Beer Ingedients Store GTA - East End

[shugalou]

Hi Everyone,

I’m new to the board…but from what I can see there is a ton of good info available here.

I’m looking to start brewing again and this time I am leaving the extract cans behind. Does anyone know of any homebrew stores that actually sell the raw ingredients? To be able to buy and bring home?

Any help is much appreciated

[newportstorm]

Here's one:

http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/12512

Cheers!

[shugalou]

Oh man that was fast. Thanks.

Anyone else have any favourites?

Thanks again you guys are helpful in here

[newportstorm]

After taking a closer look, their website focuses more on the Brew on Premise side of things. They must have all the raw ingredients available, but I'd call first to ensure you can buy and brew at home before you drive out there.

Cheers!

[shugalou]

That's what I have been noticing...A lot of these places have bre on site but don't have anything packaged to sell to the homebrewer. I have found a good place in Oshawa on Taunton - that the guy has told me he would sell me some stuff, but when it comes time to price things he's just picking numbers out of the air.

I will go there as a last resort - they are good guys, I just feel I inconvienence them.

I have found a website that carries all the ingredients but they are in saskatchewan and I'll have to pay this shipping..Here the site for anyone interested

www.paddockwood.com


Anyone else?

[thekulman]

Originally posted by shugalou
I have found a good place in Oshawa on Taunton - that the guy has told me he would sell me some stuff, but when it comes time to price things he's just picking numbers out of the air.

Hi, I'm in Whitby to (Whitby Shores). Is the place above the Wine Art store?

On Burns, just E of Garden there is that Soda Pop making place. He will order the ingredients for you from Vinotheque.

I also found a really good place in Brampton - the wine and beer factory - small, but very well stocked. They also sell on-line.

[shugalou]

Thanks for the info thekulman.

The place I was going to was on Taunton in Oshawa they are known for their RO water Taunton and Simco

I know exacty the place you are refering to. Class act. I have bought from their before and I only see woman working in their that can't offer any help. I have been told to find that guy on a Saturday. I should try that. my other option was going to be ordering from an online store in calgary.

PS I have a friend who lives in whitby shores. Nice area

Thanks for the help

[thekulman]

We should start a brewing club.

[shugalou]

Starting our own brew club sounds like a sweet idea...

"The Whitby Brew Crew"

I've been brewing on and off for about 7 years mostly extract kits with Corn Sugar.

This past Christmas my sister bought me a good homebrew book and I've started to get back into making beer again and this time was the first time I bought the ingredients (Extracts and hops) and I'm pleased with the results. So now I'm looking to learn more and get into all grain recipes and mashing and such.

I have just begun to scratch the surface of this fine art.

[thekulman]

I've been brewing on and off since '87. Didn't do it most of the late 90's but started again recently.

I did mostly extract and specialty grains. But because of the high cost of extract, now to all grain (very cheap!). I just completed my 2nd batch of all grain beer (I learned alot from my first attempt) and am bottling it tonight. It's supposed to be a Richards Red clone.

If you've got a batch bottled, why don't we get together in about 2 - 3 weeks (after mine matures) and sample each others beers?

Kul

p.s. - Brian at the Brew Kettle on Monarch in Ajax once told me I could buy bulk extract, specialty grains from him (just bring your own containers). I used to make beer there in the late 90's early 00's. That may be another source for you.

[shugalou]

Nice choice with the Richards

2-3 weeks sounds like a good idea I should have some free time by then, plus my beers will get to age a little more - they've only been in the bottle for about 10 days.

Good to know about that place in Ajax. The place in Oshawa is the same sort of deal, bring your own stuff and they'll help you out. They're pretty good but are limited in the selection. I think they basically offer two extracts, lager yeast and a variety of hops.

So all grain is cheap eh? How much cheaper?

For me to buy all the ingedients to make my last batch it was 15.00 out the door that was everything but the water, I used tap water this time but I'll probably go back to RO water next batch it's only 3.00. So for 15 bucks I was able to make 56 bottles and 6 pints. Pretty cheap

[thekulman]

Originally posted by shugalou
So for 15 bucks I was able to make 56 bottles and 6 pints.

Wow, that is cheap! Were did you get the ingredients?

