Midwest Supply v. Northern Brewer

[kitchensqueen]

Don't know what happened there. I usually get mine within 3 days but they usually don't get me the tracking number until the day of delivery.

Finally yesterday the tracking number registered with Fedex and it's now on it's way; supposed to be delivered today. I'm pretty excited - I'll have everything to do my first brew over the holiday weekend!

But another reason I really like NB (aside from BrewingTV :rockin is their catalogs are awesome. I'm a pretty new brewer, with only 4 batches under my belt. So, I don't automatically know how things will turn out just based on the ingredients. And NB's catalogs give a lot of descriptions for their ingredient kits. All 3 of the kits I've gotten from them have turned out pretty much exactly as I expected, and my expectations were based almost completely on the descriptions in the catalogs. AND they put out new catalogs with great pictures and different extended descriptions on a very regular basis. It may just be marketing, and their products might not be any better than Midwest, but I definitely feel more informed as a customer of NB.

I mean seriously, just pick up your latest catalog from the 2 places and compare them. If you are just looking for a specific bit of information on a price or the availability of an item, you'll find that information in both catalogs. If you are trying to keep yourself busy so you don't drink all of your beer while it is still green, I bet you'll have more luck thumbing through a NB catalog. It just makes me more excited about what my next batch could be.

Oh yeah, I'm a total catalog junky. I have way to many in this house, but it's great fun to browse through them and make grandiose plans while you're in between projects.

 

[AmandaK]

Northern Brewer.

Why? Going above and beyond for the customer. Every. Single. Time.

 

[HollidaySlim]

Has to be Northern Brewer for me. Great customer support and reasonable pricing. I also love BrewingTV.

 

[ktblunden]

I'm glad to hear so many positive reviews of Midwest, though I seem to be having some trouble with them... I made an order five days ago, they charged my card right away and then my status never changed to shipped. When I emailed to ask today, they said they didn't know what happened, but it's packed up and ready to go. They gave me a Fedex tracking number. Which still hasn't made it Fedex yet. Sigh. Hopefully it's just a fluke - I really like their prices and selection, and the fact that they don't charge extra for crushing grain.

I had that problem with Brewmaster's Warehouse. Placed an order and it didn't ship until a week later and showed up a week after that. I'm a little leery of ordering from them in the future. I think I'll stick with AHS, I usually have my order from them within a week.

 

[Olive Drab]

The last 2 orders NB shipped slower than I would have liked. Midwest has shipped quicker

 

[Lennie]

Both great, with shipping to MO its usually a wash on price although I still shop around. Love NB's forum and Brewing TV.

 

[drives_a_bike]

My wife placed my last order on NB with her check card, it was a sunday, and her card expired on Monday. she didn't realize this and I received an email from NB on Monday morning letting me know there was a problem with the card. I called the customer service line to let them know what happened, they got my card number and I asked if this would delay my order...the guy on the phone was super nice and said "no way, its packed and ready to go! It'll ship today and be to you on Wednesday".

I got an email with a shipping code to track the order, but it never showed it even leaving NB...I got it on Wednesday so no harm. I'll blame UPS for the shipping thing.

Love their customer service though, those guys were all over my small problem and really nice

 

[kitchensqueen]

I got my Midwest order yesterday and it was perfect. Everything just as I ordered it, and in the right sized box with no extra space or packing materials (wasted packaging is a huge pet peeve of mine). Can't wait to try it out! But based off of everyone's feedback, I'll probably try Northern too for one of my next orders, since they also seem like a good place.

 

[Lennie]

Ordered a starter kit from Midwest, every so often they have a great deal. I think this one was $62 + $12 shipping for the basic equipment kit and an Irish red ingredient kit, plus a $25 coupon for another kit. Can't beat that with a stick. Got here yesterday.

Ordered 9lb of hops from NB, they're having a hop sale right now. With shipping the price was around $10/lb.

 

[natefrog255]

I seem to do the most with Midwest Supplies. I ordered once from Northern Brewer with no issues, the flat rate shipping is nice but MW usually is pretty quick. And I'm in Wisconsin so not far from either. MW's shipping costs can get pricey, I do agree with that. But really no issue with either.

