The Online Homebrew Supplier Comparison Thread

[WTexan]

I have ordered from Northern Brewer and MoreBeer. They have been very responsive with questions and shipment. I recently received an order from Northern Brewer and the yeast packets were damaged. I called them and explained the situation and they had replacement packets in the mail and at my door in 3 days.
I could not ask for better customer service.

 

[bobbrews]

Northern Brewer also replaced my 1 liter flask with a 2 liter flask free of charge after I sent them a picture of an odd base breakage/splintering in the glass that incurred after only 2 uses.

I also got some quality start-up equipment from Northern Brewer at a very attractive price (via web coupon) when I first started brewing years ago.

 

[theDeutscher]

Does anyone have experience buying full sacks of grain? I'm looking to get a sack of Maris Otter and I'm assuming that changes a lot of the shipping costs and such. I looked into Williams Brewing and their by-the-pound prices seem steep, but their sack prices are better than most. Maybe I'm wrong. I could really go for a good sack. I think I'd be pretty proud of my sack.

 

[Brulosopher]

Does anyone have experience buying full sacks of grain? I'm looking to get a sack of Maris Otter and I'm assuming that changes a lot of the shipping costs and such. I looked into Williams Brewing and their by-the-pound prices seem steep, but their sack prices are better than most. Maybe I'm wrong. I could really go for a good sack. I think I'd be pretty proud of my sack.

Shipping will always get you, so has been my experience. I buy 150 lbs from MoreBeer whenever I make a trip to the Bay area. Probably best to find a good shop near you so as to avoid shipping costs.

 

[rockfish42]

Does anyone have experience buying full sacks of grain? I'm looking to get a sack of Maris Otter and I'm assuming that changes a lot of the shipping costs and such. I looked into Williams Brewing and their by-the-pound prices seem steep, but their sack prices are better than most. Maybe I'm wrong. I could really go for a good sack. I think I'd be pretty proud of my sack.

Fifty pound sack a subsidiary of Rebel Brewer has decent sack prices with shipping included. Morebeer will do their flat rate shipping on 5, 10 pound sacks of base malt, so for instance 50 lbs of GW 2-row is 56.25 with free shipping if you bump the total to above 59 dollars. One is usually cheaper than the other depending on the grain of course.

 

[Schumed]

Does anyone have experience buying full sacks of grain? I'm looking to get a sack of Maris Otter and I'm assuming that changes a lot of the shipping costs and such. I looked into Williams Brewing and their by-the-pound prices seem steep, but their sack prices are better than most. Maybe I'm wrong. I could really go for a good sack. I think I'd be pretty proud of my sack.

Have you looked into a group buy in your area. I highly recommend it....and if there isn't one try organizing one....the savings are great...

I also scored a great resource from a friend of a friend who is a salesrep for a food company and he sells base grain to one of the local nanobrews...he lets me order from him at cost...$25 for #50 of 2-row

 

[Schumed]

Props to the OP for writing up the comparision...I've used almost all of these guys before...Midwest supplies got my started so they have a place in my heart but I always feel a little ripped off on shipping...I will say they usually have things in stock I can't find anywhere else like Sorachi hops.

I love Northern Brewers website and catalog the most user friendly IMO

Austin is good too but I hate everything from Texas...MIZ-SEC

Have to give a shout out to my boy Jermey at http://www.apexbrewwares.com/
I think his prices, service, and availablity of supplies are great and comparable to the big guys.

 

[SouthBay]

Www.mainbrew.com for buying a full grain sack, if youre on the west coast. It cost me less there, after shipping, than even going to the lhbs!

 

[integra93ls]

I like this idea

 

[Brulosopher]

Www.mainbrew.com for buying a full grain sack, if youre on the west coast. It cost me less there, after shipping, than even going to the lhbs!

I phoned MainBrew yesterday and the guy I talked with gave me this recommendation: "Shipping to California will basically double the price of the grain; it might be best if you just go to your local homebrew shop." Hmm! I inquired about ordering three 50 lb sacks of 2-Row at $30 per; shipping on each sack was estimated to be about $25, so I would have spent $165. When I go to a MoreBeer store, I spend $36 per sack + tax, which comes out to about $120. Shipping bulk grain is a killer.

 

[rockfish42]

I phoned MainBrew yesterday and the guy I talked with gave me this recommendation: "Shipping to California will basically double the price of the grain; it might be best if you just go to your local homebrew shop." Hmm! I inquired about ordering three 50 lb sacks of 2-Row at $30 per; shipping on each sack was estimated to be about $25, so I would have spent $165. When I go to a MoreBeer store, I spend $36 per sack + tax, which comes out to about $120. Shipping bulk grain is a killer.

Supposedly Brewbakers Brewing in Visalia will sell bulk grain at cost.

 

[SouthBay]

I phoned MainBrew yesterday and the guy I talked with gave me this recommendation: "Shipping to California will basically double the price of the grain; it might be best if you just go to your local homebrew shop." Hmm! I inquired about ordering three 50 lb sacks of 2-Row at $30 per; shipping on each sack was estimated to be about $25, so I would have spent $165. When I go to a MoreBeer store, I spend $36 per sack + tax, which comes out to about $120. Shipping bulk grain is a killer.

