Question:
I lost patience with my local homebrew supply shop. This is the place that ran out of Cascade hops over a month ago… Well, they ran out of malt extract! I guess they want to specialize on wine making… Anyway, at the suggestion of the newsgroup, I went into a local BOP, armed only with a few empty containers, and asked the guy if he would fill them up (nothing to lose!). Eureka! And they have several different kinds too. Wheat, light and dark extract. All fresh. Whoo-ah! PM (and he beat the homebrew shop’s price!!!)
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Please pardon my (newbie) ignorance, but what is a BOP? — Steve Quinn NCSA at University of Illinois (217) 244-7570
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Brew on Premises. It is a brew your own place. They supply the equipment and the supplies, any you supply the labor. The one we have locally is quite good although it is all extract or extract with specialty grains. I have started buying most of my grain and yeast from them. They tend to have fresher ingredients and in my case lower prices and a better grain mill than local homebrew supply stores. –Jeff – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Please pardon my (newbie) ignorance, but what is a BOP? — Steve Quinn NCSA at University of Illinois (217) 244-7570
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I lost patience with my local homebrew supply shop. This is the place that ran out of Cascade hops over a month ago… Well, they ran out of malt extract! I guess they want to specialize on wine making…
Let me guess … Defalco’s, right? (not the one in the southernUS, the one in Ottawa). Man, those guys just keep getting more and more pathetic! [sigh] I’ll spare you all the rant about Defalco’s. Eureka! And they have several different kinds too. Wheat, light and dark extract. All fresh. Whoo-ah!
Where did you go? How much was it? cheers, -Alan — "Brewers make wort. Yeast makes beer". -Dave Miller’s Homebrewing Guide http://www.magma.ca/~bodnsatz/brew/tips/
Response:
Please pardon my (newbie) ignorance, but what is a BOP?
Brew On Premise. A place where you go to make your beer. In some states and provinces it is illegal, so you may not have one around you. cheers, -Alan — "Brewers make wort. Yeast makes beer". -Dave Miller’s Homebrewing Guide http://www.magma.ca/~bodnsatz/brew/tips/
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To be honest with you Alan I refuse to buy from the Delfalco’s down here in Houston, Tx.
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To be honest with you Alan I refuse to buy from the Delfalco’s down here in Houston, Tx.
And why, please tell us, would that be? You can’t claim that Beer Essentials surpasses them in any way? cm — The world is so full Of a number of things I’m sure we should all Be as happy as kings.
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<snip Let me guess … Defalco’s, right?
Who else! <snip Where did you go? How much was it?
<snip It is behind the formerly Ikea plaza (in Bells Corners) on Stafford Road. I suggested a price (based on the Defalco’s price), he ticky-ticked on his calculator and said ok. $5CDN for 1.3 kg Edme light LME. I know that I can buy a barrel and get the per kg price a lot lower… For my brewing compadres to the south, that works out to about $1.75CDN per pound or (what is the exchange rate?) about $1.25US per pound. Not too shabby. As I see it, it is a no lose deal for the BOP. He charges me at least twice the per kg cost when he buys the barrel and he otherwise doesn’t have me for a customer. PM
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To be honest with you Alan I refuse to buy from the Delfalco’s down here in Houston, Tx.
Hey, cool, they all suck 
I just didn’t want to speak about something I knew nothing about. What’s the problem with your Defalco’s? cheers, -Alan — "Brewers make wort. Yeast makes beer". -Dave Miller’s Homebrewing Guide http://www.magma.ca/~bodnsatz/brew/tips/
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Or are you satisfied to tar and feather the whole shop based on your experiences with a few employees?
I only went into DeFalco’s, the main one, three times. As for the employees, I vaguely remember a guy, late 30s, with short brown hair and a bit of a belly. I think their was an older grey-haired man as well. They were either in the back stock room or in the room behind the register. They never acknowledged me when I entered the store, never said "hello", never asked if they could help me until the very end. I know I asked a question about White Lab yeast and the person didn’t have a clue as to what I was referring. They sure have an interesting selection of grains and such, I just hated the service (non-service) I received. But, I no longer go to Beer Essentials either. I live in Austin now.
