What does your LHBS charge?

[SteveHeff]

All I wanted to see is what other brewers pay to brew similar beers. I'm not bitching, yet. But the guy I go to is the only LHBS within 30 minutes of where I live. I'm heavily considering buying in bulk, both hops and grain, in order to drive my overall cost down. I mainly brew 3 beers that I really enjoy and 2 of them use MO. I've washed yeast before with good results. So, I guess we'll see what I can start doing after figuring out where I want to buy my bulk grain from. Thanks for all of the info, guys.

 

[mcspanner]

What would you guys do in this case? Would you ask the LHBS about pricing? Or would you simply shop somewhere else?

I'd contact them and say that you just wanted to query their pricing as you've done a bit of checking around and it's $10-20 dearer than you were expecting. Give him the opportunity to justify his pricing ( maybe you bought floor malted Warminster MO imported from England without realising for example). If he says the pricing is correct and there's no particular justification for the higher price then I'd say something like "that's a shame, I really prefer to support local but I can't justify that extra cost over online"

It won't make him change his prices but it will make him aware that he's driving away business. Just moving your purchases without saying something won't make any point to him if he doesn't know why you have done it.

 

[beergolf]

The LHBS I go to has a virtual sack deal. You buy 50 lbs of grain and then when you come in and get say 10 lbs, that is subtracted from the total. The good thing is that it is good for any base grain. So if you want pils one time and 2- row and Munich the next you can get them. No need to buy different base mlats in bulk. It works great for me. Keeps the price down and you don't have to store the grain.

 

[Oginme]

This fall I will be splitting my orders between a bulk order on-line and my LHBS. For 8 recipes, the savings will be around $5 to $6 per recipe, after costing in shipping charges. The balance is about 35% of the business locally and 65% mail order.

You need to check shipping costs, though. Some on-line shops have such excellent prices, until you calculate the shipping costs in and the ending cost is nearly doubled!

 

[BridgewaterBrewer]

My closest HBS is Love2brew in Central NJ. I believe all their grains are less than $2/lb crushed. Look into NJCraftbeer membership. It's about $20/ yr and u get discounts at many LHBS, Liquor stores, pubs, etc.

 

[taalhiker]

In Dayton, $40 would get me:
10lb bag of MO
+ #1 bags of C60, carapils, flaked oats (x2), chocolate malt & roasted barley
+ 1oz bags of fuggles & EKG
+ the 1084 yeast.

You'd end up with ~$4 in leftover grains so a $36 net cost.

 

[Anelda]

Sheesh, that's expensive.

Just the grain and hops at my LHBS: $25.04. As my LHBS doesn't have wyeast, the White Labs equivalent would at $6.99 for a total of $32.03 for your recipe.

And that's the crappy LHBS. I know the other one in my area is cheaper but they don't have prices online as they're brand new. So I'd wager ~$5 cheaper at the other HBS.

 

[Transamguy77]

I recently bought grains for a chocolate oatmeal stout. The grain list is as follows:

8# 12 oz maris otter
1# 12 oz flaked oats
1# C60
1# carapils
1# Chocolate malt
6 oz Roasted barley
1 oz fuggles
1 oz EKG
1 wyeast 1084 smack pack

Overall, I spent almost 50 bucks. I recently moved from Michigan to NJ but I can't ever remember spending more than 30-35 dollars for grains, hops and yeast. I think my total was 48 and change to be more specific. Am I getting hosed or was my LHBS in MI really cheap?

Where I'm at in Pa it would have been around $40. His prices might be a bit high but I don't think you got ripped off either.

Not sure if you have storage where you are but paying per pound price for base malt is why I started buying by the sack, I pay $50 for 2 row and $55ish for MO. I have found that by buying my base malt by the sack I'm ok buying everything else seperate and I can still make 10 gallons if something for around $40 using washed yeast.

 

[Misplaced_Canuck]

I have two LHBS near where I live, one is not competitive and the other is often out of stuff.

So it's group buys for me (base malt) and it's mail order for the specialty malts, and pounds of hops from hopsdirect.

In a recent group buy, I got MO at $1/lb. Still have a few bags left for sale in fact (shameless plug).

MC

 

[MaxStout]

While aerating my latest batch or wort with O2 last weekend, my 2-micron ss aeration stone shot off the end of the hose and is now sitting at the bottom of my fermenter, probably clogged with trub. I went to my LHBS to get a replacement. This shop is only a few miles from where I live and they generally have a good selection of gear and their prices are only slightly higher than at Midwest or Northern. I didn't want to drive the extra 15 miles or so to either of the latter two stores. The LHBS wanted over $30 for it! Yikes. I told the guy that the others sell them for under $15, but he just shrugged, and I left.

I don't need it right away, so I'll wait until my next big online order and get it then. I'm a tightwad and refuse to pay more than double for that.

 

[bmeulebroeck]

At the Midwest retail store that recipe would cost you $35.01. $31.51 if you are in a brew club or AHA.

In store only of course; shipping would add some.

