These folks, Jim and Debora Lewis, are very serious about being THE homebrew supply store for all of use (and for, ultimately, everything, including some advanced brewing hardware, as I understand it). They are also focusing on beating mail order into the ground. Want Pils malt? Yep, they'll have it (it's probably already in). Want real yeast (Wyeast)? Yep. The GOOD hops? Yep. They already have a computer shop backing up the homebrew part of the store's space, so it looks like this one is here to stay, and I know where MY money will be going.
They're also looking at doing some all-grain classes, demo brews, and I might just step in with a yeast culturing (yeast bank) class or two...after I finish completely starting over on most of my yeast bank (never grow your yeast bank so large you can't keep up with it!).
Basically, this place already looks great, and is sounding like it's going to go from great to incredible and beyond. So before you waste money online, check out or new local homebrew shop. No, I don't work for Jim and Deborah. But I was VERY impressed when I talked to them.
Minimum order of 2oz per hop variety AND minimum of 12oz total.
Whatever you do, be SURE to compare prices; In Jan, 2011, Cascade hops at HopsDirect were $9.65/lb, and $1.25/oz ($20/lb) at Freshops.com. Worse still, a good homebrew shop, with good prices on a lot of things, sells the same whole leaf Cascade for $1.79/ounce. Another homebrew shop closer to us (I won't mention HomebrewDen in Tallahassee by name, but ... oh...never mind), and found the same whole leaf Cascade at (time to take that Xanax, or whatever keeps your head from exploding, folks) $2.75/oz. Yes, you read that right, $2.75 PER OUNCE. Just do the math....
Location: Nashville.
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