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(Cookie Monster) writes: To be honest with you Alan I refuse to buy from the Delfalco’s down here in Houston, Tx. And why, please tell us, would that be? You can’t claim that Beer Essentials surpasses them in any way?
The people in DeFalco’s always treated me poorly and gave me the cold shoulder. And that was when I was the ONLY customer in the store. I figured it was because I was a woman, they must of figured I wasn’t really a homebrewer. Little do they know I’ve won awards at the Bluebonnet Brewoff. Jon at Beer Essentials has always been very nice and helpful when I’ve gone in. We’ve created a few interesting recipes when I’ve felt like "going against the grain" It’s recommend BE as a satisfied customer. Granted, I like the tie-dye beer caps at DeFalco’s better. Dana
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(Cookie Monster) writes: And why, please tell us, would that be? You can’t claim that Beer Essentials surpasses them in any way? The people in DeFalco’s always treated me poorly and gave me the cold shoulder. And that was when I was the ONLY customer in the store. I figured it was because I was a woman, they must of figured I wasn’t really a homebrewer.
Or are you satisfied to tar and feather the whole shop based on your experiences with a few employees? Please elaborate for the collective. cm — The world is so full Of a number of things I’m sure we should all Be as happy as kings.
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The people in DeFalco’s always treated me poorly and gave me the cold shoulder. And that was when I was the ONLY customer in the store. I figured it was because I was a woman, they must of figured I wasn’t really a homebrewer.
Hmm, I’ve been going there for over 3 years and have always felt welcomed. Which store did you go to? There was a former employee at the north store that I could see giving you this treatment. The key word here is former. I’ve also been in the store when women have walked in and have not noticed them getting any different treatment than the men. You say they always treated you poorly–how many times did you go in? Of course you seem very happy with the BE, so I’m sure we can’t change your mind here. But I hate to see you slamming a group of people that I have found very friendly and helpful. From the number of times I’ve been in the store I think your’s must be an isolated incident. Later–VZ
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Let me guess … Defalco’s, right? Who else!
I figured as much. Every time I go there, I just get frustratedwith the place. It looks so good when you walk in the door … It is behind the formerly Ikea plaza (in Bells Corners) on Stafford Road. I suggested a price (based on the Defalco’s price), he ticky-ticked on his calculator and said ok.
Hmmm, I haven’t been around long enough to know where Ikea usedto be. Is that were Mark’s Work Warehouse is? $5CDN for 1.3 kg Edme light LME. I know that I can buy a barrel and get the per kg price a lot lower..
Excellent price! Sounds like I’m going to have to pay theguy a visit. Incidentally, I have some info on brand-names if you want to get picky. Which are good/bad, and which contain some high-malt glucose. cheers, -Alan — "Brewers make wort. Yeast makes beer". -Dave Miller’s Homebrewing Guide http://www.magma.ca/~bodnsatz/brew/tips/
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(Cookie Monster) writes: To be honest with you Alan I refuse to buy from the Delfalco’s down here in Houston, Tx. And why, please tell us, would that be? You can’t claim that Beer Essentials surpasses them in any way? The people in DeFalco’s always treated me poorly and gave me the cold shoulder. And that was when I was the ONLY customer in the store. I figured it was because I was a woman, they must of figured I wasn’t really a homebrewer.
The Foam Rangers, which is Houston’s (Texas’ too) oldest homebrew club and the one most closely associated with DeFalco’s, had a female president for years. I’ve been a satisfied DeFalco’s customer since I bought my first stuff from Brad Kraus (now a multi GABF award winning pro brewer) in early 1990. I’ve never seen anyone get the cold shoulder there. I’ve also never seen a more knowledgeable staff at a homebrew supply store. DeFalco’s proprietor Scott Birdwell was the first BJCP (Beer Judge Certification Program) master judge, served on the BJCP steering committee when the BJCP got cut loose from the AHA (American Homebrewers Association) and HWBTA (Home Wine and Beer Trade Association) , served as president of the HWBTA, wrote a lot of the early style descriptions for the AHA, is currently on the steering committee of the Master’s Championship of Amateur Brewing…
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