 

[SteveHeff]

Here's an update to my purchases. I bought grain for a German Lager. Nothing special. 9# 2 row, 2.5# munich malt, .5# carapils, 2 oz hallertauer, bohemian lager yeast (and 8 dollars of misc stuff). Does anybody want to venture a guess as to what I spent? If you take away the 8 bucks for my misc, I hit 53 dollars for this stuff.

This is the absolute last time I shop there. Unfortunate, but I can't spend that kind of money brewing my own beer. That was part of the reason I got into this hobby. I thought it was going to save me money in the long run.

 

[Phunhog]

WOW!! I did a rough calculation...the same ingredients at my LHBS would have been right around 36 dollars. I am all for supporting a LHBS but...not at those prices. What do they charge per lb for base and specialty grains, hops, and liquid yeast?

 

[daveooph131]

Here's an update to my purchases. I bought grain for a German Lager. Nothing special. 9# 2 row, 2.5# munich malt, .5# carapils, 2 oz hallertauer, bohemian lager yeast (and 8 dollars of misc stuff). Does anybody want to venture a guess as to what I spent? If you take away the 8 bucks for my misc, I hit 53 dollars for this stuff.

This is the absolute last time I shop there. Unfortunate, but I can't spend that kind of money brewing my own beer. That was part of the reason I got into this hobby. I thought it was going to save me money in the long run.

Man that's sky high...I average between 20 and 30 for any of the recipes I brew from my LHBS. Something this simple probably would have been around 25.

 

[SteveHeff]

All the grain I purchased was $2.25 lb. Trying not to be a jerk, I asked him about the price, thinking he meant it was 2.25 for the munich malt. Nope. All his base grain is that price and it goes up.

Because my receipt wasn't itemized, nor where any of the products priced, I was left calculating what the cost of yeast and hops were. I was left with around 23 dollars on my receipt that accounted for the yeast and hops. No matter how you do the math, it's too high.

So I now know that my 30 minute drive to the next closest LHBS is worth it. I'm going to make a trip there today and price out the same grains, yeast and hops. I'll report back when I have my information. Cheers, fellas.

 

[Phunhog]

All the grain I purchased was $2.25 lb. Trying not to be a jerk, I asked him about the price, thinking he meant it was 2.25 for the munich malt. Nope. All his base grain is that price and it goes up.

Because my receipt wasn't itemized, nor where any of the products priced, I was left calculating what the cost of yeast and hops were. I was left with around 23 dollars on my receipt that accounted for the yeast and hops. No matter how you do the math, it's too high.

So I now know that my 30 minute drive to the next closest LHBS is worth it. I'm going to make a trip there today and price out the same grains, yeast and hops. I'll report back when I have my information. Cheers, fellas.

At those prices I would have no issue buying from one of the big internet suppliers. Morebeer gives you free shipping and the prices are half what u are currently paying.

 

[kaconga]

All the grain I purchased was $2.25 lb. Trying not to be a jerk, I asked him about the price, thinking he meant it was 2.25 for the munich malt. Nope. All his base grain is that price and it goes up.

Because my receipt wasn't itemized, nor where any of the products priced, I was left calculating what the cost of yeast and hops were. I was left with around 23 dollars on my receipt that accounted for the yeast and hops. No matter how you do the math, it's too high.

So I now know that my 30 minute drive to the next closest LHBS is worth it. I'm going to make a trip there today and price out the same grains, yeast and hops. I'll report back when I have my information. Cheers, fellas.

If I saw that total I would have said nevermind and walked away. How can you know the 8 dollars of misc. was really only 8 bucks? No matter what, paying more than two dollars for base 2-row is ridiculous.

 

[dgr]

That recipe would have cost you $55 to order from morebeer. You would have to pay for shipping or buy more stuff and you would have to weigh out the fractions of a pound and end up with leftovers.

Just sayin'

It would have cost me:
$9 2-row in bulk
$5.70 for specialty grain
$2.95 for hops
Maybe $8 for yeast.
$25.65 or $31 if I didn't buy my 2-row in bulk.
I'm going to keep supporting my LHBS.

 

[SteveHeff]

I went to the other LHBS near by this afternoon. I'm happy to report back with good news. I priced out my grains with these guys and the overall total was $34 and change. I was a bit surprised to find out the yeast was 8.99 for a smack pack. 2 row was 10.99 for a 10# bag. Specialty grains were 2.49-2.99 depending on what you needed.

I'm happy with the results of this trip. It is a little further out than the other place but it's certainly worth the drive. The owners/employees were incredibly helpful. Very knowledgable. I'm glad I made the trip. I think the case is closed on this one.

Thanks for all of the helpful responses. They were very good and pointed me in the right direction. I can now take my savings and apply them towards my kegging system (which SWMBO has already approved!!).

 

[Totes]

Support your local LHBS, if not, LHBS goes out of business, and you are stuck buying online, sending your hard earned money out of your community. And who doesn't like going to the brew shop?
Hobby store owners in general don't make much money, They might have to charge that much to stay afloat, I doubt he's considering buying a new boat from the grain profits.
So you get burned 10 bucks every time you brew, most people brew what, twice a month? 20 bucks a month is a small price to pay to enjoy the perks of having a relationship with a brew shop.

