Home Brew Shops

[Lobsta]

I wouldn't spend my money in the annerley store. Last time I was there they didn't even store there hops in the fridge. This was a while ago though they may have changed.

i was in there a few months ago, and i asked about the hops in the fridge thing, and he said that he did, but he only gives out the refridgerated hops when people on request. not my preferred HBS, but for small stuff, its ok

 

[brendanos]

Maybe this guy's a home winemaking fanatic, and dabbling in homebrewing supplies too for convenience?

 

[leeboy]

positive note for brick n mortar stores, I give an A+++ to Mark at MHB, good bloke with plenty of experience and he knows his stuff.

Again I would like to highly praise the service that the people of newcastle get at Marks Home Brew. I actually don't know any better but it ticks all the boxes,
friendly, good fresh ingredients, advice when needed, supportive of AG brews, phone orders, well priced etc etc. Its good being a home brewer in the hunter.
Lee

 

[matt white]

Colin at BYOAH in Canberra (Kambah to be exact) has got his stuff together. Everything you need with similar prices to elsewhere.
He wont ram new ideas down your throat but is happy to give advice and even samples. Always has all the right hops and grains, though not too big on liquid yeasts.

I have been going to him for 10+ years and still haven't managed to try one of everthing he sells!

 

[Fatgodzilla]

Lucky you. NOTHING here. Once had a goof one but he closed coz driving trucks was far more lucrative. Then one opened in Moss Vale but closed soon after. No guesses needed why the ONLY brew shop within 75kms couldnt survive. Its a sad HB life in the Southern Highlands :

75km .. luxury :angry:


My nearest HBS is over 200km away in Wollongong or Canberra. Sure there are places that sell kits, minor equipment and extract products, but I don't have the luxury of walking into a shop and being ill informed like you lucky buggers

My local suppliers reside in this cyberspace and I use you blokes for all the info I need. Count yourself lucky you have someone to bitch about !

 

[Andyd]

I can vouch for the Brewer's Den as a pretty good HBS - its run by a guy called Pete (who just happens to be a "Melbourne Brewer") who will give you good advice.
Range is not quite the same as G&G, but he's convenient in his area and has good prices.
Far better that those Australian Home Brewing stores - which I've never visited as they never seem to have what I want.

I got started on Pete's gear and goods, so it has sentimental value

No formal affiliation, but I'm about to head down to do a brew with Pete, and I'll vouch for him as a great guy and knowlegable about the hobby.

Seems like the independant HBS in Melbourne are all good (at least the ones I've had experience with ) - but the one time I walked into one of the "chain" stores down here though I couldn't believe how little they had, both in stock and knowledge...

Andy

 

[troydo]

muy local hbs is 75m away... hes not super but if you know what you want hes generally got it otherwise craftbrewer is only a short drive away

 

[brettprevans]

I've also had good experience at the HBS on church st in richmond.

really? the brewcraft store? i only foun d them marginally better than heidelberg and thats shithouse. i dont have any faith in them.
however G&G, craftbrewer, brewers den, greensborough brewing supplies are all bloody good.

eDIT: speeling

 

[Farnk]

really? the brewcraft store? i only foun d them marginally better than heidelberg and thats shithouse. i dont have any faith in them.
however G&G, craftbrewer, brewers den, greensborough brewing supplies are all bloody good.

eDIT: speeling

Yea, the Brewcraft store on Chruch st has been fine from my perspective.
There can be variation in the 'customer experience' depending on who is working on the day, but that is true of any retail or service business.

Mind you, our work homebrewing challenge has sent a lot of business their way

The Brewers Den has been great, good range and priced well. I'm happy with either getting my custom.
It depends on what you are after I suppose. I tend to decide up front before going shopping on what I'm trying to create and the materials I'm actually after, and avoid making choices whilst standing in front of the shelves.

 

[kevo]

I think I frequent the HBS on the Gold Coast that started this thread - always with specific purchases in mind - never to browse.

I asked my wife to drop in and grab a sachet of US Ale yeast. It's in the fridge on the counter I told her.

She went in, asked and was told by the guy that runs it that there was no such thing - it didn't exist.

She rang me and said it didn't exist.'Open the fridge and look at the blue or red pack. It should say American Ale yeast on it.'

He was amazed and had never realised the variety of yeast he actually had on sale. Old mate seems drunk most of the time anyway.

Kev

 

[AlwayzLoozeCount]

I think I frequent the HBS on the Gold Coast that started this thread - always with specific purchases in mind - never to browse.

I asked my wife to drop in and grab a sachet of US Ale yeast. It's in the fridge on the counter I told her.

She went in, asked and was told by the guy that runs it that there was no such thing - it didn't exist.

She rang me and said it didn't exist.'Open the fridge and look at the blue or red pack. It should say American Ale yeast on it.'

He was amazed and had never realised the variety of yeast he actually had on sale. Old mate seems drunk most of the time anyway.

Kev

Im still trying to figure out what hb shop it is.

 

[vchead]

I was having a lovely developing relationship with my HBS Brewhaus in Marrickville when one day I wandered along and they had closed. Not enough business to keep it viable. I was shattered. For months I was searching for a HBS nearby. I had a mate who was picking up orders for me here and there but I wasn't getting the HBS experience and couldn't make those hasty last minute decisions when at the store.

