Did Northern Brewer Purchase Austin Homebrew AND/OR Adventures in Brewing?

[BrewnWKopperKat]

At the moment, the primary sources of information appear to be a 7 year old HomebrewTalk account with just one post and a reddit burner account.

This popped up today on R/Mead.

A web search shows it in five (of six or seven) subforums. In one of those threads, there is a comment from the burner account that contains some reasonable business sense.

On the 'consumer' side: gift cards, like IPAs, are better when consumed fresh.

 

[harrower]

I should have specified the caveat that they should be a business that provides good service and products. I wouldn't expect someone to stick with a business that doesn't do good business.

If my LHBS doesn't carry something, I need, I have no qualms about getting it online.

Edit: I am one that would make that one hour drive for a good shop though.

With current gas prices, that 2 hour drive is getting expensive!

 

[D.B.Moody]

Last time I bought from ritebrew three pounds of dme was $9.19.

Yes, that is why I like and order from Rite Brew. I think they've risen recently, but their prices are excellent on what they carry like Briess DME. The problem is they do not carry Munton's DME, Muntons yeast, label paper, or Briess Dark DME. I was quoting Muntons DME prices. My real point is that Northern Brewer is outrageously high.

 

[kmmuellr]

AIH is my local store, and I've been shopping from them since they opened their first location in Dearborn. Bummed that its under new ownership, but as a business owner, it should be your goal to make the business desirable to be purchased, and to sell and retire. Good on Jay for being able to build and run a store so that happened! I'm happy for him!

K

 

[hout17]

With current gas prices, that 2 hour drive is getting expensive!

Time to break out the scooter!

Edit: Or buy in bulk

 

[tracer bullet]

So, to be fair, do we know that NB is a terrible company because they bought the stores and then fired all these employees? Maybe this had been going on a long time and NB is coming in much later? I don't know either way, just hate to jump to conclusions. And if NB did take over, it's not like they have a staff they are going to tell to move across the country and start working in these stores. It'd only make sense to keep the same people if the stores are going to stay open. Something else is going on.

NB / MS is actually my LHBS but I have no particular love for them. That'd actually be Ritebrew I have love for but I suppose that's not really what this thread is about.

 

[matt_m]

A few months back, someone in a Toledo area homebrewing group was told by an AIH employee that Blackstreet purchased AIH the previous week. I don't know what incentive either had to lie. Since that time AIH has put tons of random inventory on clearance, wiped all traces of company history from their web site, and the Taylor building is empty and for sale. Its either true, or an elaborate scheme to spread rumor.

 

[BrewnWKopperKat]

 

[matt_m]

Posted 2 minutes ago in another SE Michigan Club's group.

 

[matt_m]

https://www.loopnet.com/Listing/6071-Jackson-Rd-Ann-Arbor-MI/25049936/

 

[brew_mama]

if this is true that Austin Homebrew is closing then I'm bummed. Their store was fantastic.

 

[dendrophobe]

I just called the Ann Arbor store. They close at 6:00 today, and then are moving everything to "another location". Guy on the phone wasn't allowed to tell me anything about where, why, or any of that. The website will remain open, they'll still honor gift cards, rewards program, all that... But the local store is gone after today.

 

[joejelly]

I used to work at Austin Homebrew Supply back in 1993-1994. Dave Bone owned it.
I worked with Eric and Shawn. We played great music. And I figured out it was good to mop twice a day with lots of plain hot water. No need to fuss about chemicals… just get a good mechanical cleaning!
We had great customers. Steve and that lawyer guy who was proud of his Cole Porter and is now a judge in… Oregon?
The 50% of ingredients for employees really helped me crank up my experience so I could brew professionally with confidence.
Other customers included Chip McElroy and Brian Peters of Live Oak and ABJB and Jason Davis from Celis, Waterloo, The Lab and now Freetail.
And so many more.
I know it’s not terribly relevant, but I saw AHS and went on a nostalgic trip!
Joe Barfield
Unrecoverable celiac :-(
Castelo Branco Cider
Portugal

 

[BrewnWKopperKat]

... real estate listing ...

