Southern California Brewers, where do you get your gear?

[betarhoalphadelta]

Gear? Often morebeer.com for most gear, since they'll ship free over $59. Kegging equipment? Ritebrew.com (cheapest place I've found, I saved quite a bit building my keezer ordering through them). Hops? Hopsdirect.com.

For just about everything else, it's O'Shea down here in Laguna Niguel... They're a bit pricey, but when we're talking about sacks of grain (which are reasonable), specialty malt, and yeast, and the fact that they just instituted a 10% AHA discount, the prices are now in line.

Of course, I end up spending a bunch of money on commercial beer every time I walk in there, so that makes up for it!

 

[vince805]

FYI, for youse in Ventura County, this place opened in Simi this past November. Bit more stuff than Surf's store, which I found to be very disappointing.

And, I agree about the Total Wine. It makes BevMo look like a 7-Eleven.

I saw that homebrewexpress place on craigslist yesterday. I'll have to check it out next time I'm in the simi area. Do you get your brew stuff from there now?

 

[Big_Blue]

I've only been once so far, though I'm planning on stopping by again this week. Nice staff. Clean. Good variety. Simi is a little bit of a drive and it's in an odd spot, but I think it's worth it, even just to browse. Surf is nice. HBE just has more.

I like to browse.

Prior to that I was using HomebrewHeaven.com, but since they dropped that flat rate shipping it no longer makes sense. Prior to that, it was Mr. Suds in Ventura, before they closed.

 

[vince805]

I usually get kits from Austin Homebrew, if I am doing another recipe I found on here (like Edworts pale ale) I have gone to Surf and purchased all the stuff there. It usually costs more than Austin does though, but it's good if I decide late in the week that I am going to brew and don't have time to wait for the shipping.

 

[mooshimanx]

In San Diego I recommend the Homebrewer on El Cajon Blvd. Prices are not bad and they have pretty much any possible grain you were thinking of, even relatively obscure ones.

 

[trent]

In San Diego I recommend the Homebrewer on El Cajon Blvd. Prices are not bad and they have pretty much any possible grain you were thinking of, even relatively obscure ones.

Ditto. George and his staff rock

 

[Big_Blue]

I usually get kits from Austin Homebrew, if I am doing another recipe I found on here (like Edworts pale ale) I have gone to Surf and purchased all the stuff there. It usually costs more than Austin does though, but it's good if I decide late in the week that I am going to brew and don't have time to wait for the shipping.

Yeah, it's definitely cheaper (usually) to order online and Surf has the added obstacle of the cost of a few pints when you stop by (not always a bad thing).

I have a recipe I'm looking to try out and I need a replacement True Brew lid and, since HBE has them (searched high and low through the internets, could not find) I'm headed back there. Figure I'll price this recipe there and then online afterward, see who wins. HBE does fill CO2 tanks too, which is handy.

As far as ordering somewhat locally online, I think I'm going to try William's Brewing. $6.90 flat rate and same day if before 4 PM.

 

[jerryboy]

I've only been once so far, though I'm planning on stopping by again this week. Nice staff. Clean. Good variety. Simi is a little bit of a drive and it's in an odd spot, but I think it's worth it, even just to browse. Surf is nice. HBE just has more.

I have to agree, this guy and his shop were nice.

His selection and prices are great. I may find myself in Simi more often.

He is now selling full sacks of grain.