What’s the consensus on buying brew ingredients from LHBS’s? Price aside, do you use them? I imagine freshness would be a concern. Considering using one for hops and LME.
If they have what I want I buy local. I believe in supporting local brick and mortar
My two LHBS’s aren’t convenient to me in terms of hours and location. Neither carries Wyeast, either. I use them if I have to in a pinch, but I generally order online for the bulk of my ingredients.
My local hardware store carries a decent stock of things like DME, a few pre-crushed/pre-packed grains, dry yeast packets, plus cleaning supplies and hardware. I try to use them for all my odds & ends because they are local, and I want them to keep stocking the stuff.
My local store is awesome, great, service, always have what I need, fresh grain and most yeast. I always recommend supporting the locals!
I too am lucky as I have a great LHBS close by that has fresh grain, yeast, just about anything I need (and don’t need according to my wife ;D), they have a great staff and they put on some great homebrew events too. They are also attached to a brewery, so they make their own LME, which was great when I was doing extract batches. I’m always one to support you local shops, but if you have issues, there are some great internet based shops too.
Side question…how can you tell if the liquid extract is a good brand/fresh, same goes for hop freshness?
When you can order something and get it the next day, everything is basically “local.” Most of the online stores AHS, Midwest, etc. have brick and mortar stores, as well. They all need support, too.
My LHBS sponsors my homebrew club, so I buy from them when I can, but their hours are almost never convenient for me, and their prices are too high to do mail order from them. I typically end up buying heavy/bulky stuff like grain from the LHBS, and get yeast and hops online.
I’m lucky to live close to a great shop who almost always has everything I want. On the odd time that they are out of something I need, I’ll get it online. I do like to buy bulk hops online when I see a deal that’s too good to pass up.
My local is less than a mile from my house, has a huge selection of ingredients, plus they have a bar that serves craft beers, both brewed there and hand-picked elsewhere. They support the brewing community, they have a beer garden and last night they had a food truck that specialized in panninis.
I love that place.
Awesome. Mine is owned by a BJCP who really understands making great beer. Selection and service are great. There is a really good nano next door, and they have a food truck there on most days as well. Just an all-around good experience.
I use my LHBS. Actually, I’m very lucky in that we have agreat store very active in the craft-they sponsor lots of events, comps, etc. Now, there’s a new store opening soon that will double as a brewery w/ taproom. I’ve met the guy and turns out he’s a home brewer right here in my neighborhood.
As to freshness of the ingredients, I’m assuming my LHBS turns their inventory as well as anyone on line. There’s a constant flow of traffic and it looks like the inventory is moving vs. sitting too long. I’ve been in the ‘back room’ to get full bags of grain and it didn’t look overstocked. I guess if you have a concern, then look around. Maybe talk to whoever is working. Just get a feel And then decide.
I know all businesses need support, but I buy local when I can,
I started buying my hops online after I bought a pound of very old hops from my LHBS in Denver. They were in a mylar bag, but they were turning brown on the edges, smelled cheesy. Not knowing any better at the time, I used them in a beer. It tasted like cheesy cardboard.
I buy 90% online. The closest LHBS to me is 2.5 hours away. I asked if they had any Roselare blend, then i had to explain what it was for. The owner’s comment, and I quote: “why would anybody want to turn a beer sour?”
There are 2 very good stores in Albuquerque, but at 5 hours away they are not local. When I’m up there I’ll buy a bunch of stuff from both of them, but that’s not very often since my daughter moved back south.
I had the exact same response when I asked about Brett cultures at a homebrew store in KS. They even had Brett Trois listed on their online store! C’mon, guys, you don’t know what you sell in your own store?
I’m a big fan of my LHBS. It’s about 20 minutes away from me, has a full menu of fresh ingredients and lots of equipment choices. They are big supporters of my local brew-club, even giving members a 10% discount. They host events like Big Brew Day on site and are just about to get started with classes and seminars for brewers. Plus the staff is knowledgeable and always ready to talk beer. I have gone to the internet for some of my more esoteric equipment needs more my LHBS is my “go-to” place.
My LHBS (Keystone Home Brew Supply) in Bethlehem PA is staffed by knowledgeable and friendly people. They carry good stuff and it’s always fresh. There is usually something to sample too… 8)
If you want there to be a store where you can run to for an “Oh Shid! forgot to order XYZ moment” you need to buy everything there so they can stay in business, even when you know you’re paying a few $$ more.
My LHBS is awesome. They have better prices than online stores and will special order stuff for me. Great people and this store has been selling grain and feed since the late 1800’s.
I move around a lot, so if I live in an area where a LHBS is convenient to work or home, I try to use them, especially for yeast. Mostly I’m an online guy though. I went into a LHBS once and the guy seemed to think it was odd I wanted uncrushed grain, which didn’t give me the best impression.
Why not use DME? Its much more shelf-stable and is easier to dose out by weight. Keeps well in an air-tight container.
Smell hops and look at the color. They shouldn’t smell “cheesy”, but they should also have a pleasing hop aroma, especially American varieties. The color should be green. Any gray/brown should be a concern.
A good homebrew store will sell hops in 1 oz air-tight bags or dose from small, air-tight containers.
A good homebrew store is a busy one - I always know hops/malts from my LHBS are fresh because I see a LOT of it going out the door!
Mine too! Bulk grain buys save me money on shipping. I do buy most of my hops online, but these guys have just started carrying pounds for reasonable prices. I buy yeast there because I can see the production date before I buy, been disappointed by some of the online stuff before.