That being said...2.25 for 2-row! Sh** better be organic, fair traded and hand harvested.

 

[kaconga]

Support your local LHBS, if not, LHBS goes out of business, and you are stuck buying online, sending your hard earned money out of your community. And who doesn't like going to the brew shop?
Hobby store owners in general don't make much money, They might have to charge that much to stay afloat, I doubt he's considering buying a new boat from the grain profits.
So you get burned 10 bucks every time you brew, most people brew what, twice a month? 20 bucks a month is a small price to pay to enjoy the perks of having a relationship with a brew shop.

That being said...2.25 for 2-row! Sh** better be organic, fair traded and hand harvested.

This mentality leads to mediocrity IMO. I buy local because they are competitive with online when you factor in shipping and time wasted waiting. If they charged me 55 bucks for a simple all grain recipe then I would walk out. Not having prices posted or itemized receipts is pure lazyness. If you want the locals to support you then you have to earn their support. If any business is relying on people to just shop locally then they will fail. I earn my money and I won't give it to any business that doesn't earn it.

 

[SteveHeff]

Just to clarify, I'm still shopping local. But I'm choosing to drive across a few towns to go to the other LHBS. When it's your money being spent, spend it where you want to. That's why I'm CHOOSING to spend my money elsewhere. 20 bucks a month, over the course of a year, is 240 bucks. Plenty of money for me to start kegging with.

 

[MarcusKillion]

most of hops here are about 3.50 oz , specialty grains about 2.50 a pound I think , smack packs 7.50 each , marris otter ??

 

[formula2fast]

My LHBS is 1.99 per ounce for all hops and 1.99 per pound of all grain. If you buy bulk base malts, they are 1.29 per pound. And the customer service is above and beyond.

 

[BrewChem]

My LHBS's is Midwest Supplies.. their in-store pricing are the same as the website. Around 1.70 - 1.90 per lb of base malt and less for the specialty grains. Hop pellets are $1 - 2.50 per oz depending on type. They've just renovated the grain room to make space for more bins of different grains... plus AHA members get 10% discount at the register.

 

[Dutchbier]

I have been involved in the model train hobby for 25 years. Same story over there: all the local hobby shops are ripped for being overpriced gougers. Then when a guy needs a $2 part and there is no local store he cries about that. Does your Internet source pay local taxes or support little league in your area? How would all of the "I can find it five cents lower somewhere else" crowd feel if their boss cut their pay because the Internet ate his profits?

There's two sides of every coin guys. Brew on, enjoy your beers and member it is a hobby.

 

[kaconga]

I have been involved in the model train hobby for 25 years. Same story over there: all the local hobby shops are ripped for being overpriced gougers. Then when a guy needs a $2 part and there is no local store he cries about that. Does your Internet source pay local taxes or support little league in your area? How would all of the "I can find it five cents lower somewhere else" crowd feel if their boss cut their pay because the Internet ate his profits?

There's two sides of every coin guys. Brew on, enjoy your beers and member it is a hobby.

My LHBS is competitive with the online retailers on lots of things. One thing they are not competitive on is yeast. I always buy my yeast there though. Not because they are local, but because they take care of it and it stays nice and cold the whole time. From the time it leaves white labs to the time it hits my starter it is kept at close to ideal temps. This is what local business needs to do. It CAN excel at certain things and to say it shouldn't have to because its the local place is silly.

Over the course of the last year I have spent approx 900 dollars there. They know me and know I expect a certain level of cordiality from them. They answer my questions without makinge feel dumb and the answers are always spot on when I do my research. If your LHBS doesn't take care of you in a professional and courteous manner then why support them? Maybe they will go out of business and someone else who is better will take their place.

 

[Totes]

If your LHBS doesn't take care of you in a professional and courteous manner then why support them? Maybe they will go out of business and someone else who is better will take their place.

Can't argue with that. I won't support any business that doesn't respect me or appreciate my patronage, local or not. However, I don't feel it's fair to expect the LHBS to always keep there prices on par with the big online retailers. The LHBS service and homebrew camaraderie should make up for the increased price, in theory.

 

[clskinsfan]

Seems expensive to me? But I buy all my Ing in bulk.

 

[kaconga]

Can't argue with that. I won't support any business that doesn't respect me or appreciate my patronage, local or not. However, I don't feel it's fair to expect the LHBS to always keep there prices on par with the big online retailers. The LHBS service and homebrew camaraderie should make up for the increased price, in theory.

Honestly, for me, It's the quality of the ingredients. I can munch on some grains and see what the hops are stored like before I purchase. Might be some new hops in I have never heard of and they can point to a recipe that uses them. When you buy online you hope that they are doing the right thing with the ingredients. But when you can actually see and taste things then you KNOW they have done the right thing.

And I intend to treat them as awesome as they have treated me. They had someone new working the register last time I went and she rang up my 7 lbs of LME as just 1 lb. Next time I am in I will rectify the mistake because they are doing things right there. They aren't the cheapest but they are certainly the best value.