 

[Airplanedoc]

I have purchased from both, I initially started with Midwest, but then started shopping with Northern Brewer. I generally price out my order at both places, and Northern Brewer generally gets my business. Northern Brewer also seems to be quicker to get my order to me. All in all I have no problem with either place

 

[atgunning]

Usually it's Midwest for equipment, NB for everything else. I usually order on a sunday or monday and receive the order thursday or friday with the flat rate shipping at NB. NB is my first choice for pretty much everything. I even know a pro brewer that orders things like beer engines from them for their brewpub.

 

[amandabab]

I'm in a bad shipping zone for midwest. I still use them from time to time for small obscure things.
I end up getting a lot of stuff from Northern Brewer (and williams and AHS)

 

[onthekeg]

Since I pick up, usually NB is cheaper on the bulk bags. I go there then, if MW has a special on bulk bags, I will go there. More times than not, I buy from NB. I don't have anything shipped from either, and don't purchase hops there. I can get hops from anywhere on the internet cheaper then them.

 

[natefrog255]

My biggest thing is I have a hard time justifying paying the shipping, especially at MW. I have a LHBS within 10-15 minutes and even though their initial prices are higher, I think add the shipping and its about even. In that case I'd rather buy/support the LHBS. Obviously they won't have everything I need, but for the most part they do.

 

[BrewThruYou]

I feel like I need multiple online stores. I order from Northern Brewer, Midwest, MoreBeer, Williams, etc.

 

[adamjackson]

I seem to keep going back to Midwest. Their live chat is really great. Last week, a guy spent an hour on chat with me putting together a kegerator parts list and then gave me a coupon code to save on shipping.

 

[Horseballs]

I don't really buy from either. I live close to label peelers - who I think will become one of the big names soon enough. They are located like a mile from LD carlson so they have lower prices generally and the pick things up fresh almost every day. Plus, the owner is a great guy and they are super focused on customer service. Geez, sounds like I work there - not that I'd mind working there.

 

[Doed]

I've purchased from both and like both. I find that when I compare side by side the prices are very similiar but NB's flat rate shipping usually saves me a couple of bucks.

Here's something fun. The next time you order from Midwest, in the comment section of the online order form, ask them to draw you a picture of a cold frosty mug of homebrew on the box. Someone there is very good at artwork as the picture I received on my box was very well done.

 

[kitchensqueen]

Here's something fun. The next time you order from Midwest, in the comment section of the online order form, ask them to draw you a picture of a cold frosty mug of homebrew on the box. Someone there is very good at artwork as the picture I received on my box was very well done.

Ha! That's awesome.

 

[jtswkd]

I use NB for my stuff. The buddy I have that got me into homebrew used them and I like their kits. Also if you are military and call them to order they give you a 10% discount anytime. Can't beat 10% off! Any business willing to give service members a break gets my business

 

[deflagratio]

Northern Brewer gets my business. I have looked at Midwest but the shipping comes in way too high often pushing it over Northern Brewers pricing. That probably has to do with being on the other side of the country. Northern Brewer also has fantastic customer service.
I recently ordered some Wyeast American Ale yeast. Apparently it has an issue in the summer where the yeast retains CO2 and inflates the package on it's own while at the warehouse or during shipping. Well I called their customer service who was amazing friendly and helpful. I was fully educated on my first call. When I got home and tried to check the smack pack I could tell if it was broken or not. I called again we talked and they said they would send me a new package of yeast just to be sure.

 

[dfaridoni]

I use both and have had good experiences with both. I find Midwests shipping costs to be high and sometimes it takes awhile to get an order filled but the one problem I had with an order was taken care of right away after a phone call. Northern has flat rate shipping which can save me about 12 bucks and their prices are pretty much in line with Midwest. Also, never any problems with my orders with northern

 

[tryn2brew]

I shop all of them. I usually look at the bottom line price for the order I'm making, and the cheapest gets the order. I've had great service from all of them, and want to give Kudos to all of these online suppliers for their outstanding support of this great hobby.