carl spakler said:
I've been there a few times, the experience has been degrading with each trip. The last time I was in there they a) suggested a substitute that I came to learn was not a substitute b) offered no substitute for a yeast they told me they had but did not upon arrival (I just happened to stumble upon the right one I also found out later) and c) generally didn't seem interested in my business or answering my questions.
I think I may have spent my last $.10 in that place unless they solve their rectal cranial problems.
beer-wine.com and their store is supposedly the biggest vendor on the east coast. This MAY be true, however they didn't know what an MLT was. I elaborated, and said Mash/Lauter Tun. The guy put down the phone, and asked someone "Do we sell Mash?"
I hung up. If there was one shop that I would visit it would be Jasper's in Nashua, New Hampshire. You might have to talk to them about bulk grain, but the guys are super friendly, and can talk shop for hours on end.
I have checked the following stores off my list:
1. Strange Brew - Marlboro, MA : Guy is a dick, crap selection, over priced equipment
2. Beer-Wine - Woburn, MA : As I said, i was not looking to buy "Mash"
3. Modern Homebrew - Cambridge, MA : Decent shop, but small. Their grain mill is problematic at best. Thats the main reason I won't go there. The nice thing with their shop is you get to weigh out all your own ingredients and the guy is pretty friendly. He did give me a lecture because I bought 10 oz of hops for a big IPA, but after talking shop for a few he understood why (AAU conversions).
4. Jaspers - Nashua, NH - The guys are awesome. Their shop is small, but they have a huge selection of just about any recipe you could want. If you like extract, they have 55 gallon pressurized drums full.
www.boomchugalug.com
***This is my favorite shop***
If you go to Jaspers, you gotta go across main street and hit up The Nashua Garden. Good sandwiches, lotsa good beers. If you like cigars, go to Castro's next door, watch the game, have a smoke. This is what my brew crew does once a month...
I'd like to check out NFG, but his hours are really tough for me. Maybe I'll give it a shot this weekend.