My Fellow Canadians. Help. Need Online Source

[Rudeboy]

My LBS is great and very helpful but it's beer supplies are pretty limited. I searched for online sites and couldn't find any Canadian ones with much better selection than my LBS. I asked here and Canadians said they used American sites with no problem.(Especially with a 97 cent dollar)

I liked Alternative Beverage in NC so I placed an order for two recipe kits, some DME and a couple of pounds of Choclate Malt. Shipping by Mail was $22 which seemed like more than I thought but ok. Then AB phoned me today and said that US Postal Service changed there rules and the $22 box now couldn't fit one recipe kit far less my order. And that to ship it surface mail was going to be $44.00 which is pretty steep on a $60.00 order so I said thanks but no thanks.

So my question is where do my Canuckelhead compatriots source they're ingredients?

Thanks

Rudeboy

 

[JimC]

Shipping inside Canada is a bit stupid on the big stuff. I try to source my grains locally. But, here are the Canadian mail order sites that I have found.

http://www.skinaneybrewing.com/index.htm
http://www.paddockwood.com/index.php
http://www.wineandbeerfactory.com

 

[SPLASTiK]

Where in Canada are you at?

 

[Fingers]

Splastik, you should put your location in your options like JimC. (He's from Ottawa.) We need to know where YOU are. I'm just outside Winnipeg and there is a good HBS there. You nearby?

 

[rod]

i use paddock wood for items my lhbs doesn't have

 

[Rudeboy]

Where in Canada are you at?

Edmonton.
More or less.

Rudeboy

 

[Rudeboy]

i use paddock wood for items my lhbs doesn't have

Ya, I've seen Paddock Wood but I'm not ready for All Grain yet and unless I've mis-read their site they have no extracts. Well one, Rice Extract.

Nobody in Canada sources out of the US?

I've been looking at Austin Brewing Supplies and their clone recipes really appeal to me.

Thanks

Rudeboy

 

[mr x]

I find the US market too expensive for shipping those types of supplies. Good for taps, shanks, other hardware though.

 

[rod]

shipping is the killer on heavy items(extracts or bulk grains)
i only get yeast and small quantities of specilty grains shipped from paddock.
i used my lhbs when i was doing extract since they are also an on site brewing store and their extract was fresh and they would sell in bulk if you brought your own container

 

[Rudeboy]

Shipping inside Canada is a bit stupid on the big stuff. I try to source my grains locally. But, here are the Canadian mail order sites that I have found.

http://www.skinaneybrewing.com/index.htm
http://www.paddockwood.com/index.php
http://www.wineandbeerfactory.com

Thanks JimC.

Paddockwood I mentioned above.

I hadn't seen the other two. Skinaney has lots of grains but again I'm not ready for AG yet.

Wine & Beer is good but for Extract it only really has what my LHBS has. Light and Dark DME. No unhopped LME. No Amber DME.

Hmm... I wanted to move beyond kit brewing and I thought Extract/Grain was a good middle ground but it looks like I might have to bite the bullet and step up to AG if I want the brews I'm thinking of.

Thanks

Rudeboy

 

[Fingers]

Rudeboy, go to 'Search Members' and enter in Edmonton as your search criteria. There are a couple of members from your neck of the woods. Why don't you PM them and see what they do? That's how I found my HBS in Winnipeg.

 

[bradsul]

Light DME is really all you need for extract brewing. Use your specialty grains to get the colour and flavour instead. It gives you far more control of your beer.

Paddockwood used to list quite a few extracts but you're right I only see rice. They're going downhill the last few months though, I'm quite disappointed in them lately.

 

[mr x]

If anyone knows of a source for cornies in Canada, let me know. LHBS in HFX is $67 bucks a pop.

 

[Fingers]

I think we're all interested in that, Mr X. I bought my first three from Alternative Beverage in the States but it was a real hassle getting them across the border. I got two more locally but that's still not enough for my greedy black heart. If TX gets the social networking part of the site going we can share resources like that to support Canadian businesses.

 

[ModlrMike]

I just bought two kegs from the states on Ebay. Total delivered was less than 100CAD. PM me and I'll try and dig up the vendor for you.

 

[mr x]

I picked up a nice new aluminum 20lb co2 tank from Atlanta. Good guy to deal with. He had cornies as well, but the shipping was still prohibitive (just) - USPS can only ship 2 per package. His only other option was UPS (which is no option at all). I may look at what DHL is doing for shipping charges, I think they may be better than the rest.

 

[mr x]

I just bought two kegs from the states on Ebay. Total delivered was less than 100CAD. PM me and I'll try and dig up the vendor for you.

Done.:rockin:

 

[ModlrMike]

For everyone else here's the link to the ebay store. If the mods want to modify this post... no problem.

http://stores.ebay.ca/Rye-Homebrew-and-Collectibles

 

[mr x]

I saw his store, but he says he only ships UPS? Is that how yours arrived?

Here's an interesting new seller.

http://cgi.ebay.ca/2-5-GALLON-CORNE...ryZ67137QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

 

[ModlrMike]

Yep, UPS no problem. About 5 days door-to-door. The second guy's shipping is twice what I paid.

 

[mr x]

Did you get hit with brokerage fees? I have found most standard UPS services are going to cost 50-70 extra to handle customs.

 

[ModlrMike]

I thought that I was going to be, but I paid directly with paypal, and the parcel showed up without further charges.

 

[SPLASTiK]

Splastik, you should put your location in your options like JimC. (He's from Ottawa.) We need to know where YOU are. I'm just outside Winnipeg and there is a good HBS there. You nearby?

Nearer than Miami, Florida

I did live in Vancouver for a few years though, miss it.

 

[FlyGuy]

Ya, I've seen Paddock Wood but I'm not ready for All Grain yet and unless I've mis-read their site they have no extracts. Well one, Rice Extract.

