Homebrew Shops Are Disappearing. Now What?

Local homebrew shops are disappearing, and that raises an interesting question: What happens to the hobby when the places that helped build it are gone? In this episode of City Steading Fermenstation, Brian and Derica talk about their experiences with local homebrew supply shops, from the wonderfully helpful ones to the ones that made you wonder why you bothered walking through the door. But a homebrew shop was never just a place to buy yeast, bottles, buckets, or an auto-siphon. It was also somewhere to ask questions, learn something new, meet other brewers, take classes, and become part of a community. So what happens when those shops close? We discuss how online retailers, manufacturers, YouTube channels, forums, and brewing communities are filling some of those gaps. There are advantages to shopping and learning online, but there are also things that are difficult to replace. And perhaps the biggest question is whether the homebrewing community can continue to thrive without its traditional gathering places. City Steading Fermenstation — Conversations about homebrewing, fermentation, and everything that goes along with them. City Steading Merchandise: https://briancity-steadingcom-1-shop.fourthwall.com/ Tools We Use: Star San: https://amzn.to/3SXFoKg Graduated Cylinder and Hydrometer: https://amzn.to/4ow8gXz Tilt Digital Hydrometer: https://amzn.to/4njWPkv Auto Siphon: https://amzn.to/4cz8VRr We use the Amazon Affiliate Program for these links and we DO receive a small commission if you purchase using our links and all this comes at no additional cost to you! _____________________________________ Become a City Steading VIP - Click to learn more http://www.city-steading.com/vip-club 00:00 Homebrew Shops Are Disappearing 01:18 What Local Homebrew Shops Provided 01:34 Ingredients, Equipment, and Supplies 04:22 The Value of Experienced Advice 07:33 When Homebrew Shops Give Bad Advice 08:14 Why Beginners Matter 09:37 Our Good and Bad Shop Experiences 12:46 Homebrew Shops as Community Gathering Places 14:29 Can Online Shopping Replace Local Shops? 17:35 Too Many Choices and Product Recommendations 18:57 Finding Reliable Brewing Advice Online 21:57 Making Homebrewing Accessible to Beginners 25:21 Learning From an International Brewing Community 28:31 Replacing the Personal Connection 31:16 Online Brewing Clubs and Communities 33:05 Can the Internet Really Replace Homebrew Shops? Want more City Steading? Amazon Store: https://www.amazon.com/shop/citysteading City Steading Brews: https://www.youtube.com/@CitySteadingBrews Beyond the Brews: https://www.youtube.com/@CitySteadingBTB Fermenstation: https://www.youtube.com/@csfermenstation Tasting Room: https://www.youtube.com/@citysteadingtastingroom City Steading Unfiltered: https://www.youtube.com/@CitySteadingUnfiltered City Steading Zero Brews: https://www.youtube.com/@CitySteadingZero City Steading Plant Life: https://www.youtube.com/@PlantLifeYT Irritated But Fine: https://www.youtube.com/@youtubertalk1 Pushing Buttons: https://www.youtube.com/@PushingTheButtons Plant Based Bistro: https://www.youtube.com/@PlantBasedBistro Website: http://www.city-steading.com Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/citysteading #Homebrewing #HomebrewShops #Fermenstation