I started with AIH and NB. Still pretty loyal to AIH but I distinctly remember deleting my NB bookmark the day I heard about the acquisition. I was still an extract brewer at the time. If things go well I will consider NB again or at least shop their sales.
AB InBev Sells Northern Brewer
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I started with AIH and NB. Still pretty loyal to AIH but I distinctly remember deleting my NB bookmark the day I heard about the acquisition. I was still an extract brewer at the time. If things go well I will consider NB again or at least shop their sales.
I think I've only done business with NB once since the sale to InBev. I was near their store in Milwaukee, stopped in to see if anything was on clearance or if there was anything I'd buy because of the convenience. I think I bought a spare lid for my bigmouth bubbler, that was it.
And yet...NB was where I started in home brewing. I screwed up my first brew instructions and in a partial panic called their help line. Good help on that end. I'd steeped the steeping grains at the wrong temp or something. The advice from their employee was essentially, "it'll be fine. Go forward." Or, in more common parlance, RDWHAHB. Except I didn't yet have any homebrew.
So I still have a soft spot in my heart (or maybe my head
) for Northern Brewer. I have a couple Northern Brewer stickers and put one on a magnet sheet so I could put it on my keezer. Regardless of who owns them, they're an important part of my personal homebrew history, just like the other places from which I've purchased brewing equipment and the taprooms and breweries I've visited.
I was never in the crowd that would not by from NB just because they were bought by InBev. I stopped because I was able to find most everything for less elsewhere. When I did buy, their customer service was top notch!
Just to clarify, I did not, and still don't, have that hate for BMC that many others share around here... I do remember my daily drive by this billboard that picked fun at craft beer whilst advertising Bud. I don't remember the details but it depicted a glass of beer garnished with what looked to be like kale and shellfish. There was a TV spot of the same ad. I just thought to myself "why would I buy craft beer supplies from a store who's parent company insults craft beer?" I stand by that decision but I have no doubts that the staff at NB were still every bit as dedicated to homebrew and customer service. And in all fairness, I've heard some pretty strange craft beer stories myself including "beard yeast" and "cat poop".
(Duplicate post)
![Craft A Brew - Safale S-04 Dry Yeast - Fermentis - English Ale Dry Yeast - For English and American Ales and Hard Apple Ciders - Ingredients for Home Brewing - Beer Making Supplies - [1 Pack]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41fVGNh6JfL._SL500_.jpg)
I wrote off Northern Brewer when the safety issues with the Big Mouth Bubblers came to light. The way they handled it was unacceptable IMO. (See this post for some info: https://www.homebrewtalk.com/forum/threads/big-mouth-bubblers-are-dangerously-thin.486222/)
I didn't see how they handled the problem, but for me it would have been a non issue in the first place since I would never own a glass fermenter bigger than 1 gallon. And I only have that because there is no PET equivalent.
Same here. My last order from Northern Brewer sat for 10 days before it even shipped. With Williams I can get it the next day if I order before noon...
isomerization
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They make 1 gal ported Fermonsters (sold at MoreBeer). They are crazy flimsy, but I haven’t had any issues so far.
Hey! They also sell one without the spigot! If I ever do more 1 gallon batches I might have to look into them.
isomerization
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Why wouldn’t you want a spigot?
Gunk that can grow in them during fermentation and the possibility of breaking a cheap plastic fitting.
isomerization
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I will take those (slim) odds over the oxidized results from autosiphoning.
As opposed to oxidized results from using a spigot, or having the spigot under the level of the trub...... I have been using an autosiphon for 8+ years and have not had oxidation issues. Could my beer be better? Probably but I would skip the spigot then and go to closed transfers. I probably will, some year....
Nate R
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Living in California, i have used NB for some large purchases to avoid tax. Plus the occasional 20% off can make a deal.
Note to feds: i always report all out of state internet purchases on state and federal tax returns!
Note to feds: i always report all out of state internet purchases on state and federal tax returns!
