Northern Brewer

[Pappers_]

Merged with the existing Northern Brewer thread.

 

[mors]

If it ever happens to you again you can unscrew the bell and use a mallet... it's ghetto but it should work lol.

 

[finsfan]

I placed a huge order last wednesday and it showed up friday, nothing missing



I also placed an order yesterday but forgot one thing. I called them and they were able to add the other item so I didnt have to pay another $8 shipping for an ounce of hops. I realized this morning that I had forgot another item and they again were able to add it to the order. Im sure it will take another day due to me forgetting items, but they were very willing to accommodate me and made it simple. They keep me coming back

 

[McLovinBeast57]

I just noticed that my carboy has a big crack in it... I'm using it right now.
Do you think NB will replace it?


Sent from my iPhone using Home Brew

 

[kcmobrewer]

Yeah, I just ordered a set of the big mouth bubblers from them and 1 showed up with a pretty big crack in it. Should be arriving today but they shipped me out a new one no questions asked. First time using them personally, but great experience so far.

Also, for all you fellow military out there if you add that you're military in the comment section of the order they generously give a 10% discount to active duty.

 

[FoamFollower]

Northern Brewer gives that 10% to former military also. First time EVER that I received this. It just wasn't popular during the Viet Nam era.
That means something to me brothers, and I consider it very generous
Semper Fi '73-'76

 

[Kdog22]

I just ordered another hefeweizen kit from Northern Brewer the other day. Never any problems and fast shipping! Plus their beer kits are delicious!

 

[boydster]

These guys are great. I almost always go to my LHBS, but I ordered a bunch of various pieces I needed to start doing BIAB from Northern Brewer and also got a new autosiphon, bottling wand, and 10' of tubing. First time ordering from them. They sent me a 6' length of tubing. I called customer service, the guy told me I could keep the 6' and that they would ship the 10' to me, no charge. I got the 10' tubing, and included with the tubing was a new pint glass with the NB logo on it. I'll be giving them more business.

 

[brewbama]

The Irish Red Ale kit I got from NB turned out to be a straw color. I did a "do over" because I did deviate from their published instructions. Well the do over turned out the same straw color which is definitely not red. So, I gave them a call and spoke to a guy who knew his stuff. I was definitely talking to a fellow home brewer. After we discussed the issue a bit he is making it right by saying my next purchase is on them. Just have to say that although my current experience is not what I expected, the future free beer makes NB OK by me.

I didn't know about the 10% mil discount until today. I agree with Orphan and Foam... it does mean something.

Army Aviation '83-'02


Sent from my iPhone using Home Brew

 

[glenn514]

I placed an order with Northern yesterday afternoon for four different all-grain recipes. I got an email this morning that the entire order has already shipped and will be delivered by UPS to my doorstep tomorrow morning. Can't ask for any quicker service. Well, I guess you could, but then Northern would need to be reading my mind!

glenn514

 

[muels]

They have the best customer service of any company I've ever dealt with. Replace items no questions asked, answer all email question immediately and clearly, not to mention the 10% military discount! They even recommended some places to buy a few of the items they no longer stocked. Not many places will do that. I only live about 2 hours from the store and will be making a visit soon.


Sent from my iPad using Home Brew

 

[ohiobeer29]

quick shipping great customer service they are quick to reply to questions and emails will order from them again

 

[Jman_01]

They have become one of my go to online shops!


Sent from my iPad using Home Brew

 

[Jman_01]

Anybody on here try NB Honey Kolsch extract kit? I am on the fence with trying that next, just would like some encouragement


Sent from my iPad using Home Brew

 

[bleme]

I ordered enough specialty grains, hops and yeast for 3 batches. I priced 5 different websites and NB was 12% less than the next cheapest. It took a week longer to get my stuff than it would have from the California supplier, but I wasn't in a hurry.

 

[signpost]

Anybody on here try NB Honey Kolsch extract kit? I am on the fence with trying that next, just would like some encouragement


Sent from my iPad using Home Brew

I brewed that kit a couple years ago. I enjoyed it. A couple things you should know, though. The Wyeast Kolsch yeast takes a good long while to clear up. If you have the ability to cold crash, that will obviously be a big help. When I brewed that kit, I kept it right around 60°F for 2 to 3 months (next to an exterior wall in the winter). Even after that, it needed some time to mature in the bottle.

So, if you are patient and you have the ability to keep the beer pretty cool, then you should go for it. If you are looking for a quick turnaround, then you might want to save this kit for another time.

Having said that, when it finally matured in the bottle, it was delicious. I've made several non-honey batches of kolsch since then. That kit really turned me on to the style.

 

[Jman_01]

I brewed that kit a couple years ago. I enjoyed it. A couple things you should know, though. The Wyeast Kolsch yeast takes a good long while to clear up. If you have the ability to cold crash, that will obviously be a big help. When I brewed that kit, I kept it right around 60°F for 2 to 3 months (next to an exterior wall in the winter). Even after that, it needed some time to mature in the bottle.



So, if you are patient and you have the ability to keep the beer pretty cool, then you should go for it. If you are looking for a quick turnaround, then you might want to save this kit for another time.



Having said that, when it finally matured in the bottle, it was delicious. I've made several non-honey batches of kolsch since then. That kit really turned me on to the style.

