BeerBorg

Whamolagan wrote: Fortunately it is not my local store. The folks at my local store are way cool. this one is down by where my mom lives 3 hours away.

I missed that detail. That's good to hear. Having the local folks on your side makes a big difference.

alb wrote:I am so lucky. My LHBS treats me like I know something, they have a good selection, and it’s only about 10 minutes’ drive away. Its sister business next door sells liquor on one side and a huge selection of beers on the other. It’s the place to go to try something new, and they sell singles of anything. AND, the staff would just as soon talk homebrewing as commercial beer because they all do it, including the chicks.

The CO2 supplier is only 5 minutes away.

My guys are the same. I can tell they brew; I can tell they've read up on equipment and ingredients. At the same time, I've experienced firsthand and observed them with other customers, taking each person at the level where they are, whether it's me who comes in every other Saturday and buys ingredients for two or three batches at a time, or someone coming in to buy a kit and some hose clamps. It's all the same to them; and while they always talk about taking it to the next step, their attitude is less "you're not doing it right, or not doing enough" and more "If you're interested, this is the next level. Talk to us about it when you feel you're ready."

My LHBS is Adventures in Homebrewing. Since they are one of the bigger internet homebrewing suppliers, much of their business is geared towards fulfilling orders. As such, they have a large inventory of almost everything, although last year on two different visits they were out of things like Chocolate Malt. Unless I approach someone with a question, they normally don't approach me, which is how I wish all retail stores were. I hate it when a certain store's employees constantly ask me if I need help.

When I started brewing and emailed questions, the owner said "you can ferment in the back of a toilet, what you ferment in isn't of concern to me" (or something similar). They quickly answer all emailed questions for me. I buy all my bulk LME and grains from them, but things like hops and yeast I've been sourcing via Ebay and elsewhere due to large price differences.

My LHBS is not too dissimilar. I refer to him as the beer nazi. I generally know what I want, place my order online and pick it up in person. I try to keep my interactions quick and without comment, as the guy is a bit of an asshat. Unfortunately for me it is my only local option. Oh the things I go through for beer.

I have 3 LHBS in my vicinity. My favorite is the closest one, 3-1/2 miles away. Best prices & the location where the club I belong to meets. They are used to dealing with a wide range of different Brewers since they have a retail & wholesale operation. A lot of family of the owner working there, all nice people, mostly having experience home brewing (except a couple of teenagers). Another one is 12 miles away & another 22 miles. Both of those are retail only, very professional & very clean. I have had good experiences at all three. Employees who are knowledgable & care about what they do.

Man, screw that guy!

I need to find a LHBS here in Houston, but that's something I'm not really looking for until Thorn gets here with the car--which is only about a week from Friday!

Whamolagan wrote: I was greeted with one arrogant SOB ( the owner).

Wow sorry to hear of your bad experience but sometimes that happens all too much at a speciality type store. That's why a lot are afraid to go to a LHBS the first time and rather buy on-line. I had a roadside farm market for over 20 years and I learned/always knew the Customer is what you need so be nice to them and they will come back time and time again.
I had a real nice LHBS just a little ways from me, a nice young guy that had a great passion for brewing and helping others do the same, he was going to relocate to a bigger storefront and I don't know what happened but he never re opened. So now I have one a little farther away and is kind of arrogant too and never know when they are open so I'm back to buying on-line again.

Whamolagan wrote: I almost pummeled him with 5 lbs of flaked barley.

Probably wouldn't have been in your best interest, but it would have been rewarding to sack him with the grain, something good to think about while having a beer