Crazy! I had 65 lbs shipped last week for a total of $66.... I'm only two hours away, but fedex is fedex

 

[BeerChef17]

120 for 150 pounds of grain isn't bad. My one LHBS sells a 50# for $51. I'm not sure about my other lhbs but when I buy for a single recipe its a straight $2.05/# for all grains. Pretty much evens out in the end for me

 

[Brulosopher]

Supposedly Brewbakers Brewing in Visalia will sell bulk grain at cost.

Not the last time I asked, about 4 months ago...

 

[theDeutscher]

Added prices for full sacks of 2-row today. I was actually pretty surprised in the differences in prices between ordering by-the-pound and in bulk. Also added a poll.

 

[rockfish42]

Not the last time I asked, about 4 months ago...

Sorry, someone in Visalia posted about it a long while back. I guess I'll stick with driving up to Morebeer or SF Brewcraft.

 

[Brulosopher]

Sorry, someone in Visalia posted about it a long while back. I guess I'll stick with driving up to Morebeer or SF Brewcraft.

Actually... they do sell bulk grain!!! Called and the brewer, Randy, called me back. Still don't know the price, but nice dude!!

 

[rockfish42]

Post here when you get the info, I head to LA and SD often enough that it would make sense to stop by and do a pick up.

 

[Brulosopher]

Post here when you get the info, I head to LA and SD often enough that it would make sense to stop by and do a pick up.

I'm expecting a call tomorrow. I'll post right after...

 

[theDeutscher]

That's what's nice about rebel brewer. There's a super saver shipping option. It's $2.99 to my house(in pa), but I believe it's different costs to each state.

Hmmmm Did Rebel Brewer do away with that shipping option? I put 8 lbs. of grain in my cart just to see what the shipping would be and it came out to be about $14 and I live in Ohio.

 

[theDeutscher]

Looks like Williams Brewing has Wyeast 1056 on sale for $2.88 until 8/9/12 if anyone is interested.

 

[theDeutscher]

Just got an email from Midwest Supplies for $7.95 Flat Rate shipping. It says for a limited time but doesn't specify when it ends. No promo code needed. Sounds like a great deal and will probably place my next order with them.

 

[Philsberry]

Looks like Norther Brewer has stopped its $7.99 flat rate shipping

 

[tom_gamer]

Looks like Norther Brewer has stopped its $7.99 flat rate shipping

I think you're right. This makes me very sad

 

[BrewerinBR]

I use the local home brew shop; BrewGadgets.com they have online sales and a small store not far from my house and they go out of the way to provide excellent service and the owner is an excellent source for knowledge and help. I use both online and got to the store. Also a loyalty program and a discount program ... I highly recommend using their online site. Prompt shipping and the best service!

 

[Brulosopher]

I use MoreBeer.com often, and ever since the website upgrade, it has been a truly great experience! I order one day, it's shipped the following day, and I receive it the next day. Since I rarely spend less than $59 when I shop, shipping is usually free; since I live only 200 miles from Concord, when I do pay for shipping it's cheap.

 

[theDeutscher]

Looks like Norther Brewer has stopped its $7.99 flat rate shipping

http://www.northernbrewer.com/what-happened-to-your-flat-rate-shipping/

I was initially wondering why they did this because, from what I found, their prices on most products were towards the most expensive of all the popular stores. It looks like they have lowered prices across the board and taken away the flat rate shipping. I'm sure it still ends up being a price increase in the end, but I'll have to update the thread and see how it turns out.

 

[MMJfan]

I have basically only used 3 different online suppliers to order my kits/ingredients from.

I got my beginners brewing equipment kit from Midwest as well as my first brewkit which was Hop Head IPA and I just ordered their Furious IPA which I plan on brewing this weekend and I've had no issues.

I've also ordered a lot of ingredients from NB as well as their Apricot Blonde Extract kit and have been impressed with them as well.

But the online store I most frequently buy from is out of Michigan called Adventures In Homebrewing. Bells Brewing Co is probably my favorite brewery and they have some GREAT Bells clones including Oberon and Two Hearted as well as a couple of great Founders clones as well! And I've tried Fat Tire clones from other places and I have to say, AIHB's Fat Tire clone is a step above any others I've tried! And the thing I like most about them is they have a rewards program where you get a $10 gift certificat for every $200 you spend! And the best part is, when I order, I get delivery next day which is awesome! I'd highly recommend checking out their website I linked!

Unfortunately, the closest LHBS is about an hour's drive from me so I don't really consider them to be a LHBS...

 

[Yellowirenut]

Other - Adventures in Homebrewing.
I have got some great deals from them with fast shipping.

 

[balvey]

*disappointment* wish this thread hadn't died.... looking for best source for bulk grains, seems like midwest and all those that claim flat rate shipping don't include sacks of grain on that.