I just called the Ann Arbor store.

to both of you for doing some research that can't be hidden behind NDAs.

Back in January, I saw that there were some new-ish MI business entities with agents in MN. Nothing absolutely conclusive. Again, there are some thing that can not be fully hidden by NDAs.

 

[matt_m]

I have to say, I'm just sick about this. I got my first beginner brewing kit, a number of kits, my first kegging setup etc from AIH. I kind of moved beyond them for equipment but used them a lot for grain, some for yeast and a little for hops. I was just in there a few weeks ago to pick up a few odds and ends. As just another mail order company, they'd be very low on my list.

A few years ago we were considering moving to another metro area. As part of a weekend checking the area out, I checked out the LHBSs in the area and thought I was really lucky to have something like AIH so close.

 

[Dead Money Duke]

I just went by Austin Homebrew today and they said they are closing down and everything is getting shipped out of state on Monday. They said the website would remain online and probably still use the name Austin Homebrew Supply, but nothing would be shipped out of Texas.

I was surprised, but I live off of SoCo and I've got SoCo Homebrew real close by. I only drove up to AHS to check it out. RIP.

 

[matt_m]

AIH already removed A^2 from the contact us page. Feel sorry for anyone who shows up on Saturday morning to buy their supplies for the weekend.

https://www.homebrewing.org/CONTACT-US_ep_5.html

 

[Yesfan]

Well, this sucks. So NB is buying out both AHS and AiH? I've bought a lot from AiH. I took advantage of their rewards program when I bought my Top Tier (now no longer made ).

I believe Chip Walton still has an account here (I did the "@" thing, but couldn't get his username to come up). Maybe he can share more info. NB was THE store for me before AB/InBev bought and ruined them. I had high hopes when AB sold off Northern to another company. Here lately, they seem to be more like the old Northern I remember and I have bought a few items from them since then. Chip has also returned to working there I think, so I took that as a good sign.

I've been buying more from Williams and More Beer the past couple of years.

 

[day_trippr]

I always thought AIH and AHS were two faces of the same company.
Either way it's too bad...and not surprising...

 

[gonpce]

After reading several of these post yesterday I just called Austin Homebrew and asked if they had been sold. I was informed the sale was true but internet business would continue as normal, would not comment on retail sales. yet to be seen.

 

[Yesfan]

I did download a few recipe sheets from AiH in case they completely shut down and noticed a lot of them were AHS recipe sheets. I did the same thing with Northern when Chris Farley first sold them as I thought the "free recipe downloads" would be gone with the new owner.

I went ahead and emailed AiH about the Northern acquisition to see what they say. I don't expect a reply back, but figured I'd give it a try. Personally, I don't mind Northern buying either or both of them out (them better than InBev). I like all three stores, but if people are going to lose their jobs, that might be a different story.

 

[Ron O]

My local homebrew supply store in Wilmington, NC just closed. I guess they weren't profitable. Now I will have to shop online at NB or AIH.

 

[Yesfan]

My local homebrew supply store in Wilmington, NC just closed. I guess they weren't profitable. Now I will have to shop online at NB or AIH.

Don't rule out others. More Beer has been my go to the past couple of years but I like Williams alot too. I got all my Duotight/EVA Barrier gas/beer line stuff from them. They usually have a lot of specials too. Williams is in Cali, but my last two orders I've received within a week and I'm in east Tenn.

Then there's places like Brewhardware (Bobby M) and NorCal (Jaybird) since those owners are regulars here. They have or can make specialty items for your brewery that the others can't get or have. All's not lost my friend.

 

[BrewnWKopperKat]

Don't rule out others.

... and let's see if HomebrewTalk can 'crowd source' the internet's best list of regional, local, and online stores in 2022.

For those near the "North Coast", ritebrew is worth a look. With generally [1] next day delivery to a wide area of the "North Coast" (including the Twin Cities ), one can (generally) order ingredients on Monday and brew on the next weekend.

[1] Subject to availability of working delivery trucks . YMMV. IANAL. ...

