2025 LHBS in Michigan

[Crafty_Brewer]

Hi Everyone, can we put together a list of LHBS in Michigan for 2025?

Lots of places have closed down over the last 10 years, and the directories in BYO, AHA are out of date/incomplete, and lots of great LHBS recommended here are closed as well.

I’m in northern/mid Michigan, but willing to drive to pickup bulk sacks.

My “local” store is a little over an hour away in Saginaw, Hopcraft Supply https://www.hopcraftsupply.com/ . They are pretty decent, but inventory is incomplete. I’ll probably email them and ask if they can order me bulk sacks of things not listed on the website.

Michigan Brew supply out of Midland is closed.

Ubrew out of TC is closed.

Adventures in Homebrewing https://homebrewing.org/ is still running their online shop, but seems to have closed their brick and mortar presence (kills the bulk sacks purchases).

Siciliano’s changed ownership a few years ago, don’t list their inventory online, and it’s a 2 hour drive, so I don’t know what their status is as a viable LHBS these days without an exploratory drive.

Capital City Homebrew Supply’s website is defunct, so I assume they are closed?

BrewGadgets closed down a looong time ago, bought my first brew kettle from them.

Hopcraft and MoreBeer have been my current primary suppliers depending on who has what in stock, with a preference for Hopcraft to TRY to support local, but local shops don’t always make it easy with smaller and/or out of stock inventory.

I also sent an email out to Great Lakes Malting out of TC to see if they sell sacks direct to homebrewers and to get a price sheet. Not a LHBS, but could be a good source for base grains and are cool that they are MI grown & malted.

Does anyone have any MI LHBS currently still operating to list?

Edit: I’m adding brewhardware in here too, they aren’t Michigan based, but are great for equipment purchases if the likes of MoreBeer are being used. I bought my kegging gear from them, and they were great.

https://www.brewhardware.com/Default.asp

 

[matt_m]

I visited UBrew/Fresh Coast Beer Works which in September last year, looks like they closed just 2 months later.

AIH closed the Taylor store during covid and it never reopened. That's where I got my first brew kit. Later they sold to Northern Brewer, fled Ann Arbor in the dark of night, and now, its just an alternate storefront for NB with all the problems of dealing with NB.

There were stores in Flat Rock and Holland that closed too, don't remember the name of either. Edit: Looks like they were Home Brewing Supplies and Brewers Edge respectively. That first one was really creative

Cadillac Straights in Madison Heights operates a small, decent brewery and a supply shop that's worth a visit and will do mail order which you'll get next day maybe 2. Sack prices are great, might want to place a pickup order in advance if you are planning to stock up as its bit smaller store. https://cadillacstraits.com/store

Great Fermentations is a family owned shop in Indy with reasonably quick shipping to Michigan. They do a fall sack sale that's a good deal and have fair prices normally if you get down that way. https://www.greatfermentations.com/

 

[bike2brew]

Hopcraft is my mail order go to. Very helpful, friendly, and great service

 

[kevin58]

I have been shopping at Hopcraft in Saginaw almost since they opened (back when the store was called Hop Head). The owners, Mike and Brandon, are great guys who really take care of their customers. During Covid they remained open taking online orders and then placing the packaged order with your name on it outside in a cabinet for pick up. They host local competitions, and support local clubs. They have an online store (see link above) and shipping is competitive with other online sellers. Three thumbs up!

PS. Hop Craft does supply Great Lakes malts including 2-row by the sack. They also carry Michigan grown hops.

 

[Crafty_Brewer]

I have been shopping at Hopcraft in Saginaw almost since they opened (back when the store was called Hop Head). The owners, Mike and Brandon, are great guys who really take care of their customers. During Covid they remained open taking online orders and then placing the packaged order with your name on it outside in a cabinet for pick up. They host local competitions, and support local clubs. They have an online store (see link above) and shipping is competitive with other online sellers. Three thumbs up!

PS. Hop Craft does supply Great Lakes malts including 2-row by the sack. They also carry Michigan grown hops.

I plan on continuing to use them as my primary LHBS for sure. I’ve placed a couple of orders from them with good results. I’ll definitely send them an email to see if they can order bulk sacks in of stuff they don’t list by the sack but they otherwise sell by the pound.

 

[Willy]

If you want sacks of grain - check out the malt houses in Michigan. Looks like they have a bunch in your neck of the woods - call first and see if they have a minimum order and sell to small Brewers first.

We have one near me called Carolina Malt house and they are great!

 

[Brockness Monster]

Siciliano's is 5 minutes from where I live. They seem more focused on their beverage selection, but they do have bags of grain for sale. $90 for a bag of Dingemans Pils, if that gives you an idea of their prices. Not much in the way of equipment, mostly just ingredients.

Bell's brewery got rid of their homebrew section last fall. There is a store near Muskegon called Hoportunist Hot Spot that I keep meaning to check out, but they don't have a website and I don't know if they are still there.

 

[rallenhall]

I'm from the dark side of the Michigan-Ohio border, but occasionally stop at Home Wine Supply in Dundee, which also carries brew supplies. My main LHBS is Titgemeiers in Toledo. Online, my Michigan orders go to Hop Craft and Michigan Hop Alliance. Guys at Hop Craft are super to work with and I've had orders arrive within 24 hrs. Nice if liquid yeast is involved.

 

[Pennine]

Siciliano's is 5 minutes from where I live. They seem more focused on their beverage selection, but they do have bags of grain for sale. $90 for a bag of Dingemans Pils, if that gives you an idea of their prices. Not much in the way of equipment, mostly just ingredients.

Bell's brewery got rid of their homebrew section last fall. There is a store near Muskegon called Hoportunist Hot Spot that I keep meaning to check out, but they don't have a website and I don't know if they are still there.

Not surprised to hear about Bells but still disappointing. Not sure I would make the effort to stop there now.

 

[2talljones]

The supply house at Cadillac straits brewing in Madison heights is my go to. If you need something special ordered they are more than willing to get it in wether it be yeast, grain or equipment. You can send in your needs through their website and they will have it all together when you get there. Or just show up order things and go have a beer in the brewery... Very good beers

 

[Steveruch]

Not in Michigan, but close with good prices is ritebrew.

 

[homebrudoc]

Likely a long drive but, there is South County Homebrewing Supply in Vicksburg, a sub-business of Distant Whistle Brewpub. Since Bell's closed, it's the only game within driving distance.

 

[Brockness Monster]

Has anybody bought grain from Great Lakes Malting in Traverse City? I go up that way every couple months or so and might pick up some grain if they make good stuff.

Edit: apparently there is a malting company in Zeeland called emergent, anybody try them out?

 

[Crafty_Brewer]

Has anybody bought grain from Great Lakes Malting in Traverse City? I go up that way every couple months or so and might pick up some grain if they make good stuff.

Edit: apparently there is a malting company in Zeeland called emergent, anybody try them out?

I haven’t tried GLM’s grains yet, but they look good. Definitely email them so they can pull your order before driving up there. I had sent them an inquiry email earlier this year and their prices looked decent. I wanted to buy from them, but it was going to be way out of the way for me, and I ended up getting what I needed from Hopcraft after work one day. I do plan on getting something from GLM at some point.