WARNING: If You Do Not Support Your LHBS It Will Close.

Hopefully those are the shops that do close up.

 

Some more thoughts.

I wouldn't have a problem paying a premium to support a local business but it's the absurdity of the costs and the lack of anything to help you with it.

A LHBS should team with with homebrew clubs and offer a discount. They should offer bulk pricing. I shouldn't pay the same cost/lb for a 55lb sack as I do for 8 oz. Be friendly and helpful and know your stuff.

I got a 50 ft wort chiller for the same price my lhbs was charging for a crappy 25ft model. It's just not feasible.

 

I don't go to a LHBS for advice. I go mostly for yeast and odds and ends. It seems to me most new brewers need some advice and like to one stop shop. At some point though, new brewers discover they can take the training wheels off and forego the basic advice and packaged kits...either that or they decide homebrewing is not for them. I'm glad there are LHBSs within 125 miles r/t of me, but I don't believe I need to subsidize their existence in the age of internet.

 

you are right and that was my experience. I like the idea of having a shop though. I can't tell you how many times I broke a hydrometer (I keep 2 now) and needed one, or I forgot I needed such and such ingredient, or whatever and the ability to run over on brew day or the day before is nice.

Also if they all die off then the new brewers will have a harder time. I could probably live without one but I do like the idea of local small businesses. Small businesses are the backbone of america but unfortunately due to our fear of big businesses we saddle them with the taxes and regulations of a big business. Those who can lease afford to deal with it...

Sigh, rant off

 

Of course I order from the interweb sometimes; I've got a whole freezer full of hops to show for it. But I'm really fortunate to have been able so shop at the same home-brew shop for the past 18 years. It's a little hole-in-the-wall, but the proprietor (its a one-man operation) has in stock most anything one would ever need, including all kinds of hardware bits. Nearly everything is priced better than what one typically pays on the interweb; for example, I just paid $2.95/lb for DME. Cheers!

 

What's the name of it? Visiting Cleveland this week and curious to drop in.

 

Cleveland Brew Shop. Right across the street from Platform, near Ohio City (where Great Lakes, Market Garden, Hansa and a few others) are located. Closed on Mondays.

 

Thanks! Excited to check out hansa. Staying in tremont. Any cant miss beer or food spots you recommend?

s

 

@makisupapolice14

Do you have a car? Or want super local to Tremont stuff? I live a few minutes from Tremont so I know this area very well, but it depends on how far you are capable of going.

My #1 pick for all of Cleveland beer wise would be Fat Heads. Easily. But it's a solid 20-25min drive away from Tremont.

Platform would probably be my #2 pick for the area.

Tremont is stacked with awesome (higher end) cuisine, depending on your style of food you like. Any focus you are after?

 

I'm re-entering homebrewing after a 15 year hiatus. When I stopped, there were shops everywhere, now we have three in Minneapolis St Paul and two are owned by AB now. I have been picking up most equipment off Craigs list and was wondering if shops should try selling consignment equipment to assist with the bottom line?

 

Hey love fat heads and platform. We will do both for sure again. What are your next picks? How about in Tremont?

 

I do love their pricing but they always nail me on shipping

 

When I broke my last hydrometer, I just shrugged my shoulders and said, "I hated that fucking thing anyway." Never did get a new one. It's been years. I figure that my process still makes beer, so I'm pretty happy.

True story.

 

They can't blame me, the closest on is almost 300 miles away.

 

Is beer on tap a thing homebrew shops do? I've never seen it. I've only been in a few stores though and all in Massachusetts which has pretty strict rules on having fun.

 

It probably requires a Brewery license wherever it is permitted, but here are two that I ran across in Florida:
https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/40139/?view=beers
https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/18159/?view=beers

The first one has home brewed beers on tap, but maybe most of the beers are from the brewery owner. (I don't recall for sure. I also don't recall if it sells homebrew supplies.)

The second one is a homebrew supply store that has a bar, but I'm pretty sure that some of the beers on tap were homebrewed. (Again I can't recall for sure.)

 

My local shop in PA does this.

 

My local shop has samples from a Keezer.