Online homebrew shop?

[Samudell]

Holy poopy though, looks like free shipping applies to bulk grain.

I just got my 50 lb briess in today. I do agree about the partial orders but I can always use the rest later.

 

[camonick]

Holy poopy though, looks like free shipping applies to bulk grain.

I just noticed that myself while pricing full bags. Domestic Briess 2-row Brewer’s Malt full bag $53.99 or international Best Malz Pilsen Malt $69.99 for example w/ free shipping!!!

 

[kh54s10]

I don't like that they don't do partial quantities on grain.

This is one thing that has never been a consideration for me. As soon as I went away from kits I got a corona style mill so I could buy whole grains in bulk. Even with specialty grains, I buy at least twice what I need. Then I have on hand ingredients for more recipes and don't need to place another order. Not many places have free shipping unless you hit a certain dollar amount. If you buy in small quantities you might not get the free shipping. Besides you get a price break buying in larger quantities.

 

[ncbrewer]

MoreBeer and Williams Brewing are the two that I use.

Morebeer for grain, and William's for most everything else that I don't buy locally.

Williams Brewing doesn't vacuum seal or nitrogen flush their regular hops. They pack each variety every 6 weeks and store refrigerated, so you could easily get some 6 weeks old. I've used a lot of their hops (including aroma hops) and had mostly good results, but I'm a little concerned about the lack of vacuum seal. Have you had good luck with their hops?

 

[MaxStout]

Williams Brewing doesn't vacuum seal or nitrogen flush their regular hops. They pack each variety every 6 weeks and store refrigerated, so you could easily get some 6 weeks old. I've used a lot of their hops (including aroma hops) and had mostly good results, but I'm a little concerned about the lack of vacuum seal. Have you had good luck with their hops?

Never bought their hops. Usually just hardware, chemicals, Starsan, etc. I think a lot of brew stores do that (including my LHBS)--they get hops in bulk, re-package in air-filled pouches.

For hops I like Farmhouse. Vacuum-sealed in metalized film.

 

[NGD]

Closing retail store to focus on Jaybird line.

Nooooooo!

Sorry to hear that. Had planned on ordering a few speidle accessories next month.

Personally I’ve dealt with morebeer, homebrewsupply, Midwest, Northern Brewer and Yeast Bay. Homebrewsupply was by far the worst experience out of them. Morebeer is great, and usually quick to ship so long as what your getting is on the correct coast. Their cust. Service is fantastic to work with if theres any issue though.

No complaints about the big stores. I just feel guilty ordering from there.

Yeast Bay guys are awesome!

 

[applescrap]

Never bought their hops. Usually just hardware, chemicals, Starsan, etc. I think a lot of brew stores do that (including my LHBS)--they get hops in bulk, re-package in air-filled pouches.

For hops I like Farmhouse. Vacuum-sealed in metalized film.

I have mostly only bought bulk hops, since day one, but lately I thought, Ill get the right hops, since a lot of recipes only need an ounce or two. Sure enough, some hops have been bad others flat gross smelling. Since my experience has only been with, I guess farm metal sealed hops, then resealed by me, maybe I am more sensitive, idk. I am going to follow your lead, farmhouse factory sealed, yeah thats what I want.

more ot, is morebeer and nb owned by the same company? I like those guys over at aih and their products. I dont really buy or shop much. I have gotten hops on amazon from yakima.

 

[RPh_Guy]

is morebeer and nb owned by the same company?

Northern Brewer and Midwest are both AB InBev.

MoreBeer and all the rest are independent as far as I know.

 

[Homergah]

I've ordered from several of the online stores. Homebrewsuppy, AIH, Austin Homebrew, Keg Connection, Lionbrewingsolutions on ebay, Beverage factory, Proflo Dynamics, Morebeer. The only one that has consistently given BAD service is Morebeer. They are fine as long as nothing goes wrong, but on the multiple times that there has been a problem, Morebeer have proven inadequate in customer service. The list of failures is substantial.

I was really excited when we got a local shop, but they are not well stocked. And not well managed apparently . Can't keep yeast in stock, bugs (by the thousands) in the bulk grain storage, bad advice given to new or novice brewers. (They still recommend ph 5.2 stabilizer, transfers to secondary as an absolute requirement, all beer must be perfectly clear or it's no good, etc) Anyway, I shop around a lot. Find whoever is running a sale and has everything I need in stock.

 

[Carolina_Matt]

For those that buy hops online by the pound, do you check with the vendor to see what crop year they have in stock? Some vendors sell them specifically by year, but others just say something like "Centennial - 1 lb". How do you know if it's 2018, 2017, or earlier?

