Who's my Chicago homebrewers?

[ArtimusBeerimus]

Malric,

Howdy, neighbor! Can't pull up your heat stick vid in my phone... Will check that out!

 

[SkippyWilliams]

Malric/Artimus I can't be to far from you both. I can walk to Three Floyds...

 

[KokomoSam]

Hello all.

New brewer in Villa Park IL. The LHBS I use so far is Chicagoland Winemakers http://www.chicagolandwinemakers.com/

 

[wagz]

Just a follow up on this thread. Where do folks get their co2 tanks filled and is there a place to get a beer gas mix for a stout pour?

 

[sudsmcgee]

I get my 5 lb tanks filled at Illinois Fire and Safety in Addison for about 20 bucks a tank.

 

[Malric]

For those that are all grain, bmason is doing a group buy. I bought a sack of 2 row and another of marris otter on a buy that he ran. Very organized and SUPER cheap. If any of the NW Indiana guys are interested, we can carpool up to his place to pick up since it is a drive.

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f174/group-buy-chicago-4-a-304020/#post3781967

 

[ipsiad]

Just a follow up on this thread. Where do folks get their co2 tanks filled and is there a place to get a beer gas mix for a stout pour?

I go to NFC (2944 N Leavitt). It's expensive - $20 for 5lbs - but it's the closest place to me I've found that will refill CO2 tanks rather than exchange. NFC also does beer gas, and they carry miscellaneous brewing/kegging hardware.

If anyone knows of alternatives in the city, let me know!

 

[cableguy0170]

Hanover Park here....
I mostly do Austin online, Brew and go in roselle is the closest, Chicago winemakers in Elmhurst is ok.

Ravenswood.
Austin Home Brew - online retailer where I order the majority of my recipes. You can specify exact amounts of grains and they will crush and combine into a single bag if you want it that way. Flat rate shipping is competitive and hops availability has always been great.

cheers to my fellow chicagoans

 

[Schmutzli]

Edgewater.

Second post, so hello!

 

[heferly]

I go to NFC (2944 N Leavitt). It's expensive - $20 for 5lbs - but it's the closest place to me I've found that will refill CO2 tanks rather than exchange. NFC also does beer gas, and they carry miscellaneous brewing/kegging hardware.

If anyone knows of alternatives in the city, let me know!

same here...other nice thing is they'll exchange when you're out of date, so if you have an ugly steel tank like me, you don't have to wait for it to be sent out and tested

 

[TheMan]

Northwest Burbs here!

The homebrew store reviews:

Brewers Coop...Went there twice, like another poster said, sporatic inventory. It's more than likely they do NOT have what you need. They are working on this though, so maybe it changes in the future.

St. Charles Homebrew shop...I like this place, but their prices are a bit high. The staff is extremely helpful and friendly. If you're a beginner, this is the place to go since you can get good advice from friendly people.

Fox Valley Homebrew...Sorry, but this place is terrible. I haven't been in a couple years, but their prices were really high and the staff was less than knowledgeable, although friendly. When my buddy and I started brewing, we went to this place...the info we gathered from them was incorrect and exaggerated. We bought equipment we didn't even need based on their recommendations. Not to mention we would go there during their stated business hours for supplies to brew and they would be closed...huge turn off. After my first visit to the STC shop, I never looked back.

Brew N Grow Roselle...Best prices, friendly staff. Not the most knowledgeable on brewing, but they know enough. If you have a pretty good idea of what your doing then this is the place for you. My go to lhbs.

 

[mux]

Bev Art Is on Western ave maybe 101st. they are great. They have always had everything I have needed. Small shop lots of stuff!

 

[BBBF]

Bev Art Is on Western ave maybe 101st. they are great. They have always had everything I have needed. Small shop lots of stuff!

I love Bev Art, but I'm in Portage Park and Beverly might as well be in another city.

