General homebrew discussion, tips and help on kit and malt extract brewing, and talk about equipment. Queries on sourcing supplies and equipment should go in The Store.
Hi all,
Just wondering, I bought a none labelled bitter tin / kit from the local brew shop. All I asked was "whats your best seller and he said that one. A none labelled bitters tin. He said he can afford to give these away cheaper due to labels? But gave no reference to what it may be like.
Anyone else heard of this? Anyone got any ideas of what it may be like?
Currently its been brewed and bottled awaiting a taste in a couple of weeks, so I'II let you's know anyway.
Just thought I'd see if any of you have heard og this.
I believe that's the reason why homebrew shops don't do that well, from what ive read, none of them seem to have an idea about what they are talking about or are so controlled by certain brands. Why should people support them and not buy their gear from elsewhere?
Personally, I find I can get more support and advice from forums like this, my local HBS i find are not very knowledgable at all as opposed to these type of forums...
To be updated shortly....
HOMEBREW:IF I HAD TO EXPLAIN, YOU WOULDN'T UNDERSTAND
I try and buy local and support small businesses in my community as much as possible, but the guys at my LHBS push the limits of what is reasonable.
they are all dedicated Kit and Kilo brewers, which in its self is not such a bad thing, but they have limited knowledge on even that aspect of brewing.
and they carry dubious products, and can't tell you where they come from. I bought a bag of Pale Malt, and asked what maltster it was from, and what sort of pale malt it was, and the dude couldn't tell me.
Ahh fair enough guys. I guess its all part of my learning journey with this new hobby of mine.
Just making me take more in. I should ask him more about the non labelled tins just hear the Arghhs, ums and ergghs.
Thanks for the info, I guess in time I'II know if it was worth the gamble on buying the tin.
After putting this to you guys I'm having second thoughts on going back to this particular store, maybe try another near my work or do the on line thing. On line is so easy and with the amount of data i've got from this site I have no real need to try and milk some help / advise from the bloke at the store.
He was'nt that helpful anyway, for a guy thats facing competiion everywhere including the net I was pretty disappointed.
Store was empty, and I felt like I had to cut my arm off before he would help me.
By that I mean, general questions cos I'm new to brewing were answered with very blunt and conversation ending answers.
Was pretty disappointed really, but hey one door shuts and then the net opens!! Found more than I ever need and in such short tinme on this site so I aint so worried. Definatelty be looking to buy over net for supplies unless the store near my work is any good.
Dont get me wrong champ, but I still use my local HBS for some bits and pieces like malt extract, spray malt and maybe the odd bits and pieces if need be. Since my last few brews have been All Extract I have been able to get my Malt Extract from there and its only $5.40 per kg.
As far as spec grains, yeast etc, I get that from Ross at Craftbrewer and when I did Cans I just bought them from Woolworths or Big W.
I am taking a small break from brewing at the moment as I have a mass stockpile for my own consumption and am working on getting the basics together for AG.
Cheers
To be updated shortly....
HOMEBREW:IF I HAD TO EXPLAIN, YOU WOULDN'T UNDERSTAND
Yeah no dramas clean brew,
I'm hearing ya. Just think I'll try another store. One that might be a bit more helpful when I get there. Even though Iv got the forums I still like a friendly face and some advice if I need. Still might check out the on line stuff as well.
I liked a basic Munich Lager I did awhile ago, so I'm thinking of doing a dark Munich Lager. but never gone into hops / grains etc. Havent even used the lower temp yeast yet. I know so amatuer but gotta start somewhere. Doin some homework on it now so hopefully my next will involve some hops etc. Just gotta bottle the apple cider Iv got on the go at the moment.
Cheers
my H.B.S always trys to talk me out of white labs yeast(I told him I liked it for the tube to reuse my yeasts)...the owner is a stand up guy,but the people he hires are mostly dumb as rocks.They learn how to use the cashregister and thats it..then a week later,a new guy is learning the cashregister..I guess good help is hard to find.
From what i have observed a couple times at my HBS, (and I completly understand why, they are trying to make money), they really do try to push you onto the gear that they actually make good profit on(good idea).
For example, my LHBS bags the coopers tins(standard ones), as Big W/woolies/coles sells them for say $10, he sells them for about $11 and people crack a darkie at the extra $1. He tells them to go buy them from Big w/woolies/coles. He is a fan of Morgans and trys to push them(cant buy Morgans at Big w/woolies/coles) so he probably has a higher profit margin on them than the coopers and can sell them for more than $11(about $14 i think), in which he makes more money as he doesnt have to compete with the Supermarkets.
He also pushes the Fresh Wort Drums from N.D Brewing and Morgans, as he probably makes more money off them than the kits.
So, he just does what makes him the most money, I find it hard to imagine how they do actually make any money in those stores.
The guy from your store probably picked up a big cheap batch of some sort of tins, ripped the label off, and tells people that its his best seller and therefore makes more money than he would selling other brands.
Its like Malt Extract, my local HBS sells it for $5.40kg(he buys the bulk coopers and containers it up himself), when I visited the HBS in my Home town they were selling it for $9kg. All about making money...
To be updated shortly....
HOMEBREW:IF I HAD TO EXPLAIN, YOU WOULDN'T UNDERSTAND
Mmm making good sense to me now clean brew,
because when I was at the HBS I did notice alot of re-tubed / contained malt etc with a funny do it yourself type label with the price and a quick description etc. Sounds like he is doing exactly what you were saying much like your local HBS.
Vinesy wrote:Mmm making good sense to me now clean brew,
because when I was at the HBS I did notice alot of re-tubed / contained malt etc with a funny do it yourself type label with the price and a quick description etc. Sounds like he is doing exactly what you were saying much like your local HBS.
Well, thats ok, because he(my HBS) buys the big 28kg Tins of Malt Extract from coopers, so unless you want 28kg of extract, it is easier for him to do it. Unless they sell the coopers unhopped extract in the tin(1.5kg i think) in which mine doesnt, I dont care as it is cheaper for me to buy like that, like I said only $5.40 per kg. And he sells Light Malt Extract, Amber Malt Extract, Dark Malt Extract and unhopped Lager Malt Extract.
To be updated shortly....
HOMEBREW:IF I HAD TO EXPLAIN, YOU WOULDN'T UNDERSTAND
