Deacon1856
Well-Known Member
*WARNING - I am long winded. This post is lengthy.*
I like deals. A lot. I'm not rich...closer to poor, so I like to find deals on brewing stuff when possible. Enter this online brew supply store...
I want to brew EdWorts Bavarian Hefe, and it calls for an ounce of Hallertau (3 - 4% AAU). So off I go in search of the ingredients.
On the site in question I find the red German wheat, great deal. I find the Pils, great deal. AND I find the Hallertau for $1.99 an ounce!! Is it a sign from the universe that I am SUPPOSED to brew this beer??? I think so. So I buy 4 ounces just to have some in reserve.
I really feel like I've just gotten a deal. I mean I'm already looking up other things I can use this fabulous HOARD of Hallertau I've gotten. Then, today, my package arrives.
There, in my midst, are 4 ounces of Hallertau with an AAU of 1.5%.
Something seems amiss, I say to myself. So I'm off to the online retailer for answers. That's where I encounter the * attached to the "alpha acids" section of the hop information. Shame on me for not noticing.
According to the *: "The shortage of hops will require us to buy hops from a variety of sources. This fact combined with the adverse weather conditions in hop growing regions means that the alpha acid percentage will vary so much that we can no longer post exact alpha acid percentages on our website. If you need to know the alpha acid of a particular hop, email us." (Consider this a paraphrase)
All this to say that I feel duped. Probably it was my own stupidity for not noticing the asterisks. Probably my own stupidity for feeling like I was getting a good deal.
All I know is that after some calculation I'm glad I went ahead and got 4 ounces of the hop because that's what I would need to get my IBU's where they need to be.
The online retailer KNEW they were selling 1.5% Hallertau. Why didn't they just say so? Maybe I'm blowing it a little out of proportion, maybe I'm not. All I know is that my tiny, insignificant, menial brew budget will be going elsewhere from now on. Even if that means I have to shop somewhere else.
Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. Fool me thrice, I'm an idiot for going back even when my better instincts told me not to.
I have respect for those who run the store as they have been nothing but helpful to me when I had previous issues with their business, but now I'm done. This is the third issue out of four orders. I know it's not a big loss to them, soda money really, but I just had to get this off my chest. As you can tell by the length of my post I am one who vents.
Feel free to flame me if you feel I am unjustified. I'm sure there's a nuance of business somewhere that I am overlooking.
All respect -
Deacon
I like deals. A lot. I'm not rich...closer to poor, so I like to find deals on brewing stuff when possible. Enter this online brew supply store...
I want to brew EdWorts Bavarian Hefe, and it calls for an ounce of Hallertau (3 - 4% AAU). So off I go in search of the ingredients.
On the site in question I find the red German wheat, great deal. I find the Pils, great deal. AND I find the Hallertau for $1.99 an ounce!! Is it a sign from the universe that I am SUPPOSED to brew this beer??? I think so. So I buy 4 ounces just to have some in reserve.
I really feel like I've just gotten a deal. I mean I'm already looking up other things I can use this fabulous HOARD of Hallertau I've gotten. Then, today, my package arrives.
There, in my midst, are 4 ounces of Hallertau with an AAU of 1.5%.
Something seems amiss, I say to myself. So I'm off to the online retailer for answers. That's where I encounter the * attached to the "alpha acids" section of the hop information. Shame on me for not noticing.
According to the *: "The shortage of hops will require us to buy hops from a variety of sources. This fact combined with the adverse weather conditions in hop growing regions means that the alpha acid percentage will vary so much that we can no longer post exact alpha acid percentages on our website. If you need to know the alpha acid of a particular hop, email us." (Consider this a paraphrase)
All this to say that I feel duped. Probably it was my own stupidity for not noticing the asterisks. Probably my own stupidity for feeling like I was getting a good deal.
All I know is that after some calculation I'm glad I went ahead and got 4 ounces of the hop because that's what I would need to get my IBU's where they need to be.
The online retailer KNEW they were selling 1.5% Hallertau. Why didn't they just say so? Maybe I'm blowing it a little out of proportion, maybe I'm not. All I know is that my tiny, insignificant, menial brew budget will be going elsewhere from now on. Even if that means I have to shop somewhere else.
Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. Fool me thrice, I'm an idiot for going back even when my better instincts told me not to.
I have respect for those who run the store as they have been nothing but helpful to me when I had previous issues with their business, but now I'm done. This is the third issue out of four orders. I know it's not a big loss to them, soda money really, but I just had to get this off my chest. As you can tell by the length of my post I am one who vents.
Feel free to flame me if you feel I am unjustified. I'm sure there's a nuance of business somewhere that I am overlooking.
All respect -
Deacon