 

[Rdom]

Edgewater here.
I also like Brew Camp. I like that they will sell you grains in any amount (whether 1oz or 10lbs), same for hops. The guys there have always been very helpful. They're not open on Mondays so I will sometimes go to Brew and Grow on Kedzie. Inconsistent customer service there but they do have most everything you could possibly need.

 

[djfake]

Brew Camp is my go to when I need stuff.!

Just a short walk from my house, and right by Resi's Bierstube. It's my place now. I can email my order, and they'll have it ready for pickup. SUPPORT LOCAL!

 

[rifraf]

Northwest Burbs here!

The homebrew store reviews:

Brewers Coop...Went there twice, like another poster said, sporatic inventory. It's more than likely they do NOT have what you need. They are working on this though, so maybe it changes in the future.

St. Charles Homebrew shop...I like this place, but their prices are a bit high. The staff is extremely helpful and friendly. If you're a beginner, this is the place to go since you can get good advice from friendly people.

Fox Valley Homebrew...Sorry, but this place is terrible. I haven't been in a couple years, but their prices were really high and the staff was less than knowledgeable, although friendly. When my buddy and I started brewing, we went to this place...the info we gathered from them was incorrect and exaggerated. We bought equipment we didn't even need based on their recommendations. Not to mention we would go there during their stated business hours for supplies to brew and they would be closed...huge turn off. After my first visit to the STC shop, I never looked back.

Brew N Grow Roselle...Best prices, friendly staff. Not the most knowledgeable on brewing, but they know enough. If you have a pretty good idea of what your doing then this is the place for you. My go to lhbs.

Brand new shop in Plainfield called Chicago Brew Works is awesome. Only 4 months old. Owner is really nice, helpful, and takes time to get to know you.

 

[Spicemon1972]

Montgomery (near Aurora) checking in. I have been to Fox Valley Home Brew and it is small and cramped but friendly. I usually order online from NB or AHS.

 

[mr_bell]

Hey all,

Huntly here. There are a few homebrew shops I've been to that haven't been mentioned.

Brew and grow, Crystal Lake: Also the warehouse for the local stores. Good selection, prices ok; I was put off by a refractometer they wanted $120. Ended up getting mine from NB'er for $60 or so. Always have beers on tap, knowledgeable staff, John specifically, who is the brewer there.

Brew and grow, Rockford: What I've really liked about this location is the very friendly and knowledgeable staff. I don't know who's brewing there, but they usually have 4 beers on tap and they are (IMO) always fantastic. I usually stop in when I'm in the area. Typically I'll find something to buy (as most hombrewers would), but I really just want a the samples!

Crystal Lake Health Foods: Smaller shop with an ok selection of grains, yeast, hops. Usually will have most of what you're looking for. Prices ok. There's really no one there to help with brewing questions except the owner, Dave, as far as I can tell, though he's not the most experienced brewer. I do like that fact that they will let you buy any quantity of grains (split bags).

Perfect Brewing (or Perfect Brewing Supply?): This place is on 176, I believe it's in Libertyville. I happened to be driving by (I travel locally for work), and stopped in on the way back from my appointment. I needed some siphon tubing--7/16" ID. They appeared to have a decent selection, though I didn't really check it out thoroughly as I was in a time crunch. I did buy my tubing--40 cents per foot! I may be wrong but thought that was a great price. It's $1.50/foot at Norther Brewer. The employee that was there was very friendly.

I've been to most of the other shops mentioned, other than the ones in the city proper.

If anyone in the area would like to trade some beers at some point, please PM me!

 

[cyclogenesis]

Western 'burbs (Clarendon Hills) checking in..

So Who here does NOT add anything to their water? I am on two brews since moving to Chicago land.. first one is just ready now and is tasting good for green beer..

 

[mr_bell]

Western 'burbs (Clarendon Hills) checking in..

So Who here does NOT add anything to their water? I am on two brews since moving to Chicago land.. first one is just ready now and is tasting good for green beer..