When I was making with extract, using about 6.5 lbs of dried malt extract per batch it cost about $13 for 3 lb bag so the DME along was about $25, then $5 or so for the specialty grains, $2 per once of hops (another $5) and I usually use liquid yeast (which is the best way to get a much better beer, but at a cost). Liquid yeast is about $9 as opposed to $1.99 for the dry yeast.
You can, and I have, reused yeast though for cost savings - it wasn't that hard to do.
So my extract and specialty grain beers cost about $40 - $45 for a 23l batch!

Now with AG, you use about 8 - 10 lbs of grain per batch and it's about $1.25 a lb (cheaper if you buy a 55 lb sack). So a batch cost about $10 plus hops and yeast.
So $15 per batch if using dry yeast, $22 per batch if using new liquid yeast.

I use tap water sometimes or spring water from a grocery store.
But I'm going to buy a couple of those big blue camping water jugs from Canadian Tire and start using water from the spring at the Lakeridge ski resort.

You said that place in Oshawa has only two types of liquid malt extract. That's typical, all you need is dark malt extract or light malt extract. For regular, just mix the 2. All the other flavours come from the specialty grains you crack and steep in the water.

[brewmonkey]

Check with beertown.org as they have a list of homebrew shops.

http://beertown.org/homebrewing/shops.asp

I know they have the list above which covers US homebrew shops but they might have some for our Northern brothers as well.

[shugalou]

I got all of the ingredients from the store on Taunton - I think it's called Still Brewing - or something like that - I know they are in the yellow pages under wine. That price included Hops, 2 extracts and dried Yeast.

They didn't have any specialy grains to add to the mix so I just used what they supplied me and it turned out decent. I would like to try the all grain and see how it turns out. I would also like to try the liquid yeast. Did you get the yeast and grains from the store in Ajax you refered to earlier.

Maybe when we get together in a couple of weeks you can explain to me how to make an all grain recipe. I never knew about the spring at Lakeridge - that's a good idea I'll probably bring my glass carboy up there and fill it up. Where abouts is the spring?

[thekulman]

Hi Shugalou;

No, I usually get the specialty grains and liquid yeast at
the Soda Centre & Home Brewer's Retail on Kingston Road in Scarborough or the Wine and Beer Factory in Brampton or even on-line sometimes (although the shipping kills you). The brew kettle in Ajax will likely sell you specialty grains, but they only use dried yeast.

The Wine and Beer Factory is really good. Although Brampton's a bit of a drive...

Yes, let me know when your beer is ready and we'll have a tasting. I've also got 48thRegular interested. You, and any other local brewers, can come over one evening and we can sample each others beers and I can show you my brewing equipment, simple as most of it is, and we can share expertise.

I've been brewing off and on for 19 years, most of the 90's and 00's using extract and specialty grains.
Just finished my 2nd All Grain beer. AG is easy once you organize yourself ... and the beer? Well here's my theory. What tastes better, fresh squeezed OJ or concentrated?
Even though concentrate starts out as fresh squeezed, they take water out and then you add it back in - but it doesn't compare to fresh squeezed. Make sense?

Look for a post of mine dated yesterday in the "In General" forum. It's a URL to a really good website with lots of great photos on making beer.

[shugalou]

Hey Kulman,

Thanks for the clarification on on the Soda supply store, I thought this store was located in whitby by the roller arena - I used to buy my muntons extract tins there and they didn't have much else. I might be having to make a trip to the one in Scarborough though, as I would like to try to the liquid yeast and specialy grains.

19 years is a ton of experience can't wait to hear all your tips and tricks on making an AG reciped. I think I might make one more extract plus specialty grains before I go the all grain route. I'll probably fire up the kettle this weekend to make a quick batch as the beer is going quicker than expected. It's nice having extra beer around to offer friends and family who drop by. I imagine this long weekend the supply will take a good hit, but don't worry I'll still have some for when we get together soon.

Good to hear that you have recruited another person for the club. Of all my friends I am the only one who is interested in making beer so I can't think of anyone who I could bring out...Although my neighbour has been showing an interest lately (it's usually after having a couple and when I tell him the price)

Good website url, I'll be checking that out throughout the day.