats from the midwest. Still have a few things to get. Bottle cleaner ect. But im sure if you dont have a store neer you most online places may combine shipping. But then you have to wait =(