MoreBeer is out of California?

[Yesfan]

Don't trucks have to refuel all around the country in order to deliver all around the country? Besides, I don't think they're running their own fleet.

Yes, but I'm looking at it from a delivery starting point. They'll always have to refill from another area of the country on the way back. The starting point from their warehouses in PA and CA will have higher prices in fuel compared to a starting point in Kansas City.

I doubt they have their own fleet either, but they are probably going to have to cover that fleet's fuel costs in some way.

 

[Bobby_M]

One of the biggest challenges they had was balancing inventory between the two warehouses. As a biz that orders from them often, it was pretty frustrating that it was split, sporadic, etc..

 

[sdbbp]

Anybody in the San Francisco bay area who might know of an independent store in the area, please let me know.

Stop by Oak Barrel Winecraft in Berkeley. https://oakbarrel.com/

 

[SonomaBrewer]

Another Oak Barrel fan here.

 

[Hoochin'Fool]

Rest in Peace:

• Midwest Supplies - the best stocked grain room in the upper mid-west, maybe the USA

Midwest Supplies over in St Louis Park (MN) really was the best damned store around, I can't believe they closed it and got rid of in-person shopping/pickup (I'm not the kind of guy who wants to join a "brew club" just to be able to pick up seriously over-priced brewing supplies).

 

[Bramling Cross]

One of the biggest challenges they had was balancing inventory between the two warehouses. As a biz that orders from them often, it was pretty frustrating that it was split, sporadic, etc..

That's a good point. Even as just a homebrewer, it was a rare order that shipped exclusively from the PA location. I always found it amusing when the thing that I didn't really need right now, but it was the thing that crossed the free shipping threshold, was the item that came from CA.

 

[BrewnWKopperKat]

I can't believe they closed it

As I understand it, the stores were profitable enough in the late 2010s for AB-InBev / ZX Ventures to leave them open. From what I heard, ZX Ventures also took a fairly "hands off" approach to the stores. During this time (2016 - 2019), there were interesting attempts at innovation; which were often rejected not just once, but twice: it was not "traditional brewing" and it was AB-InBev "stealing the hobby".

The sale to Blackstreet Capital Holdings in 2019 obviously came with a new set of management and new finacial goals for Northern Brewer.

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MoreBeer in Kansas City with 2 day delivery into MN/WI (e.g.: I order Sundy night, order is fulfilled and leaves their dock end of day on Mondy, order arrives at my house end of day Wednesday) may have some impact on some of the WI/OH regional stores that ship via UPS. The other stores typically have either better prices or unique ingredients and, for me, have an established shipping record - I order Sunday night, order typically arrives via UPS by end of day Wednesday. I've never beeen a big orderer from MoreBeer, so I'll probably wait six months (or so) for MoreBeer's warehouse operations to become routine before orderings.

 

[mashdar]

One of the biggest challenges they had was balancing inventory between the two warehouses. As a biz that orders from them often, it was pretty frustrating that it was split, sporadic, etc..

This is probably the main reason. The math on "free" shipping blows up if the orders get split.

I get the impression the owners are pretty happy in CA, so I can't imagine they're just moving for a bit of margin. (Although, a bit of margin vs CA is a bonus.)

edit: Not suggesting owners will move, but it's pretty nice as a business owner to pop in.

 

[CascadesBrewer]

It's something that I do not take for granted. In particular, myLHBS* went the extra mile during COVID and kept me brewing. It's a great shop and I always funnel as much business their way as possible.

I also shop at myLHBS. I don't live that close but I am in the area enough. I was in about a week ago and the shelves are maybe 70% empty. Derek said he just don't not have enough income to support fully stocking the store. It sucks that he has to work another parttime job just to support his "hobby" of owning and running a homebrew store.

 

[Bramling Cross]

I also shop at myLHBS. I don't live that close but I am in the area enough. I was in about a week ago and the shelves are maybe 70% empty. Derek said he just don't not have enough income to support fully stocking the store. It sucks that he has to work another parttime job just to support his "hobby" of owning and running a homebrew store.

Oh, boy...

I knew things weren't good, but I didn't realize they were that bad. I haven't seen anyone but him staffing the shop for a year or two, but I'm careful to get there right at opening time, it makes the drive home a lot easier.

You can't say he's not changing and adapting. It's always interesting to see what he's up to. I think the emptier shelves are down to him trying to hit minimum order thresholds from the wholesalers. I'm pretty sure that's why he's doing the pre-order program for sack malt, which works great for us. I got a sack of pils from him last month and it was about a quarter off of what Annapolis was asking.

Fingers crossed he can keep it running. You can't say he's not trying and I sure wish him the best. He's a good guy.

 

[Kent88]

No political discussion please. Several posts have been removed.

Kent88
HBT Moderator

 

[redrocker652002]

I am glad they were and my apologies to all. I was part of it and should have not played into it like I did. My apologies to all

 

[BrewnWKopperKat]

Off topic, but with all the talk of a massive slowdown in homebrew and craft beer, does any of this relate to why Northernbrewer and AIH are completely out of all grain kits? Another supply issue?

