Eugene Brewers question

[Mr_Pear]

My brother in laws birthday is coming up and according to his wife after experiencing some homebrew he is pretty interested in getting started for himself. She was wanting to get him a kit or maybe a gift certificate to a LHBS in Eugene Oregon. I was wondering if anyone has any suggestions on where to go in town or what you would want as a first time gift to get into the hobby/addiction?

 

[pola0502ds]

I would go to midwest supplies, northern brewer, or morebeer.com and pick out a starter kit. All the kits come with everything you need to brew your first batch of beer but there are different levels of these kits. The more expensive ones may have the same items but of better quality or may have more items that make life easier. Which everyone you pick though, all the items you get with the kit will most likely stay with you as you advance and expand your hobby. I think the kits are great.

 

[Mr_Pear]

Yeah, that seems to be the good way to go but I was also hoping a gift certificate to a place in town would be fun for him also so. Maybe I'll get the kit online and also we can go together on a certificate somewhere local for him. Hmmm... so many options.

 

[brandonhagen1]

valley vintner and brewer or home fermentor center they are both in Eugene down town

 

[Mr_Pear]

Awesome thank you, headed down to Eugene to take the GRE's tomorrow and will have to check them out! Do you have a perference on one over the other?

 

[mlyday]

http://www.midwestsupplies.com/brewing-starter-kit-w-better-bottle.html


Get him this, and a gift cert. for someplace local to pick out a kit. That way he can decide what kind of beer he wants.

 

[BenjaminBier]

Shopping local is where it's at, forget those websites in who-knows-where.

It's hard to choose between two places that I like equally. When I weigh all the pros and cons, I choose Valley Vintner as the better shop. My choice is mostly out of personal preference for the grain room, which is organized, easy to use, and (almost) always in-stock.

 

[BenjaminBier]

Awesome thank you, headed down to Eugene to take the GRE's tomorrow and will have to check them out! Do you have a perference on one over the other?

You should definitely check them both out and choose the one you think matches your friend's style - it terms of style they're very different shops.

If you stop in Home Fermenter Center, check out their 100+ year old antique grain mill!

 

[Denny]

I like both of those shops and patronize them both. Both owners are firnds of mine and we're lucky to have 2 such great shops in such a small area.

 

[brandonhagen1]

I go to both, it just depends on what i want and how I get there, they are both great shops

 

[Mr_Pear]

Ooo that's a sweet mill. I'm kinda excited to visit them both and excited to have someone to talk home brewing with. I gave him links to HBT and howtobrew so hopefully he'll be well equiped and I'm pushing that he try a partial grain for his first go round.

 

[jkent72]

both are great but for first timers The Fermentor center has easy to use instructions on their kits and the owner Jim is very helpful..imo

http://www.homefermenter.com/

 

[Denny]

I agree. The Home Fermenter Center is my first choice. Jim not only has a wall full of ribbons, he was the first BJCP judge in the PNW.

 

[Mr_Pear]

Sweet I look forward to visiting it tomorrow although it is in Eugene Its always a fun dynamic that my wife and I both went to OSU and her brother and his wife both went to UO.

 

[jkent72]

Sweet I look forward to visiting it tomorrow although it is in Eugene Its always a fun dynamic that my wife and I both went to OSU and her brother and his wife both went to UO.

hey if you get a chance check out the Bier Stein! Great Food and all the beer you can imagine!

www.thebierstein.com

Go Ducks!!!!!

 

[Mr_Pear]

Oh yea that place is magical! Except I got a parking ticket >< I def wanna go back tried some stuff on tap but now I think I need to try some international beer since they have such an amazing collection and my beer appreciation has changed quite a bit!

 

[jkent72]

Parking does suck! We got a ticket the first time we went and we paid! lol took it in and they cancelled it. My favorite is the Ommegang Rare Vos! Top left hand corner of the North American side..lol the stein is heaven

 

[BenjaminBier]

I like both of those shops and patronize them both. Both owners are firnds of mine and we're lucky to have 2 such great shops in such a small area.

Totally agree. Considering all the brew stores, breweries, pubs, bottle shops, and strong brewing community here, we are very fortunate in this town!

 

[hopheaddy420]

The bier stein is awsome. Was out in Eugene last summer, and could believe that place. So much beer, now if only I could open a place like that in Montana.....

 

[BenjaminBier]

@Mr_Pear How was your trip to the Euge??

 

[Mr_Pear]

It was good, we were planning to go to Bandon for the weekend for camping so we got up way early to get ready and then be in town by 8 for the GREs. Went to the home fermentation center and bought a kit. He was nice and let me sub some things out so I upgraded the carboy to 6.5 gallons and bought one of the beer kits with specialty grains and not the pre hopped extract in the cans that it originally came with. His wife is also buying him a turkey fryer and 10gal aluminium stock pot so he'll be doing full boils off the start. Also ordered an IC. When my sister in law said she wanted to spend quite a bit I was trying to think what I would of liked. I reccomended he decide on what he wants from now on since that is like 1/2 the fun of homebrewing. Also stopped at ninkasi then later went to BJs, mostly for the pizookie. Now were staying mostly dry in Bandon so far a damn fine memorial day weekend.

 

[BenjaminBier]

Sounds awesome, Mr_Pear!

Denny, you changed my mind about Home Fermenter Center - I've been going in there quite a bit since we had this thread and I do think I like it better all in all. Cheers!

 

[Denny]

Say hi to Jim and Bente for me!