Minnesota NB and Midwest Stores Closing (Potentially affecting MN People)
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Shipping charges suck, does anyone know if they'll still allow online purchase but in-person pick up at the Roseville, MN warehouse? I realize there won't be any in-store browsing/shopping.
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Did they ever do this? I've asked and been told no. Even from a neighbor that used to work in the corporate office and who I get along with. They just weren't set up for it and didn't intend to be. Although to be fair the last I asked this particular question was maybe a year or two ago.
I noticed the Midwest site said 35% off beer equipment, 50% off hydroponic equipment. I may need to head down this week and see if I "need" anything.
Could also get ingredients for the next brew but not too sure how much might be left if people are still coming in and they are not restocking.
BrewnWKopperKat
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Over in this /r/homebrewing topic (link), you will find the short term answer.
Longer term, as I mentioned in @26, there are deep connections between home brewers, pro brewers, and suppliers that have proven to be durable over the many twists and turns in the last decade.
The stores close at the end of the month. Check back in 3, 6, and 12 months (or connect with a local home brew club) to see what develops.
Didn't get a peek at the grain room (there was already 3 people inside it), but yeast and hops were very much picked over and not being restocked at the St Paul store today.
Nature abhors a vacuum. Maybe there is room for a LHBS here down the road. With Brew & Grow in the north suburbs closing in 2019, now MW/NB, there isn't a dedicated HB store in the Twin Cities. Beer Meister in Plymouth sells some HB supplies as a sideline, but they are moving soon to a location farther from the metro.
Could someone make a go with a carefully-tailored store in the Cities? Only time will tell.
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It appears that we are headed to an online only, warehouse style delivery world for homebrewing. The closure rate has been alarming in the last few years. The only issue is the weight of grain is not the best item for shipping. I guess some more adaptation will need to occur. MoreBeer might be the only one left standing as they already have a two-coast distribution network in place. Along with Bobby_M of course!
any domestic package with an actual weight greater than 50 pounds will see a charge of $24.00 added to the cost so the best way is to order is 10 pound bags, morebeer will ship in different boxes and in some cases ship for free
BrewnWKopperKat
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At the moment, there are
1) regional shippers that are not adding a surcharge for 55# bags, and
2) regional home brew supply stores that offer regional shippers as a shipping option.
$76.82 ÷ 55 lbs = $1.40 per pound.
1) regional shippers that are not adding a surcharge for 55# bags, and
2) regional home brew supply stores that offer regional shippers as a shipping option.
$76.82 ÷ 55 lbs = $1.40 per pound.
BrewnWKopperKat
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Currently, for those in the mid-west there are at least four regional online stores:
in addition to Williams Brewing.
The regional stores often have attractive shipping options or products that MoreBeer does not stock.
1) RiteBrew,
2) Farmhouse Brewing Supply,
3) Home Brew Ohio,
4) Label Peelers,
5) ...
in addition to Williams Brewing.
The regional stores often have attractive shipping options or products that MoreBeer does not stock.
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BrewnWKopperKat
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And, once again, for those in the Twin Cities area who are interested in the possibility of local pick-up, group buys, (or a new local store), connect with the local home brewing community.
BrewnWKopperKat
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For those in MN area looking for liquid yeast sources, this topic (link to AHA forums) may be helpful.
BrewnWKopperKat
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Full disclosure: I am currently not a member of any of the local Twin Cities home brew clubs nor do I have any professional relationship with Northern Brewer or Midwest Supplies.
http://sphbc.org/traditional-norwegian-farmhouse-brewing-demonstrations/
http://sphbc.org/traditional-norwegian-farmhouse-brewing-demonstrations/
BrewnWKopperKat
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There is a recent topic in /r/homebrewing (link) with some idea(s) for those in the "west metro" (or willing to drive to the far west edges of the "west metro"). eta: Note that my travels around the "north coast" of the USA do not take me into that area of the Twin Cities.
also eta: in my experience, situations like this (local home brew store closing) can take 3, 6, or 12 months to return to 'stable' / 'normal'. If you are trying a new physical or on-line store and it doesn't work out, consider giving them a 2nd chance in the future.
also eta: in my experience, situations like this (local home brew store closing) can take 3, 6, or 12 months to return to 'stable' / 'normal'. If you are trying a new physical or on-line store and it doesn't work out, consider giving them a 2nd chance in the future.
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Wanted to get one of those "indestructible" hydrometers (aka herculometer) from Northern Brewer... Price was not so bad, $8.79 after the "FALL20" discount. But shipping - OMG are they insane? There's two options: UPS ground ($21.50) and UPS next-day ($34.64). For the record, I live a whole 33 miles away from their warehouse in Roseville.
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Yeah I'm just a few miles away, it'd be even closer than either of the stores were.
Just placed a 2nd order with Ritebrew for ingredients, and am expecting a couple fittings from Brewhardware to arrive soon too.
I'm not protesting or boycotting, it's that the NB option simply doesn't have the best price / selection / delivery speed for things right now. In fact it's not just one of those things but I'd argue for ingredients or small bits like fittings it's all 3 of those things.
Just placed a 2nd order with Ritebrew for ingredients, and am expecting a couple fittings from Brewhardware to arrive soon too.
I'm not protesting or boycotting, it's that the NB option simply doesn't have the best price / selection / delivery speed for things right now. In fact it's not just one of those things but I'd argue for ingredients or small bits like fittings it's all 3 of those things.