 

[Homergah]

For those that buy hops online by the pound, do you check with the vendor to see what crop year they have in stock? Some vendors sell them specifically by year, but others just say something like "Centennial - 1 lb". How do you know if it's 2018, 2017, or earlier?

If the vendor is not stating crop year, be suspicious, and ask. Morebeer will NOT tell you the crop year. I have asked them repeatedly, the answer is always "we are unable to supply crop year". No thanks.

 

[Soulshine2]

So my LHBS is closing so what are your recomendations online? I'm leaning toward morebeer. Thoughts?

Amazon,More Beer,
look at my old stomping grounds- https://www.chicagobrewwerks.com

 

[WaltG]

Ok, tried Morebeer. Got some crushed grains from them and I have to say absolutly terrible!! Crush was so coarse I was at about 40% efficiency. I sent them a photo and they told me that is how it was supposed to be and the grains are pre-crushed.

When I get a mill I may try them again

On the other hand I LOVE my fermonster.

 

[Homergah]

Ok, tried Morebeer. Got some crushed grains from them and I have to say absolutly terrible!! Crush was so coarse I was at about 40% efficiency. I sent them a photo and they told me that is how it was supposed to be and the grains are pre-crushed.

When I get a mill I may try them again

On the other hand I LOVE my fermonster.View attachment 614233

Yep. Not a big fan. Those guys have screwed me too many times.

 

[Dgallo]

Ok, tried Morebeer. Got some crushed grains from them and I have to say absolutly terrible!! Crush was so coarse I was at about 40% efficiency. I sent them a photo and they told me that is how it was supposed to be and the grains are pre-crushed.

When I get a mill I may try them again

On the other hand I LOVE my fermonster.View attachment 614233

Farmhouse brewing supply. They are getting pretty busy now so sometimes it takes them 2 days to fill the order but they crush grain at time they fill the order and they even double mill for like $0.10 more a lb. so far they have the most consistent crush and efficiency that I’ve gotten from online

 

[MaxStout]

Ok, tried Morebeer. Got some crushed grains from them and I have to say absolutly terrible!! Crush was so coarse I was at about 40% efficiency. I sent them a photo and they told me that is how it was supposed to be and the grains are pre-crushed.

When I get a mill I may try them again

On the other hand I LOVE my fermonster.View attachment 614233

I've always had good experiences buying uncrushed grain from Morebeer. I don't brew often enough to buy malt by the sack, so it's nice to get 1lb and 10lb bags of grains for much less than my LHBS charges. I plan ahead for the next couple brews and order just what I need. And free shipping for >$59.

Get a mill and give them another chance.

 

[Aggie10]

Good info re ingredient quality above.

Very surprised by prices tho. I'm in Canada and order online from a bricks and mortar shop. I pay less in Canadian $$ for top quality fresh ingredients than the prices at those big US online shops. Given the exchange rate and that most ingredients are from US (ex. Briess, Yakima Chief), I gotta conclude you guys are getting gouged.

 

[okiedog]

Good info re ingredient quality above.

Very surprised by prices tho. I'm in Canada and order online from a bricks and mortar shop. I pay less in Canadian $$ for top quality fresh ingredients than the prices at those big US online shops. Given the exchange rate and that most ingredients are from US (ex. Briess, Yakima Chief), I gotta conclude you guys are getting gouged.

You're probably closer to the source (just guessing).

 

[okiedog]

WaltG, I buy malt from MoreBeer, and I have never had a problem. But I nearly always buy uncrushed, in 50-55 lb. bags, or smaller quantities of character malts. It could just be the particular MoreBeer location you bought from that isn't keeping tabs on their crush/mill gap setting. In any case, they should make it right! If they don't, tell them thay are going to lose a customer. I buy or order from the closest one to me here in Nor Cal. Since I bought my own grain mill, I could never imagine going back to buying pre-crushed grains. I have infinite control of the crush, and can add fresh crushed grains to my mash. Anyway, I hope you get it worked out.

 

[WaltG]

WaltG, I buy malt from MoreBeer, and I have never had a problem. But I nearly always buy uncrushed, in 50-55 lb. bags, or smaller quantities of character malts. It could just be the particular MoreBeer location you bought from that isn't keeping tabs on their crush/mill gap setting. In any case, they should make it right! If they don't, tell them thay are going to lose a customer. I buy or order from the closest one to me here in Nor Cal. Since I bought my own grain mill, I could never imagine going back to buying pre-crushed grains. I have infinite control of the crush, and can add fresh crushed grains to my mash. Anyway, I hope you get it worked out.

I'm up im Redding. This is the response.

