"Consumer reports" for mail order suppliers

[yonkersbrewer]

I look over the wide variety of mail order homebrew suppliers. Then my head begins to spin thinking about which is the best and the cheapest, the fastest responce and the lowest shipping cost.

I long for a Consumers Reports kind of article to suggest who is the best of the best! Has anyone out there ever done or ever seen anything like this? You look at one place and see that their cost of extract is really great - but you have to pay for shipping. Another place ships free - but do they ship fast? Who has sold old extract?

In a homebrew world of folks that are willing to work out electronic controllers to hold their mash at +/- 1 degree and then produce beautiful websites detailing their exploits, surely there must be someone that has done the spreadsheet to prove that "Hirams Homebrew positively beats out Moshes Mash House" for price and service.

Any thoughts?

[Tweek]

dont you have a local shop? I prefer to pay a few bucks more and patronize my local than do mail order. I like that there are people at my local shop that I can ask questions of and they will get me anything I want even if it is not something that they normally carry. Homebrew shops struggle as it is so I would just support your local shop, or find one that is nice, informative and has politics you agree with and stick with them.

my 2 cents

[paul84043]

I think I have single handedly kept my homebrew shop alive for the past few months.....
It also helps that one of the people that works ther is a totally hot babe!!

[Tweek]

hot babe at a homebrew shop? isnt that a bit of a oxymoron? DAmn I wish my local had a hottie.

[Dave A]

I'm not a big fan of "Consumer Reports", they never seem to be looking for the same qualities that I am. Just look at their car tests, I don't think they ever chose the Ferrari over the Hundai!

OTOH, the Car site I spend a good chunk of my time on does have a section for posting your experiences with the various parts places. We don't use it but it's there:rolleyes: . Instead we just post the places that we had problems with and the places that are better than you thought possible (yes, it happens) and sooner or later the cream rises to the top.

I'll start, I have no local shop, only brew shop I've ever been in is an hour away on a good day. I've placed 3 orders @ Grape & Granery so far and am very happywith their prices and service. I'll continue to deal with them.
Now if every one else adds their .02, we'll start getting a feel for where we should be spending our $$$. It's really something to see the process in action on a 14,000 member automotive site, I think most of us are down to the top 3 or 4 places.

[paul84043]

I have been very happy with annapolishomebrew.com I just wish they offered faster shipping.
My experience with northernbrewer.com was very good, and I intend to place an order with St Pats here real soon...

Tweek...
Yes, the hottie at the brew store is a huge turn on....a female that knows her beer inside and out, very cute, and very smart to boot. What else could you want?

[yonkersbrewer]

I'd love to support my local HBS but all it is just a couple of dusty shelves in the basement of a busy hardware store. A really nice guy but busy as hell with the hardware folks on Saturday. Homebrew is his hobby not his job. He'll get me most of what I want but it takes as long as mail order and I just really don't like the dusty look of the grain in its plastic bags.

I kind of like Mt. Washington for bulk extract. The prices are great, under $2 a pound, even after you add in the price of shipping. that's my 2 cents.

[turkey247]

I would have to go with annapolishomebrew.com for my money. Though I am stationed at Turkey so I have to order all my supplies. they are ALWAYS helpful and kind. But it also depends on where you are for the cheapest prices, since I think you said you are in NY they would be great for you. I have nothing but great things to say about them. Products have always arrived fresh and of high quality, and that can be hard when shipping to were I am. Good luck and cheers......

[shughes600]

Originally posted by paul84043
I have been very happy with annapolishomebrew.com I just wish they offered faster shipping.
My experience with northernbrewer.com was very good, and I intend to place an order with St Pats here real soon...

Tweek...
Yes, the hottie at the brew store is a huge turn on....a female that knows her beer inside and out, very cute, and very smart to boot. What else could you want?

Have the same situation at this store (http://www.homebrewcompany.com/) as Paul does at his. They run a pretty big mail order also. Good luck with St. Pats.