Got an email today about both Austin and AIH being folded into the Northern Brewer brand. While this is obviously a reminder to support your LHBS before it goes away, I’ll also use it as an opportunity to support MY LHBS by posting about it here. It’s been in business for 35 years,100% independent and does excellent mail order sales. They are very willing to special order things for you, and have things you may not have access to (Jasper Yeast, for example). If you are on the east coast and don’t have anything within driving distance, check it out. I have no affiliation with them other than being a customer and a friend.
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My LHBS is Fermentation Initiative in Tacoma. They usually have all the ingredients I need, while their on-store brewery provides a bit of refreshment while shopping. And, they also host a local club’s monthly meetings. Here’s to the all of the LHBS! 
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A shout out to Keystone Homebrew in PA. They won the 2025 AHA LHBS of the year. Fastest shippers I’ve dealt with. They embarrass MoreBeer.
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My LHBS, The Brew Depot, was a sponsor at this year’s Homebrew Con. I’m fortunate they’re only a 5 mile drive from my house. After a 20 year run, the original owner retired and sold it to two 30-somethings and they’re doing all the right things. They’ve made significant improvements to the business like updating the brick and mortar, offering online ordering, hosting a homebrew club, teaching homebrew classes, sponsoring local competitions and adding regional craft maltsters like Riverbend and Carolina Malt to their inventory. I do pay a premium but I like using craft malt when I can and the additional cost is somewhat offset by my 10% AHA discount. They get almost all my business. The only thing I don’t buy from them is when I buy hops in bulk.
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Ok, I will chime in here for support of local homebrew shops. Alternative Beverage is located in the Charolette area and has been in business for 53 years. The orginal owner recently sold it to a new owner who is transistioning the business very well. He actively supports local homebrew clubs and provides great customer service..for example, one of the clubs I belong to had a barrel project and he agreed to special order the yeast we were all using for the barrel project. The yeast company made a mistake and shippped the wrong yeast. Robert had them overnight ship the correct yeast and then drove up to a club meeting to deliver so we could still have our brew day. Altenative Beverage does mail orders also. Check them out. I also have no affiliation with them other than being a customer and friend.
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My local shop is Pacific Brewing Supplies, in San Dimas, California. They have a particularly great variety of grains (including bulk sacks), and I also appreciate their on-site CO2 refill service. They’ve been adding in a small range of non-brewing items lately (I can’t get out of there without a roll or two of Reed’s root beer candy). Charles (the shop owner) is super cool, and really fun to chat with.
For those in the greater LA area, the shop is right next to the San Dimas Metro stop, and a block away from a killer pupuseria (it’s branded as a burger place, and the burgers are good, but I always go for the pupusas!).
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That seems non heinous.
Thanks for posting this, I have a friend in Virginia brewing lagers with Jasper yeast. He’s getting great results so I will probably order some now that I know where I can get it.
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Andy, you forgot the best part about PBS - the shop cat!
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I appreciate the links to these shops. All of the shops around me closed over the last decade, so I only really know to look for the “big” names online. I’ll check some of these links out before placing my next order.
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Fermentation Initiative is closing and (maybe) keeping it as an online only business by the end of the year.
That’s news to me. What’s your source?
Same person owns Olympic Homebrewing in Bremerton. Closing that location, consolidating in Tacoma. Then the lease is up at end of year I believe.
They have had a single website for a while. I’ll give them a call on Tuesday and report back. I don’t doubt you, but I sure hope you were given incorrect info. This is complicated by the pending retirement of the owner of Jon’s Homebrew in Puyallup. He’s got the shop up for sale.
I always support my LHBS and will pay extra for items at his shop I can get elsewhere at a lower price. Reason being I like I can walk in and get the yeast I want or order the yeast I want and it arrives fresh. Or that last minute item I forgot that he has in stock.
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Just read your name and want to tell you, that there is a brewery with your name in scenic Appenzell in Switzerland. They are one of the thriving privately owned breweries. They even have a craft beer division.(This is located at their historic brewery site and has a customer center… We often go there, when mountainbiking…)
@tfrommer, I have some good news! I just got off the phone with Fermentation Initiative and they told me they ARE NOT closing their Tacoma store. They plan to remain in their current location.
Unfortunately, their sister store, Olympic Brewing Supplies in Bremerton, will close at the end Oct. '27.
I was under the impression that both Austin and AIH were purchased by Northern Brewer awhile ago. The websites all got similar and pricing has been identical across all of those sites for several years now. Never was a fan of NB and their pricing so I quit buying from any of those online providers awhile ago.
I’m in south central Colorado so I buy from my LBHS in Colorado Springs as much as I possibly can. The owners are awesome and all of the staff very friendly and knowledgeable.