 

[kh54s10]

I'm up im Redding. This is the response.View attachment 614372

That is a very poor response. From the picture, if that is what they look for you are not the only one who will have problems. I would write again including the picture and ask that it is looked at by the manager of the store. It may have been a response by the manager, who knows. He is right that there are many factors that will cause problems. But, crush is the #1 problem in most cases.

If they hold to that story without acknowledging that the problem could be from their end, let them know that you will no longer be a customer, and that it is true that a satisfied customer will tell a couple, a dissatisfied customer will tell many.

 

[Tobor_8thMan]

This is, IMO, very surprising from MoreBeer. Simply tell them you are not happy. When these types of things happened to me in the past MoreBeer quickly and conveniently rectified.

 

[okiedog]

MoreBeer corporate would probably be a good source to contact. I'm sure that they don't want to be represented poorly.

 

[troypolla]

Txbrewing.com

 

[troypolla]

So far researching I'm kinda leaning toward txbrewing.com. a few things I've seen researching is whether they sell partial quantities on grains (crystal, etc), do they charge to crush, do they have flat rate shipping and whether they pre-crush grains.

I don't like that it'll still be about 20% more than my LHBS though.

Those are good guys and have quite a selection.

 

[Aggie10]

You're probably closer to the source (just guessing).

That is incorrect, sorry.

And distance to source wouldn't explain why I pay approx 65% of big online supply prices. Trust me, things in Canada are almost always more expensive than US.

 

[Dgallo]

That is incorrect, sorry.

And distance to source wouldn't explain why I pay approx 65% of big online supply prices. Trust me, things in Canada are almost always more expensive than US.

Distance to source would certainly have a good part in the cost. Shipping is always an added cost in distribution of any good especially of agriculture due to avoiding spoilage; ask anyone of those who farm on here or in my case come from a nursery background. At final retail cost, shipping has increased the cost by 15-25%. Then after that is taxes on the good, especially if it crosses state lines and more so if it is imported from their countries. Those would be the added cost. 65% less is a huge number. Mind sharing the name of the local HB shop in Canada you get your ingredients from?

 

[davidabcd]

adventure in homebrewing,

plus one for adventures in homebrewing. If the shipping costs are still decent, depending on you locale, they are quite good to deal with.
Good luck.

 

[Aggie10]

Distance to source would certainly have a good part in the cost. Shipping is always an added cost in distribution of any good especially of agriculture due to avoiding spoilage; ask anyone of those who farm on here or in my case come from a nursery background. At final retail cost, shipping has increased the cost by 15-25%. Then after that is taxes on the good, especially if it crosses state lines and more so if it is imported from their countries. Those would be the added cost. 65% less is a huge number. Mind sharing the name of the local HB shop in Canada you get your ingredients from?

I didn't state 65% less, I said 65% of big US online shop prices (factoring in the 75% CDN $). Also, the 65% is the shop's posted prices vs big online posted prices, shipping and taxes not included. As exchange rates, cross border shipping and taxes are difficult to compare for countless scenarios I was only comparing posted ingredient prices.

As for name of shop, I have no connection to them or know if they want more business/their business model/etc so I won't name shop - don't feel it's my place to do so. I will state that the brick and mortar location is in western Canada, if you want to do a search.

Also, I'm guessing that even if the shop does ship to US that by the time the ingredients are shipped to and fro across border the combination of exchange rates, shipping and current US anti-trade tariffs that the cost savings discussed above would disappear.

Anyhow, back to my original point which was it seems something is amiss if I, living in Canada, can buy US ingredients from a western Canadian shop for substantially less than Americans can from large US online retailers. That's what people should ponder, as I have no reason to have made this fact up. Just trying to help.

 

[Dgallo]

I didn't state 65% less, I said 65% of big US online shop prices (factoring in the 75% CDN $). Also, the 65% is the shop's posted prices vs big online posted prices, shipping and taxes not included. As exchange rates, cross border shipping and taxes are difficult to compare for countless scenarios I was only comparing posted ingredient prices.

As for name of shop, I have no connection to them or know if they want more business/their business model/etc so I won't name shop - don't feel it's my place to do so. I will state that the brick and mortar location is in western Canada, if you want to do a search.

Also, I'm guessing that even if the shop does ship to US that by the time the ingredients are shipped to and fro across border the combination of exchange rates, shipping and current US anti-trade tariffs that the cost savings discussed above would disappear.

I’m sure any business would like good publicity... that’s kind of the point of being in business, doing business lol I was just going to check their $CAD/lb on grain. Because for most of us, our brick and mortar shop, aka our Lhbs are more expensive in that category than the likes of morebeer and northern brewer. Some of us just choose to support our local businesses.