Fortunately I looked up at the top of the AHB page and saw CraftBrewer. I had grain, yeast and hops at my door within 3 days. They have a great range, good website, great quick service and communication was good. I can't get a few bits of hardware and a few cleanning products that I need from time to time but the ingredients are great.

Give on-line a go if you need anything,

Rodders

 

[Duff]

I was having a lovely developing relationship with my HBS Brewhaus in Marrickville when one day I wandered along and they had closed. Not enough business to keep it viable. I was shattered. For months I was searching for a HBS nearby. I had a mate who was picking up orders for me here and there but I wasn't getting the HBS experience and couldn't make those hasty last minute decisions when at the store.

Fortunately I looked up at the top of the AHB page and saw CraftBrewer. I had grain, yeast and hops at my door within 3 days. They have a great range, good website, great quick service and communication was good. I can't get a few bits of hardware and a few cleanning products that I need from time to time but the ingredients are great.

Give on-line a go if you need anything,

Rodders

You never used ND Brewing??

 

[Fourstar]

I cant speak enough fo Dave at Geensborough! Always willing to help, have a chat and a beer or 3!

 

[rh1an5]

i think i have visited most of the shops on the coast recently in search of teh 'best'. and being a brew newbie im really looking for a helpful store, full range of product and good prices, not to mention random chat about shit, that always makes a good store imo

the few i havnt been to are palm beach and mermaid, hoping to this week sometime, i hoping if any of teh owners of any of these stores are on here they take something from my ranting, good or bad.

southport, old guy is great, helpful, has a fridge full of hops and malts, and cheapish for a retail outlet. he sells some cool looking AG stuff to as well as cheap kegs etc. he could be on the sauce, lol

burleigh - dont get me started, didnt respond when i asked a question, when i asked again raised his head like he was god and i could then proceed to talk, to which i was flabbergasted at prices (the store had no price tickets ON ANYTHING) he did have a shop dog thought, that's cool, but still i wont be back

the CRAZY old guy in parkwood, that's an experience people should travel here for, i cant even remember what was in their, all shiny and expensive and i couldn't really understand a word he said, interesting none the less

nerang and oxenford, apparently recently sold to new owners (how recent im not sure), i find them helpful and full of info, but a tad pricey for some stuff and hops etc all seem to be on the shelf. also when i mentioned full ag was told oh no, mini mash at the most, ag is super hard and not worth it
my 2c

 

[kevo]

I think Nerang and Oxenford have been leased for a couple of years while the owners travel overseas/around Oz - something like that. I think Barb was the woman who used to run Nerang, was great for kits and basic advice, but you had to ask as you walked or you'd be stuck for a good while. I've found Nerang really good at getting stuff in for you quickly wherever they can.

Palm beach man seems drunk. Always offers a drink. Doesn't seem to realise that a) it's illegal b)lots of people choose to drive cars now.

Burleigh man is always cranky and overpriced.

Southport is good.

You're right - Parkwood is an experience.

Where's the one at mermaid???

Painful thing I find is one has good extract, one has good grains easily available, another has the yeast I want - I do a fair bit of driving to get the bits for a brew.

Kev

 

[blackbock]

Lucky you. NOTHING here. Once had a goof one :beerbang: - but he closed coz driving trucks was far more lucrative. Then one opened in Moss Vale but closed soon after. No guesses needed why the ONLY brew shop within 75kms couldnt survive. Its a sad HB life in the Southern Highlands

I heard there was a guy with a shop up there somewhere who specialised in selling moonshine to his customers.
Not much future in that once the law catches up with him...

It just seems to me that most HB shop owners are drunks who couldn't be arsed to keep their stores stocked with what people actually ask for.

 

[microbe]

Oxenford's my local. I found the guy that used to be there (Gary?) to be really helpful for kit brewing (before I found AHB), the woman who's there most often now has increased the range but you might want to get a second opinion on any advice that's offered. I get all over SEQ for work and like to pop into HBS if I get the time.

THE GOOD - Toowoomba Home Brew is the only one I've come across that sells Iodophor. The guy that runs the Jimboomba store (I think it's AHB's Mothballs?) is always full of enthusiasm and time for all. Great advice and an infectious attitude. The other Brewer's Choice store's I've been to (Wacol, Yamanto & Acacia Ridge) are good but don't match him, nothing bad to say.

THE REST - Nothing else really stands out either way except for the one at Burleigh. I can't remember the last time I met a more surly, dis-interested shop owner/manager.

Always offers a drink. Doesn't seem to realise that a) it's illegal

It's illegal to sell, but is it really illegal to give it away?

Cheers,

microbe

 

[kevo]

Apparently it is illegal to provide samples in a HBS..... according to the owner of one of the other HBS'.

It had been investigated so samples of new products could be offered to new brewers etc. But, from memory, it was even illegal for them to provide samples 'out the back' in the office.

I don't think anyone cares - the guy in question is just being friendly - I think the police would probably be offered a drink if they ever dragged him away.

Kev

 

[rh1an5]

good to see my impersion of the burleigh shop was correct and not soem hangover induced hate, my gf kept telling me maybe he was having a bad day, i knew better, lol