best place for supplies: Canada

[viking_brew]

Has anyone here ordered hops through them?

I'm still cutting my teeth with some festa kits, but I'm definitely going to look into this for when I start going extract and partial mash.

I have not ordered from them yet...maybe on my next batch I'll place an order and see how it goes.

 

[johnnyspade]

Hi Verroa - I'm doing some festa''s as well, just bottled the pale ale. How is the double oatmeal stout? How do you find them generally?

I've made the Festa Double Oatmeal Stout a couple of times and it's excellent. The only recommendation I would make is to condition it as long as you can hold out. After 4 weeks in the bottle, it's very good, after 6 weeks it's even better.

If you can get it, the West Coast IPA is also very good. They did a limited run of that beer this Summer.

 

[chew]

I'd like to order from online places as well, but having a hell of a time finding a place that stocks the Tap-a-draft kits in Canada. x.x

I ordered mine through Morebeer out of the US. Shipping was via USPS, and was pretty quick and inexpensive.

For folks out west, there is a new operation out of Vernon, BC, called Hop Dawgs. Decent selection and pricing.

 

[crypt0]

+1 vote for homebrewgearcanada. I live about 3 hour drive from where they ship, and shipment arrives the next business day.

My only complaint is I wish they sold more hops in bulk.

I am lucky enough to live within driving distance of Gilbertson and Paige, so I go there for my bulk malts, and get my specialty malts/hops/yeast from HBGC.

 

[Erythro73]

Homebrewgearcanada is my favourite so far. I am a member of MoB but haven't participated in any group buys yet. I sometimes make the drive up to Montreal and go here:

http://www.cachettedubootlegger.ca/beer.html

and here

http://www.biereetvin.com/english/english.htm

Can I also suggest

http://www.choppeabarrock.com/

Which is pretty much my favorite place (easily accessible + great service... but the hop is way too pricy).

 

[straylight77]

Any extract brewers in the Markham/Richmond Hill area? Yesterday I had a visit with these guys: http://barleyandgrapes.com/

Andy (the owner I believe) was very helpful. He's willing to sell some of his Pale Extract Syrup for $6 / Litre. We measured the weight of that -- 1420g or 3 lbs. 2 oz. per Litre. From what I've seen so far that's not too bad of a deal. They also have a bunch of specialty grains (crystal, wheat, muncih, etc) and hops (10 cents per gram).

Just thought I would mention it. It's the most convenient location for me (near work) so I'm planning on supplying my first recipe from here.

 

[whitebirdfeathers]

I'm all for supporting Canadian businesses first but I was unable to find a wort chiller through the Canadian companies so I looked at the American ones. I found that Learntobrew.com does $7.99 shipping to Canada without any brokerage fees. I may have to pay some duty when it arrives but that is no big deal.

Worth checking out.

 

[viking_brew]

I'm all for supporting Canadian businesses first but I was unable to find a wort chiller through the Canadian companies so I looked at the American ones. I found that Learntobrew.com does $7.99 shipping to Canada without any brokerage fees. I may have to pay some duty when it arrives but that is no big deal.

Worth checking out.

Good to know.

Have you considered making your own wort chiller? I have yet to look into one but a simple immersion wort chiller looks pretty easy to make, and probably a lot cheaper than one from a homebrew store.

Here's a link I found:
http://www.olderascal.com/brewing/wortchiller/index.html

 

[chew]

I'm all for supporting Canadian businesses first but I was unable to find a wort chiller through the Canadian companies so I looked at the American ones. I found that Learntobrew.com does $7.99 shipping to Canada without any brokerage fees. I may have to pay some duty when it arrives but that is no big deal.

Worth checking out.

Canadian Homebrew Supplies carries both the Brewer's Best copper wort chiller (which I just received) and the Blichmann plate chiller.

 

[clayroc]

Wow, here in Calgary I have to goto 3 different wine making stores just to get everything I need. And most of the time I can't find what I really want and have to settle for what they have. To be honest I don't think there is a dedicated LHBS here, and if there is they suck at advertising because I haven't found them yet. Maybe I should open one

 

[jfr1111]

Hi Verroa - I'm doing some festa''s as well, just bottled the pale ale. How is the double oatmeal stout? How do you find them generally?

The double oatmeal stout is quite good. I overcarbed mine a touch, but I just leave it in the open for 10 minutes or so, then it's deliciously creamy. It's a bit harsher than many Oatmeal Stouts though: it's roasty and toasty, altough there's almost no hop bitterness. I wouldn't hesitate picking it up again: you get almost a full 23L out of the box since there's almost no trub at all in the wort. For the quality, it's a lot better than whatever extract kit you can buy on the market and once you factor in that you get a true 23L out of it with a good dry yeast you can use (and not crap taped on a can), it's almost a no brainer.

My all grain batches cost me less, but I also get less beer out of them due to trub and hop matter. With Festa Brew, there's really not much hassle and you can be sure it'll turn out good if you are careful about sanitation and temperature control/yeast health.

 

[elproducto]

Well, looks like Canadian Homebrew Supplies is now doing mailorder only, no pickups. Guess I'm now a loyal customer of Spencer at homebrewgearcanada, for his STELLAR customer service and fast shipping.

 

[Varroa]

Spencer has treated me VERY well, including making some custom orders that are not listed on his site.