OnePlate
Yeast are my housepets
The axe has fallen on Northern Brewer's Minneapolis store. Just got back from there to see what's the deal with the 30% off clearance sale this weekend and got the bad news. Sacks of grain were flying out the door. I picked up a ton of hops because that's about all that was left already.
I'm so sad this location is closing, but at least the St Paul store and Midwest in St Louis Park are staying put. Now I guess I have an excuse to get my own grain mill and start buying bulk grain, because Midwest's grain area sucks (unless they expand it now) and St Paul is an annoying trek in a direction we never go.
I'm so sad this location is closing, but at least the St Paul store and Midwest in St Louis Park are staying put. Now I guess I have an excuse to get my own grain mill and start buying bulk grain, because Midwest's grain area sucks (unless they expand it now) and St Paul is an annoying trek in a direction we never go.
Wow, I was worried they might close one or more stores. I honestly figured it would be the St. Paul store though. The Minneapolis store was much newer and larger.
One has to wonder if Midwest and the St. Paul store are in danger.
One has to wonder if Midwest and the St. Paul store are in danger.
OnePlate
Yeast are my housepets
I figure those two stores are safe. Losing either one would be a huge blow to the brewing community and I'd hope the owners are aware of that (and care).
That is a wonderful thing to hope for. Until we get some sort of indication that Blackstreet Capital Holdings is in this for anything other than money, we can probably count on them to do whatever is most efficient for profits. If that means one store, then it will be one store. If that means brick and mortar are a financial burden, it could very well mean online sales only.
What are the locations of the 3 stores in proximity of each other? What was the cost of running the bigger store that they closed? Blackstreet Capital Holdings I am sure looked at these and made a choice that 1) one of the stores was competing with another. 2) The overhead of the larger Northern Brewer store was not cost effective.
I was surprised when NB and Midwest merged that they stayed separate entities. I would have expected 2 brick and mortar stores of the same name and a central online warehouse.
I was surprised when NB and Midwest merged that they stayed separate entities. I would have expected 2 brick and mortar stores of the same name and a central online warehouse.
I was there Friday and the employees told me they opened the NB Minneapolis location to compete with Midwest Supplies before they merged. Now it doesn't make sense to keep the two stores since they are so close together (12 miles). They also said the MWS store will keep the Midwest name due to strong online branding and the growth of their hydroponics. It didn't sound like the St.Paul and MWS retail locations were in any danger of closing.
OnePlate
Yeast are my housepets
That makes a lot of sense. No point in competing with yourself.
I noticed tonight on Midwest's site that they have new grain prices, so that's awesome! I'm hoping this means that they'll get NB's expanded in-store grain selection too. I've only been in there once for grain and I was really disappointed. I'll swing in to take a look next weekend, probably.
I noticed tonight on Midwest's site that they have new grain prices, so that's awesome! I'm hoping this means that they'll get NB's expanded in-store grain selection too. I've only been in there once for grain and I was really disappointed. I'll swing in to take a look next weekend, probably.
OnePlate
Yeast are my housepets
I can't imagine there's much left by now but i'm sure there's a bargain or two to be had.
Nate R
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Dang. Long drive from California but might be worth it!!! Lol.
I can't imagine there's much left by now but i'm sure there's a bargain or two to be had.
Steveruch
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How many employees are S.O.L?
I doubt MW or NB's St. Paul store will be in danger. They are practically at opposite ends of the metro and there is not likely much competition between the two. Together they serve a metro of 3.5 million, and with 2 other local brew stores out of the picture, the remaining stores will do fine.
Yeah with brew & grow Minnesota closing it leaves me with having to shop at Midwest for grains when in the cities.
Carolina_Matt
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Have you ever bought grains from Midwest online, or just in the store? Looking at their new, lower prices - the per-LB prices are pretty competitive (although the free shipping threshold is higher than Morebeer).
If you buy something like 40 pounds of briess 2-row, I'm wondering if it would come in four sealed 10lb bags, or if they measure in the store and put them in Ziploc bags. If it's sealed, I may have to add $145 of grains to my cart for $20 off and free shipping.