Nobody in Canada sources out of the US?

I've been looking at Austin Brewing Supplies and their clone recipes really appeal to me.

Thanks

Rudeboy

Hey Rudeboy -- Paddock Wood *used* to carry extract and extract kits, but they are starting to focus on the microbrewery side of their operation. They continue to sell homebrew supplies, but only for AG brewing (presumably only the items that cross-over with their microbrewery, like grains, hops, etc.). Unfortunately, they were about the only place to go to in Canada.

Bummer about the high shipping costs from Alternative Beverage. I have bought quite a bit of stuff from them in the past, and they were fast becoming my 'go to' LHBS now that Paddock Wood has tanked.

My suggestion to you is go to Southside BrewCrew in Edmonton. Their prices are a bit high, but if you join the Edmonton Homebrewer's Guild, you get 10% off all your purchases at that store (Southside location only). Their shop is OK, and I know they stock DME, grains, yeast, and hops.

Honestly, though, in Canada you have one of two homebrewing choices: no-boil, pre-hopped kits (which are OK), or all grain brewing. There isn't anyone really supporting extract brewing in Canada. But I have some great success with those BrewHouse no-boil, pre-hopped kits in the past. And my brother in law has had incredible success, winning lots of medals from kits he hacked (he even went 2nd round NHC this year for his American Brown Ale).

Anyways, you are probably going to have to pay through the nose for extract brewing in Canada. Think about modifying those BrewHouse kits instead, or do what many of us do, and consider going all grain.

 

[mr x]

Go all grain, that's my plan - no extract, no PM - all grain till I die. The only way to beat the prices.

 

[FlyGuy]

Rudeboy, I also highly recommend that you consider joining the Edmonton Homebrewer's Guild. They are probably the biggest and best club in Canada, and they are right in your backyard!

http://www.ehg.ca/

There is a lot of experience there to help you with all sorts of questions, particularly if you think you might want to go all grain.

They meet the first Monday of every month at the Alley Kat brewery.

 

[Rudeboy]

Hey Rudeboy -- Paddock Wood *used* to carry extract and extract kits, but they are starting to focus on the microbrewery side of their operation. They continue to sell homebrew supplies, but only for AG brewing (presumably only the items that cross-over with their microbrewery, like grains, hops, etc.). Unfortunately, they were about the only place to go to in Canada.

Bummer about the high shipping costs from Alternative Beverage. I have bought quite a bit of stuff from them in the past, and they were fast becoming my 'go to' LHBS now that Paddock Wood has tanked.

My suggestion to you is go to Southside BrewCrew in Edmonton. Their prices are a bit high, but if you join the Edmonton Homebrewer's Guild, you get 10% off all your purchases at that store (Southside location only). Their shop is OK, and I know they stock DME, grains, yeast, and hops.

Honestly, though, in Canada you have one of two homebrewing choices: no-boil, pre-hopped kits (which are OK), or all grain brewing. There isn't anyone really supporting extract brewing in Canada. But I have some great success with those BrewHouse no-boil, pre-hopped kits in the past. And my brother in law has had incredible success, winning lots of medals from kits he hacked (he even went 2nd round NHC this year for his American Brown Ale).

Anyways, you are probably going to have to pay through the nose for extract brewing in Canada. Think about modifying those BrewHouse kits instead, or do what many of us do, and consider going all grain.

Thanks again FlyGuy. Southside Brew Crew is where I go. I went there yesterday and got more or less everything I needed. Now, after looking around their selection doesn't seem that bad, but the prices are a bit steep. $15.00 for a Kilo of Munton's Amber DME.

I have been using Brew House kits for 4 of my first 5 Brews (the 5th was a disaster of a Coopers no boil kit and a kilo of Dextrose) and they have been very good. Although all 4 threw a chill haze. Because I went on vacation I was able to keep my grubby paws off the IPA for upwards of a month and it seemed to clear with 4 weeks of cold conditioning. I just wanted to try something a little more challenging and was getting excited about Anchor Steam or Scottish Heavy Clones, etc.

I've been thinking about joining Edmonton Homebrewers Guild but I wasn't sure I had the time. Sort of the issue for AG as well. Guess it's kits until then.

Thanks
Rudeboy

 

[grnich]

I'd get away from those Brewhouse kits ASAP if you can. I started with those and thought they tasted watery and I couldn't get a head off them if you shook em up first. All grain is definitely the way to go. Get a cooler, corona mill, and turkey fryer and find a 55lb bag of base malt. It's crazy cheap from there. The extract I could get fermented about 50%(yuck), and tasted like...well, extract.

 

[ModlrMike]

I've had good results with the Barrons kits. My current brew is a modified kit. They're sort of a hybrid between a full wort and extract. I don't taste any "extract" like, or scorched flavours, and the kits are no-boil. I used to be a member of EHG, but had to leave because of job demands. I highly recommend the group. You can get lots of experience, and they actively promote group/buddy brewing. They have a yearly hops order, and will often buy grain in bulk. The brewers consistently perform well at national and international competitions as well.

 

[Rudeboy]

I'd get away from those Brewhouse kits ASAP if you can. I started with those and thought they tasted watery and I couldn't get a head off them if you shook em up first. All grain is definitely the way to go. Get a cooler, corona mill, and turkey fryer and find a 55lb bag of base malt. It's crazy cheap from there.

'Kay I'll do it. :rockin:

I'll get the Turkey fryer with pot for the boils. Then I need a 5 gallon Igloo cooler? Don't I need a false bottom or something? Is the ordinary spigot good enough or do I need to drill any other holes. A termometer? Anything else?

I'll give the EHG a shout I've been on their website but there isn't a lot of resources there.

Thanks

Rudeboy