 

[Yesfan]

... and let's see if HomebrewTalk can 'crowd source' the internet's best list of regional local and online stores in 2022.

For those near the "North Coast", ritebrew is worth a look. With generally [1] next day delivery to a wide area of the "North Coast" (including the Twin Cities ), one can (generally) order ingredients on Monday and brew on the next weekend.

[1] Subject to availability of working delivery trucks . YMMV. IANAL. ...

Closest store in my area is Beverage World. There an hour out and I doubt they ship anything since they're mostly a beer store than homebrew store.

 

[matt_m]

Great Fermentations in Indy. Easy 1-2 day radius of much of the upper Midwest and $8 shipping on orders over $55.

 

[D.B.Moody]

My local homebrew supply store in Wilmington, NC just closed. I guess they weren't profitable. Now I will have to shop online at NB or AIH.

Please do not do that.
Northern Brewer is terrible for our hobby, Now that they own AHS and AIH they will destroy that competition just like that did to Midwest before they sold themselves to AB-InBev. Northern Brewer is owned by Blackstreet Capital Holdings, a private equity firm. Northern Brewer is big and and has a lot of stuff available, but they are very high on their pricing.

I just checked on on the price of 3# of Briess DME:
Rite Brew $10.09
Label Peelers $10.92
Atlantic Brew Supply $11.99
Great Fermentations $15.99
More Beer $16.99
AIH and AHB $17.99
Midwest Supply $17.99
Northern Brewer $20.99

Do you see pattern here? $20.99 Are you kidding me?
And these are not the only places, and they don't include any local shops.
At such prices free shipping isn't important if you order much at all.

Take a little time and find some place other to order from. If you're lucky enough to have a local shop to visit, go see if they might not be more competitive than you think. Do it for yourself and your fellow brewers.

 

[Yesfan]

Please do not do that.
Northern Brewer is terrible for our hobby, Now that they own AHS and AIH they will destroy that competition just like that did to Midwest before they sold themselves to AB-InBev. Northern Brewer is owned by Blackstreet Holdings, a private equity firm. Northern Brewer is big and and has a lot of stuff available, but they are very high on their pricing.

I just checked on on the price of 3# of Briess DME:
Rite Brew $10.09
Label Peelers $10.92
Atlantic Brew Supply $11.99
Great Fermentations $15.99
More Beer $16.99
AIH and AHB $17.99
Midwest Supply $17.99
Northern Brewer $20.99

Do you see pattern here? $20.99 Are you kidding me?
And these are not the only place, and they don't include any local shops.
At such prices free shipping isn't important if you order much at all.

Take a little time and find some place other to order from. If you're lucky enough to have a local shop to visit, go see if they might not be more competitive than you think. Do it for yourself and your fellow brewers.

Williams Brewing has 3lb of DME at $14.99. It's Pilsen malt from Briess as well. I saved $20 getting my Fermzilla All Rounder from Williams vs More Beer. I've bought a few items from Rite. I'll have to pay them another visit.

 

[camonick]

My local homebrew supply store in Wilmington, NC just closed. I guess they weren't profitable. Now I will have to shop online at NB or AIH.

I usually buy a lot of stuff from Atlantic Brew Supply in Raleigh. They have good prices and fast shipping. Since you’re in NC you’d probably get your order in a day. I’m in extreme rural Colorado and don’t have a LHBS, let alone any other retail stores close. All my brewing purchases are online… usually with whoever has what I need or the lowest price. I’m not particularly loyal to any one company. I’ve done business with nearly all the online companies listed in this thread.
PS I’ll be in Wilmington in June.

 

[doogster]

Williams Brewing has 3lb of DME at $14.99. It's Pilsen malt from Briess as well. I saved $20 getting my Fermzilla All Rounder from Williams vs More Beer. I've bought a few items from Rite. I'll have to pay them another visit.

Yesfan, If you are still in Cleveland.... The Vine n Hop in Medina, by way of comparison has Briess DME $12.99 for 3# Maybe they are closer to you than Beverage World.... they do ship also