I do have ability to keep cooler, I was anticipating a quicker turn around but still isn't an issue. Thanks


Sent from my iPad using Home Brew

 

[Hello]

Normally if I am dissatisfied with a product I will review it (as well as when I'm satisfied) and move on. In May I reviewed the plastic Big Mouth Bubbler giving it 4 stars and aspiring to buy more.

Early July I get a random call about my review basically. Apparently a supposed flaw I described may have been a warranty issue and NB wished to have my bubbler replaced. They merely asked me to rate the thinness of the plastic on a scale of 1-10. No hoops, no request to up my review to 5 stars or anything like that. I never expected this level of customer service. I gave it 4 stars so clearly I was not one who would sway folks away from the purchase.

NB is my go-to for most things that isn't keg related. Keg connection just happened to earn that business with similar attention to customer focused service. NB was already #1 but now I can definitely see myself buying what I want from them again and again. They're into the customer focused experience, which is something I feel doesn't exist much nowadays.

 

[ja09]

I live just a couple miles from both Northern and Midwest, and the difference in customer support and most importantly, competence, is night and day. Still shop at Midwest because they have sweet deals, but Northern and More Beer are by far my favorites when it comes to customer support and satisfaction. Also buy from Williams a lot too. They seem to always have super fresh hops at a good price, and some creative tools and concoctions.

 

[W0GWT]

I agree with most of what I read here. Northern Brewer's customer service does like to contact you. I've never had them do anything particularly good, but there was contact.
I've only sent them a complaint once and that was really a shipper complaint about liquid yeast arriving frozen solid (wife accepted shipment at the door, so it wasn't sitting out). I didn't get a response. I tried to use it anyway, but it was a dud.
Not that big of a deal.

 

[bleme]

Apparently a supposed flaw I described may have been a warranty issue and NB wished to have my bubbler replaced. They merely asked me to rate the thinness of the plastic on a scale of 1-10.

I saw a post around here a month ago from a guy who bought the bubbler and it just blew out on him. There was a spot where the glass was thinner than a dime! Crazy stuff!

 

[Hello]

I saw a post around here a month ago from a guy who bought the bubbler and it just blew out on him. There was a spot where the glass was thinner than a dime! Crazy stuff!

Mine was the plastic model. I do not and never will use glass. I just dropped a plastic carboy in the tub that was filled with PBW. This is the #1 reason I know I will not use glass. I'm a grown woman and generally very careful but accidents can and do happen.

 

[Jman_01]

I had my second glass carboy break yesterday. I am replacing it with a plastic one, I am leaning towards a speidel fermenter http://morebeer.com/products/speidel-plastic-fermenter-30l-79-gal.html

or the big mouth bubbler


Sent from my iPad using Home Brew

 

[finsfan]

I had my second glass carboy break yesterday. I am replacing it with a plastic one, I am leaning towards a speidel fermenter http://morebeer.com/products/speidel-plastic-fermenter-30l-79-gal.html

or the big mouth bubbler


Sent from my iPad using Home Brew

I'd go with the big mouth bubbler. Its cheaper and I love mine. It has markings on the side for each gallon so you never have to guess how much you have. Plus its completely see through so you know whats going on in there.

 

[ja09]

Loving my plastic big mouth as well, especially with the dual hole lid. Hate my glass big mouth with a passion.

 

[Jman_01]

I think I made my mind up lol. I can get 2 of those for the price of one speidel. I really like the optional double hole lid.. The only thing I'm curious about is why did they texture the inside. If it were smooth I would imagine it would be easier to clean. Maybe I'm thinking about it to much!


Sent from my iPad using Home Brew

 

[Darwin18]

So do you have examples or is this all speculation?

Finsfan, read this and then let us know what you think of their customer review process:

http://www.reddit.com/r/Homebrewing/comments/2c53y4/i_emailed_midwest_about_issues_with_their_glass/

FWIW, I still use Northern Brewer because of the convenience that it offers my family come Christmas time for gift cards. I've never had any issues with them in the past and would recommend them to anyone. The conscious decision to stop negative customer reviews bothers me greatly though.

 

[Paps]

I personally will not give them anymore of my business.
Between the whole credit card info thingy that happened a year ago,
to the big mouth bubbler safety issues,
to the censoring of their reviews,
all leads me to the conclusion that they lack morals as a business.
(i'm not saying they are the only company like that)
As a consumer you are part of the problem or the solution ie. if consumers refuse to do business with companies without morals, they go out of business leaving the rest of the free market in better company.

 

[jahdub]

Even if their own products prove to be defective, name one company that has better customer service. They will replace it, give you a credit, or both on any complaint about anything you purchase from them. No other company out there does that. There isnt another option is my eyes and ive shopped elsewhere many times.

They do have good customer service and make things right.

However, I would rather not have a company decide if it is ok for me to know the truth about a product or not before I buy it. It shouldn't be up to them and I don't want to deal with not having a major part of the homebrew process while I wait for them to replace it.

FWIW: I've had missing yeast, a broken spigot, and a damaged bag of dextrose in 3 separate purchases from them. Each time they quickly responded and sent a replacement along w/ a free beer glass. Excellent customer service on that part.

 

[Grannyknot]

I decided to give Northern Brewer another try this week.
Placed my order Monday at noon and chose the 3 day shipping, with anticipation I'd have it by Friday.
They charged my card Tuesday. Here we are Wednesday at noon, still haven't shipped the order.

So much for brewing this weekend.