 

[viking_brew]

Well, looks like Canadian Homebrew Supplies is now doing mailorder only, no pickups. Guess I'm now a loyal customer of Spencer at homebrewgearcanada, for his STELLAR customer service and fast shipping.

Only the customers are to blame for that - too many no-shows . Really disappointing as it was pretty convenient for me. You can still arrange a pick up but you need to pay with pay-pal in advance. Oh well.

 

[findlaym]

Shipping was quick with canadian home brew supplies (CHBS) prices were good and everything arrived as described. homebrewgear canada (HBCC) has a substantially smaller selection of both consumables and equipment. I had a good experience with CHBS but I will say that their website is frustrating. the cart kept emptying on me and I would have to go and fill it again. also paypal are total a$%holes and I won't deal with them ever again if I don't have to. does that really impact my experience? no. I would rather deal with a less than optimal website and the paypall D*&s than drive to Toronto any day.

 

[Clarkd]

I have to give a major plus one to www.hopdawgs.ca . Chris has exceptional customer service, is very helpful and gets orders out really really quickly. His selection is pretty good on everything as well and he adds to it all the time. Check it out guys!

Clark

 

[b33risGOOD]

You guys are ****ign kiding me. they are not doing local pick up anymore?/

 

[viking_brew]

You guys are ****ign kiding me. they are not doing local pick up anymore?/

Nope, check out the "Events/News" section on his page. You can arrange local pickup but you have to pay in advance using pay-pal. Too many customers were not showing up to pickup and pay for their orders. I can't really blame him for the decision; I would do the same. Only takes a couple of a$#holes to ruin a good thing .

 

[elproducto]

OK, just had a FANTASTIC customer experience with Chris at www.hopdawgs.ca. Great communication, and really fast and reasonable shipping.

I ordered a Barley Crusher and some grains, and it was sent out about an hour later.

Please people.. support these Canadian HBS, let our friends south of the border deal with theirs.

 

[paraordnance]

OK, just had a FANTASTIC customer experience with Chris at www.hopdawgs.ca. Great communication, and really fast and reasonable shipping.

I ordered a Barley Crusher and some grains, and it was sent out about an hour later.

Please people.. support these Canadian HBS, let our friends south of the border deal with theirs.

yeah, I`m done with shopping south of the border. Shipping charges kill all nice deals and if you throw custom duties on a top, its not even worth it. I found local RAHR malting plant just 15 min drive from me and will be getting 2-row canadian malt at $20 for 55 lbs sack! Speciality grains can be ordered online from either one mentioned here online vendors. I`m a happy brewer now

 

[birvine]

One of the above-mentioned Cdn suppliers just gave me excellent service last week - he was concerned that CanPost's tracking was not showing my package. On one of the other mentioned Cdn websites I read something about no more pick-ups or something or other... in what seemed to be interesting words... something along the lines of "go somewhere else if you don't like it". I understand the frustration due to some recurring issues, but hmmmm.

B

 

[jangevaa]

I am getting some malt from United Canadian Malt in Peterborough tomorrow morning. They only deal generally with orders over $150. They sell in 50lb bags only (milled, or intact). I am getting a single bag of 2-row for $56 milled. I will try Gilbertson and Page when I am back up in Guelph area. Seems promising. It looks like I need to brew a lot more beer though in order to use these large bags...

 

[Cellarbrau]

I really wish Canada had supplier that was on par with the big US homebrew sites! If the LHBS doesn't have it I probably won't get it.

P.S. birvine: Air your drity laundy. Who gave you good service? Who didn't? Anyone on the fence about making an order in Canada NEEDS to know.

 

[birvine]

Cellarbrau...

Spencer at HomeBrewGearCanada has been very helpful and is very knowledgeable. I called this week after my order was sent to ask a few questions about my recipe and brewing in general - he knows his stuff and wants to help.

HomeBrewSupplies gave me good service and has a lot of stock but in my experience has not been too quick at sending e-mail replies to questions when I was preparing an order. And that comment on the website about going somewhere else...

B

 

[JohnnyGunn]

It's not online...but Andrew at Winning Wines Plus in Lendrum in Edmonton, just put in a very large order for Blichmann equipment! Should be here in mid-March or so!

 

[estoppel]

This is obviously a late reply, but I use Chris at hopdawgs.ca for pretty much everything except base malt and hops (unless I am going to use hops within a week of delivery). If he shipped his hops vaccum sealed, I'd buy more from him. Until then, I buy hops out of the states at freshhops.

He originally sold me on a Barley Crusher which he sold to me at pretty much the exact same price as the manufacturer only with less shipping and no duty. Since then, he's been my go to guy.

I still use my LHBS for the last minute stuff.

 

[Dondlelinger]

First off if you need equipment I would keep an eye on craigslist and kajiji(your local area or largest area around you) sometimes you can get screaming deals or even free stuff.Many carboys, wine equip always for sale..... I scored 6.5 dozen swing top 500ml bottles for free!! off craigs list! If your looking for grains/and cleaners ect.

Heres a list, make sure just to look at the canadian ones though

+1 hopdawgs, hes a nice guy I bought my starsan off him, and he personally delivered it to my door, free of charge. (he was driving through my town anyways)

 

[lylo]

Chris at Hopdawgs has been great for me too.I own a business and he just ships to me on Greyhound.3 days max!

 

[Bradinator]

+1 to Hopdawgs as well. Good prices, fast delivery.

 

[CaliberHops]

I sell hops and I will gladly ship to canada.

Contact me [email protected]