I don't, but I don't use my water. I use a combination of spring and distilled water when partial mashing (most of what I brew to date) given the combination of grains / extract.

Using Palmer's spreadsheet I've worked out my water additions for my first all grain batch; I'm going to start with distilled water.

 

[Clanchief]

northwest burbs, I go to Perfect Brewing Supply on rt 176 east of milwaukee ave in Libertyville. Pretty good prices, close to me and best of all, haven't found anything out of stock.

Since I moved out to Des Plaines two months ago, this is where I've been going. The price on equipment is not so great, so I'm buying that all online now, but the ingredient prices are good, and they have a really good selection. Plus, being outside of C(r)ook County, the prices are just a bit lower anyways because of taxes. And I'll wait to fill my gas tank until I'm up there, saves me another $.20 a gallon.

 

[mux]

Western 'burbs (Clarendon Hills) checking in..

So Who here does NOT add anything to their water? I am on two brews since moving to Chicago land.. first one is just ready now and is tasting good for green beer..

Just a carbon filter.

 

[TyTanium]

Just a carbon filter.

Same here. That is, I don't dilute with RO/distilled.

I'm in Wheaton and our water goes through 3 plants before getting to us...I'm pretty sure none of them are using chloramines, but I usually just toss in a partial crushed Campden to be safe. I appreciate having tasty, soft water.

Here's my approximate profile: 34 Ca / 12 Mg / 8 Na / 14 Cl / 32 SO4 / 104 CaCO3

Depending on style I'll usually toss in 2-3g CaCl and occosionally 1g CaSO4. And 1-2 mL of Lactic Acid for lighter beers.

 

[PapsD]

St Charles here!

Awesome brewing water in
St Charles.

Been brewing for about 2 years; all grain for 1 year.

I usually hit up the lhbs in St Charles good people; very helpful; good selection and prices are pretty decent.

Perfect brewing supply in Libertyville is also a pretty good shop. They crushed my grain for me when I bought a beer kit from them. Hit up Firkin while you're in Libertyville. It's worth the ride just to go to Firkin.

 

[djfake]

Anyone use tap water for top-off? Do you do anything to it? I normally need just around a gallon, I'd prefer to not have to buy any. I always brew (partial mash)with City water.

 

[rifraf]

I do but I'm getting a weird off flavor in all my beers that fades over time or by letting the beer breathe like wine. The flavor can be tasted in the OG sample.

I'm going to use store bought water for my next brew to see if that's it. I'm on Lake Michigan water, and the water company told me no chloramine but we'll see.

 

[mux]

I do but I'm getting a weird off flavor in all my beers that fades over time or by letting the beer breathe like wine. The flavor can be tasted in the OG sample.

I'm going to use store bought water for my next brew to see if that's it. I'm on Lake Michigan water, and the water company told me no chloramine but we'll see.

Whats the flovor?

 

[rifraf]

Whats the flovor?

Really hard to describe. It's sort of an astringent, alcohol flavor without the "vapor" taste you get after a shot. It definitely lingers and stays in your mouth as an aftertaste.

Like I said it disappears in the bottle with aging, or if you just let your beer sit in the glass and "breathe".

LHBS owner tasted it, said he didn't know what it was. I'm guessing it's in the water, or some sort of scorched extract or twang.

 

[TyTanium]

My guess is chlorine. Sure there's no chloramines, but our water is loaded (by law) with chlorine. Closer you are to the plant, higher the concentration. It's obviously driven off in the boil, but not so in top-off water.

Some Campden or Potassium Metabisulfite will eliminate it instantly. So, collect your top-off water in a separate vessel, add a small amount, and then add to your fermenter.

Even if that's not the issue, it's an extremely easy, low-cost step.

 

[rifraf]

Sounds good. I'd been leaving top off water out over night but if there is that much I'll buy some tablets. My next brew is going to be a gift so I want it to taste add good as possible.