FWIW, over in /r/homebrewing ("All grain kits in short supply?? (link)"), someone claims to have messaged NB and posted NB's response.

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Back to MoreBeer.

Hopefully their new warehouse and shipping options can provide us on the "north coast" with two day delivery (order on Monday, get the goods on Wednesday) on a regular basis.

Yesterday, I ordered from YVH and RiteBrew (Monday before 10am) and both packages were on my door step today (Tuesday by noon). That's exceptional service worthy of a "shout out" to both stores (and their selected shippers).

 

[lumpher]

Those of us who live in the central US should see some benefit from this. It's not bad for everyone.

 

[Yesfan]

Those of us who live in the central US should see some benefit from this. It's not bad for everyone.

I'm in SE TN. The distance differences between the east coast warehouse (Pittsburgh?) and Kansas City to my house is probably give or take a 100 miles. I'm anticipating (hoping?) there's no difference or maybe a day or two quicker compared to a shipment from their warehouse in Cali.

Honestly, I try to plan my purchases a bit later than needed, so I'm not disappointed by a late shipment.

 

[DeanRIowa]

Sad to hear they are closing/closed physical locations in CA, as I feel for the workers, but sadly something that has been happening across the country for years. I personally enjoy going to a location to buy and ask questions, but the volume/cost often is the deciding factor.

Personally for my benefit them moving to KS is great as I live one state to the north. I do hope they open a physical location in Kansas. I purchase mainly equipment and specific yeast when ordering from Morebeer and purchase from Ritebrew(WI) for grains and limited equipment, it will be great for me being in the middle.

 

[matt_m]

Northern Brewer and their acquisitions Adventures in Homebrewing and Austin Homebrew Supply went online only as did Homebrew Ohio. Seems to be the way things are going.

 

[Group W]

I have not been following this and just recently ordered from MoreBeer. Been using them almost exclusively for many years. My order is shipping from KS which caught my attention. Great company, useful products and consolidation should make them more competitive. If not, we have choices. Time will tell, but for now I’m stoked.

 

[BrewnWKopperKat]

MoreBeer had a 15% off sale late last week (6th to 8th?); my guess is that they feel they are "back to normal" at the new KS warehouse.

 

[Brewer dad]

I just ordered from them and got a good amount of stuff. I found my experience to be essentially the same, once shipped got my order in two days. That’s their normal shipping running from KS to VA.

 

[CascadesBrewer]

I took advantage of the 15% off sale to restock a few items. I placed my order late in the day on Friday, they shipped it on Monday, and it is scheduled to be delivered via USPS tomorrow (Thursday). I find USPS to be the least reliable carrier as far as delivery dates, but I am happy with the MoreBeer turn around times.

 

[BrewnWKopperKat]

I also placed an order early on Friday (2/7). It was processed on Monday (2/10) and arrived Wednesday (2/12) before noon (shipper was FedEx Home).

 

[Skeeter686]

OK, I'll play this game. I ordered on the evening of the 6th, and received the shipment on the 9th (Sunday). I was pleasantly surprised with the turnaround time.

 

[hilljack13]

I just ordered the Komos kegerator last night. Estimated delivery this saturday, however still not picked. I assume it will ship tomorrow (13 Feb) and go out two day service.

 

[BongoYodeler]

My most recent order with them was in early December. Took 8 days from the day I ordered until the day it showed up. A little disappointing since I used to get my orders from them in 24-48 hours when they were in the Bay area. I've since switched to Williams Brewing, (also in the Bay area), and although they’re just a few hours up the road they take a day or two longer than MoreBeer used to take. Not bad, but not great.

 

[Skunkape71]

As a new comer to the game, I started ordering stuff late 2024.. I was a bit disappointed at the time it took to receive things, which was up to 2 weeks or longer. I suppose this was in the middle of the transition to the KS facility. I took advantage of the 15% off last week, and was pleasantly surprised it only took a couple days to receive my items. I'm in Oklahoma, so KC is only about 6hrs up the road. At any rate, I hope the trend continues.

 

[Ramjet]

My last order I placed on a Thursday and it arrived on Saturday

 

[DonT]

I'm in the Bay Area and it used to take a couple of days to get my order. But I've noticed their inventory is pretty light these days. I'm using Williams more now and I've also ordered from SoCal Brewing, and they deliver in a few days...

 

[Yesfan]

I just ordered the Komos kegerator last night. Estimated delivery this saturday, however still not picked. I assume it will ship tomorrow (13 Feb) and go out two day service.

Nice. I love mine.

 

[worlddivides]

My most recent order with them was in early December. Took 8 days from the day I ordered until the day it showed up. A little disappointing since I used to get my orders from them in 24-48 hours when they were in the Bay area. I've since switched to Williams Brewing, (also in the Bay area), and although they’re just a few hours up the road they take a day or two longer than MoreBeer used to take. Not bad, but not great.

Those were the days. When I lived in the Bay Area, I often would receive something I ordered about 24 hours later. Granted, I think their warehouse at the time was in... what, Walnut Creek? So it was only maybe an hour or two drive from where I lived. When I was in Michigan, though, it took 2-4 days to get an order from MoreBeer. Not bad, but not the amazing times I experienced in the Bay Area.