How close is your (L)HBS

[sweed]

Depends, 30 seconds from work, or about 30 minutes from home. These are 2 different lhbs that I use. The one by my work is over an hour away from my house if there was no traffic, which is why I go to the other one that is by my gym.

 

[unionrdr]

Not on Wyeast, last time I was in it was $9.50 a pack & every single 1056 in the fridge was swelled. Left empty handed.

Huh. It's been a few months since I was last there. Maybe some squeezed the packets while searchin the fridge,or theywere damaged in shipping. That's a new one for me. And the price musta went up. Gotaa get over there when I start my tripiweisse...

 

[ryno84]

I live 15 minutes from MoreBeer in Concord. Really makes it convenient bc I can pick up anything they have online without shipping, including their clearance items.

 

[dford]

Brewmasters Warehouse is 3 hours away. I've never set foot in store but their shipping is fast and cheap.

 

[mux]

4 blocks and I work there part time when they need help.

 

[mbauer013]

Yep, Midwest moved locations 2 years ago to 3 blocks from my house. Full fermenters, empty wallet

 

[Hammy71]

21 miles (35 minutes), but it's kinda on the way home from work.

 

[david_42]

The good ones are in the 30-45 minute range. There's one much closer, but the hours are so wacky I've given up trying to buy anything there.

 

[HookUp]

Depends on traffic, but 30 to 45 min. I typically buy in bulk, so end up ordering but for the onesey twosey things, stop by to chat.

Just found a cool new store with good people.

I luv the old store though because they carry equipment I cant afford, like a $750 conical fermenter.

 

[Bubba]

About maybe 10 miles but in NY it could take an hour depending on the time of day.

 

[Dawnhulio]

Maybe a mile and a half away. It's a small shop, good to visit on an emergency-need basis, but not for all of one's brewing necessities. *That* shop is about 10 miles away. Needless to say both are easily accessible.

 

[daksin]

The closest one to me actually just moved 5 minutes from my house, but that guy thinks he is god's gift to brewing but doesn't know bugger all about brewing, and is a bit of a jerk. His prices are OUTRAGEOUS, and grain selection is dismal, to boot. I would only ever go there if there was some sort of emergency that couldn't spare the extra 40 minutes round trip to HomebrewMart down by the 8. Can't imagine what that would be- his hours are crap too. Only open until 6 on weekdays and half the time he leaves early.

Homebrewmart is the shizzy- excellent grain and hops selection (they've got citra and simcoe on the regular, though it's expensive), knowledgeable people working at all hours, Ballast Point tasting room, and fantastic equipment selection. Their prices are great too. It's only ~20-25 minutes from my house anyway. If I'm ordering a ton of stuff, though, I usually order from Norther Brewer. Flat rate shipping plus lots of stuff means their slightly lower prices end up beating even HBM. I always buy yeast locally and then reuse it though, because white labs is right here (across the street from LHBS #1) so it's always freshest at the store. No point in paying NB to ship it from CA to MN and then back to me.

I prefer to drive down to HBM, even if I do spend $8 on gas (NB shipping money) because I think it's important to support a business that is absolutely doing it right. Also major shout out to North County LHBS Hydrobrew- those dudes know their stuff and have great selection/prices. The Mother Earth tasting room HBS is a lifesaver too. I find myself in North County needing beer stuff more often than I would have guessed.

 

[MisterTipsy]

5 miles. Big store. Good store.

 

[bleme]

I have one an hour north and one 75 minutes south. Fortunately, my work sends me by one or the other about 4 times a year so I usually plan to spend my lunch hour there.

 

[Ramitt]

After reading others plights I feel damn lucky to be 15 to 20 minutes from a good hbs, though lately they have town so torn you you almost can't get there from here.

 

[helibrewer]

The close shop is 15 minutes but too pricey for most stuff. The Whole Foods has pretty good selection of grain, yeast, hops, misc small items. It's about 10 min with good prices. I work 15 min from MoreBeer (Concord) and go there after night shift for the big stuff.

 

[BrotherGrim]

Mine is about 2 hours, I went there for the first time last weekend. It is the Wine Smith in Mobile Alabama. I must say it was very nice to visit the shop. The owner, who's name I cannot remember, was very personable and easy to talk to. I was like a kid in a candy store, as I had just found the place, but he was very helpful. As the visit was actually for a birthday party, I was unable to spend all day there, but I did drop a few dimes in the till. I will be making the trip back down to visit the shop as often as I can.

I will still be using mail order for supplies as I will be brewing more than I will be making the trip, and until I get set up for bulk storage of grains, I will be ordering batch by batch.

 

[Sambecker1]

I'm lucky, I have 3 within 15 min drive. The best one was only open Wed and Sat but tomorrow goes 7 days!!!

 

[terror_storm]

1.2 miles / 4 minutes

 

[allenH]

There are 2 nearby. The close one is 10 minutes away and is open 7 days a week. They are owned by the German restaurant around the corner and ran by the two bartenders. It is partnered in the building with a German deli, which is cool, but good luck finding anyone working the beer side. You go in and get your goods, go to the deli counter, grab a girl working there and drag them around the beer side to check the prices and ring you up. Did I mention German restaurant and deli? Good luck getting any c-hop other than cascades, you would be in heaven if you were making any German beer. I do buy yeast and cleaning supplies from them.
The other one is about 45 minutes away and has been in business a long time, I have never been there, but reading their reviews (on HBT and google), you better email your order at least 24 hours in advance, and don't ask any questions or try to look them in the eye.

 

[ong]

I don't have a car, but there are four LHBS within easy bicycling distance (5 or 6 miles), including the awesome F. H. Steinbart, which I prefer.

 

[bleme]

I don't have a car, but there are four LHBS within easy bicycling distance (5 or 6 miles), including the awesome F. H. Steinbart, which I prefer.

I hate you!

 

[Chrisl77]

I have a 20 minute drive to my LHBS. Back in the day A guy opened one 200 feet from my house, that's what originally got me into the hobby. Unfortunately He closed up A year later.

 

[DankHead]

Austin Homebrew Supply is on the opposite side of town from me, so about 35 minutes each way. I'm really forgetful, so Im in there almost every other day picking something else up that I forgot during the last trip...

 

[the_bird]

I don't have a car, but there are four LHBS within easy bicycling distance (5 or 6 miles), including the awesome F. H. Steinbart, which I prefer.

Is this you?

 

[KarlHungus76]

Brew and Grow. West loop Chicago, 7 minute drive. Much closer than the other location on Kedzie.

 

[starrfish]

2hrs 20min one way. I place my orders online.

 

[blacksquid]

I'm lucky it's about 5 minutes. And have better prices than online - even on hops! I try to buy everything I can from them and rarely order online except for very specific items - it's moût international for montrealers.

 

[brewers-assistant]

Mine is about 4-5 blocks. I usually just walk over there when I need something

 

[thisgoestoeleven]

There are 3 I've shopped at. One is an hour, one is an hour and a half, one is 2 hours.