I'm in the Twin Cities, too. But with no more LHBS nearby, I'm now online only. Ritebrew seems to be the best for the things I tend to buy. Their grain selection could be better but they are close enough for what I need.
Sometimes, Amazon works, as I just got a bunch of dry yeast from there.
When shopping I open browser tabs for several vendors, populate the list in each, and go to shipping. Best availability and price wins.
Sometimes, Amazon works, as I just got a bunch of dry yeast from there.
When shopping I open browser tabs for several vendors, populate the list in each, and go to shipping. Best availability and price wins.
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Ritebrew has "Briess 2-row brewer's malt" back in stock! With Speedee delivery to Mpls area, a 50 lb sack costs $71.02 (or $1.42 per pound). If you buy enough other items to get over $50, there's a further $5 discount applied.
Meanwhile, the geniuses at NorthernBrewer are selling 50 lb sacks of "Briess 2-row brewer's malt" for $65, but with no more local pickup, cheapest shipping is another $43, for a total of $111. If I shipped it from NB's loading dock to NB's loading dock, it'd only cost me $37, lol...
Meanwhile, the geniuses at NorthernBrewer are selling 50 lb sacks of "Briess 2-row brewer's malt" for $65, but with no more local pickup, cheapest shipping is another $43, for a total of $111. If I shipped it from NB's loading dock to NB's loading dock, it'd only cost me $37, lol...
BrewnWKopperKat
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It may take a year for the "ripples" (from the physical store closings) to settle down.
One of the "ripples" may be occasional "out of stocks" at other "cyber space" stores - and it may take some time for those stores to adjust to new purchasing patterns. Given a choice, I'll take occasional "out of stocks" over stale ingredients.
In 'physical space', those following local club web sites and local competition web sites should be seeing some positive news in recent and upcoming events. It seems plausible that attempts at local group buys or local pickup services could be run as quite trials through the clubs.
edited for typos and such.
One of the "ripples" may be occasional "out of stocks" at other "cyber space" stores - and it may take some time for those stores to adjust to new purchasing patterns. Given a choice, I'll take occasional "out of stocks" over stale ingredients.
In 'physical space', those following local club web sites and local competition web sites should be seeing some positive news in recent and upcoming events. It seems plausible that attempts at local group buys or local pickup services could be run as quite trials through the clubs.
edited for typos and such.
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I noticed something else that has happened since the retail stores closed. On the MW site, the prices have now increased. Previously, each of the two stores had their own pricing, and MW was cheaper on most items. No more. Prices on MW are now aligned with those of NB. Makes sense, as the distribution for both "stores" comes from the same place, and with no more retail stores, it's truly single-source.
I've always considered NB's prices too high, but then again, I'm a cheapskate.
I've always considered NB's prices too high, but then again, I'm a cheapskate.
Man I wish there was a place to get "in-person, let me pay cash so the missus doesn't see what my beer actually costs" grain closer than Medina! Midwest's grain room was amazing!
In order to reduce shipping maybe check/email NB to see if they will offer a will call service for locals.
I emailed them shortly after they closed the stores asking if that might be an option, was told they "weren't able to do that".
Not sure how far it would be from you, but there's a small LHBS in Mankato. It's been a few years since I've visited, but they carried most of the essentials. My wife has family in Mankato, and we visit a lot (less than 2 hours drive for us), so I might have to drop by the store.
Mankato isn't great for me (also, their website Beer... | Brew-N-Wine Creations is a bit lacking in usefulness): google maps says it's twice as long a drive as beermeister is. I do visit La Crosse (Wisconsin) semi regularly, and Tiki Hut Home Brew Supplies | Onalaska, WI | tikihuthomebrew is on the way. Have been there a few times, prices were a little high on specialty grains (all pre-packaged LD-Carlson stuff, of unknowable age), but overall prices didn't seem outrageous.
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I frequently found Midwest's in-store pricing to be cheaper than the website. I loved that, but it always kind of hinted at the disconnect between the 2 stores and perhaps further their website(s) as well.
Yeah, that Brew n Wine page is pretty spartan. Has that 1996 look going.
When I was there a few years ago, their specialty grains were pre-packaged in 1 pound bags. Don't recall if they had packaging dates. If not, I would pass. No idea how fast they turn over stock. I'd probably swing by just for yeast, hardware items, etc.
I think there's a shop in St. Cloud, but never been there.
For those in the Twin Cities area, where do you source your CO2 from now? I always just got it from NB in St. Paul because it was close and I wanted the shop to stay open, so much for that, oh well.
I know Beermeister out in Plymouth or Hamel (they keep moving) has some supplies and they’ll fill tanks, but it’s a good 45 minute drive for me.
I know Beermeister out in Plymouth or Hamel (they keep moving) has some supplies and they’ll fill tanks, but it’s a good 45 minute drive for me.
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I use Linde on E Hennepin, it's just SW of where 35W and 280 come together if you know this area at all. As a bonus it shares a parking lot with Insight. Linde isn't cheap ($40 for 10 lbs) but it's close to me so I deal with it.
Yeah that is steep, I think NB was $26 or something for a 20lb swap. Convenience definitely has immense value. I do know that area. I’m on the east side of the metro, but get over that way pretty often. Thanks for the tip.
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