Why not take your new found knowledge, and make up some recipes, the proper amount of ingredients, and instructions. Type them out and try talking to the owner about implementing some of your recipes in his store.
You stated neither he nor the old lady brew beer, so they probably just don't know any better.
Perhaps you can come to some sort of agreement, and get the in store kits for a discount.
People tend to respond better when they feel they are being helped, and not attacked or threatened, not that that was your intention
I have a brew store 5 minutes away from my house. The owner and employees are extract brewers and discourage all grain. When I was considering biab, the owner not only discouraged it, but attempted to demean me. So I now make a 25 minute drive to the next closest LHBS. I didn't confront the owner in any way. I simply moved on.
Agreed. He's an extract only brewer with no knowledge of AG. He does, however, sell some of the equipment; I doubt much gets sold. He's the perfect model on how not to run a LHBS.Seriously, brewing store owners discourage all grain? That's bananas
Agreed. He's an extract only brewer with no knowledge of AG. He does, however, sell some of the equipment; I doubt much gets sold. He's the perfect model on how not to run a LHBS.
I wouldn't have even posted. I would frequent a reputable LBHS.
This whole discussion makes me feel fortunate that I have such a great home brew shop a few miles away. He has pretty much everything I've ever needed and he even sells hop rhizomes as well. He's given me some great advice the last two years and is a fountain of knowledge. Everyone should have a LHBS like the one I go to.
This morning I sent the proprietor an email outlining my frustration
1-mislabeled kit
2-his lack of understanding of what a "cream ale" actually is
3-I know have many bottles of beer in a style I neither wanted or may not like
4-I know have to go buy what I actually thought I purchased the first time
5- I will go elsewhere for these purchases
Despite all my prior posts this place is not a seedy hole in the wall. It is a nice place, run by some nice people, albeit not knowledgeable.
They have been in business atleast 10 years, but I think most people buy kits or simple ingredients.
No walks in to trouble shoot or for feedback.
They make it abundantly clear that neither corn nor rice are a requirement (they "can [be] included" "up to" a certain percentage); ZERO-20% rice and/or corn. Malt are usually american in nature, but not always. Soft water is suggested but not required. And, any hop can be used.Ingredients: American ingredients most commonly used. A grain bill of six-row malt, or a combination of six-row and North American two-row, is common. Adjuncts can include up to 20% flaked maize in the mash, and up to 20% glucose or other sugars in the boil. Soft water preferred. Any variety of hops can be used for bittering and finishing.
BJCP also indicates :Just to be certain, the BJCP ingredient suggestions are this:
They make it abundantly clear that neither corn nor rice are a requirement (they "can [be] included" "up to" a certain percentage); ZERO-20% rice and/or corn. Malt are usually american in nature, but not always. Soft water is suggested but not required. And, any hop can be used.
A cream ale can be made with no corn, no rice, no sugar, no american malts, hard water, and it can still be called a cream ale if the taste fits the category.
What are you hoping to accomplish by emailing the owner? If his next reply is "You're right. That recipe was not correct.", will you return and purchase any other recipe with confidence?
This!There's a lot of people running stores out there that either don't know their customers or lack the basic skills to handle situations effectively. My impression of many of the HBSs that I've visited has been it was opened by someone who enjoyed making beer and/or wine but had no experience in retailing, service, merchandising, or customer service.
If this guy really was concerned about saving a customer he would have called you or invited you to arrange to stop by and see him to discuss what would make it right. Anyone who plays the "well nobody else has complained" card is not so one who should be working with customers.
I have the same problem. I'll use the same letters..
I have L and R.
L is about 10 minutes from my house, R is about 30.
L has grains all over the floor. LME is dripping out of barrels onto the floor. They don't close all the buckets of grain at night. I'm pretty sure the owner has 2 cats that roam around in there even when closed. Whenever I go he is out of something. Lactose sugar, specific hops, etc. He is always out of specific hops. Doesn't have certain size buckets or fermenters. He has screwed up charging me in the past and double charged me for items or forgot to put items I have purchased in the bag. He is not a people person. One time when I went in, I bought what I needed for one recipe and when I found out he didn't have what I needed for another, I just asked him if he had a brown ale kit. I got home and found the recipe for an Amber Ale.
R is, as I mentioned, further out. It is also 10-20% more expensive, hell, some things are 40-50% more. However, the shop is immaculate. They always have everything I need plus more. They keep an inventory of about 300% more.
It took me walking into shop R only once to realize I'd never go back to L ever again, unless I was pressed for time and needed something very specific that I knew he would have.
Based on your location and description I know exactly where "L" is and have a good idea which "R" you are talking about, in a generally eastward direction near a shopping center and brewpup? "L" is recently under new management, waiting to see how that turns out.
I concur, the first time I went to "R" i nearly lost my mind at how clean it was and the ingredient selection and packaging. And while the prices are a little higher, it's still cheaper than paying shipping and I like to be able to put hands on. I have not set foot in "L" since. Luckily one of my sons goes to school near "R" I can sneak an occasional trip in.
$42's for a cream ale kit?! Damn extract is expensive...
I have two homebrew stores that are within a reasonable drive to me. I won't go to one because the owner insulted me when I was a new brewer. I basically was asking his staff questions about an off-flavor and he acted like I was wasting their time. I was the only customer in the store and buying merchandise so yeah....
Fortunately there's a much better homebrew store closer to where I work that has way more inventory and great staff. Atlantic homebrew supply in Raleigh - check it out.
$42's for a cream ale kit?! Damn extract is expensive...
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I'm not sure I would bother with the whole "how to tell him I'm making a stand" bit. Just stop going, give your business to the other places, even if it requires some advance planning.
+1
If he can't see that the business is wrong then a customer telling him so is unlikely to change anything. He just sounds uninspired and disaffected.
You are spot on. I believe "L" re-opened today. I'm hoping to get out there maybe this weekend, although my understanding is it will take a little while for inventory to get back up.
I also start a new position on May 1, which has me driving 2 miles past MyLHBS in Falls Church, so I suppose I now have a 3rd option.
Congrats. So what was your number two, or "R" I guess, then? I was thinking that it was MyLHBS. Is there ANOTHER homebrew store in the area that I have not seen yet???
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