rcreveli
Well-Known Member
Hey all,
I am hobbyist baker and caner. I make a variety of breads and pickles and have decided to venture into home brewing. Below is my story combined with a mini review of local home shops
After several years of saying "I really want to try and brew my own beer" Not 1 but 2 homebrew supply stores opened within 30 minutes of my house. Both are well stocked in supplies (Not sure about gear, I'm to new) Both have knowledgeable, polite and outgoing staff. At both store I heard the person behind the counter end the transaction with "Do you have any other questions?" and the prices at both places are darn close the each other.
So I decided If I wanted to brew I had better take that Christmas bonus and get what I needed.
I planned on buying everything at "Lancaster Homebrew". The reason I made this decision is that one of the employee/owners Marty spent almost an hour talking with me when I visited there store a few months back. We discussed equipment,books, ingredients, anything I asked he either could answer or would help me find the answer. That being said a new store opened up a month ago and I had to pass it on my way to the other and if the prices were drastically different I would have to rethink my plan.
Turns out the price difference were minor and Shane seemed as knowledgeable and enthusiastic as Marty. I didn't keep him to long since it was unlikely I would be buying from him today but, I will be giving them a lot of money in ingredients in the future. I can't remember if the name was Mr. Steve's or Mr. scotty's I will check.
So I bought the Intermediate kit with a glass carboy and a few other upgrades as well as the ingredients to make a Cherry wheat ale.
I would love to make my first batch on this snowy day but, If there is one thing I learned from canning it's that I need to be really organized and really clean to do something like this, which right now I'm not. So I'm hoping to brew my first bacth on Christmas eve.
Sorry for the long first post.
Ray
I am hobbyist baker and caner. I make a variety of breads and pickles and have decided to venture into home brewing. Below is my story combined with a mini review of local home shops
After several years of saying "I really want to try and brew my own beer" Not 1 but 2 homebrew supply stores opened within 30 minutes of my house. Both are well stocked in supplies (Not sure about gear, I'm to new) Both have knowledgeable, polite and outgoing staff. At both store I heard the person behind the counter end the transaction with "Do you have any other questions?" and the prices at both places are darn close the each other.
So I decided If I wanted to brew I had better take that Christmas bonus and get what I needed.
I planned on buying everything at "Lancaster Homebrew". The reason I made this decision is that one of the employee/owners Marty spent almost an hour talking with me when I visited there store a few months back. We discussed equipment,books, ingredients, anything I asked he either could answer or would help me find the answer. That being said a new store opened up a month ago and I had to pass it on my way to the other and if the prices were drastically different I would have to rethink my plan.
Turns out the price difference were minor and Shane seemed as knowledgeable and enthusiastic as Marty. I didn't keep him to long since it was unlikely I would be buying from him today but, I will be giving them a lot of money in ingredients in the future. I can't remember if the name was Mr. Steve's or Mr. scotty's I will check.
So I bought the Intermediate kit with a glass carboy and a few other upgrades as well as the ingredients to make a Cherry wheat ale.
I would love to make my first batch on this snowy day but, If there is one thing I learned from canning it's that I need to be really organized and really clean to do something like this, which right now I'm not. So I'm hoping to brew my first bacth on Christmas eve.
Sorry for the long first post.
Ray
