davis_square | beer brewing kit

Yes, both Modern Homebrew Emporium (Mass ave in Cambridge, about two block north of parallel to Davis), and Beer & Wine Hobby in Woburn, carry beginners equipment kits.

http://www21.inetba.com/westboylstonhomebrewemporium/_beerequipment.html
http://www.beer-wine.com/category_page.asp?categoryID=1§ionID=1

Edited 2009-12-15 18:55 (UTC)

And even if they do not (or you decide that the kits available are not quite suitable), they provide surprisingly good customer service. I have seen them (both locations) walk friends through the first time brewing experience, assemble a kit to order, and describe what every piece does and why you need it. But be careful talking shop with them, it can take all day.

Modern Homebrew may offer that kind of service if you are a man, but if you are a woman, they treat you like an idiot.

The staff there is appalling in their behavior towards female customers, and I am not the only one who feels that way. I will go out of my way to not patronize their business.

I am sorry you feel that way. Are you certain that it is the entire staff there, or just an individual person? One of my friends was female, got all of her gear there, and did not have that kind of experience.

I've had the same experience with a few members of the staff there.

That is not to say that every employee is sexist, just that 3 out of my 4 experiences lead me to believe such.

My one "good" experience was purchasing bottles.

I had a similar experience there, but it was just one employee. The other two guys I had help me there were great--very helpful, but not pushy--but this man was probably the rudest I've ever had anyone be to me in a professional setting--and I've worked in retail and food service for years.

He was condescending, contradicting any other advice I've had other brewers--including those who work there!--give me, and strongly implied more than once that I'm an idiot. Yes, I got the impression that it was because I'm a young woman. If his was the only experience I'd had there, I'd simply never go back. If I knew his name, I'd go complain to the owner, and tell everyone I sent there to avoid him.

For the selection, otherwise, it's a great place.

Can you give us a description (or email me) - so I can avoid him, or watch, the next time I'm there.

I've gotten snotty attitude from the owner.

I liked the place more before emporium took it over, when it was stil Ian running the joint.

Damn, I thought I'd had a public post about it. Evidently not.

OK, so he was tallish (~6ft), 35-45, on the skinny side, strong nose, pale sallow skin, shaved-short dark hair, very LOUD and annoying strident voice, American accent I can't quite place. I got the impression he was ex-military. Condescending as all hell. I doubt he's the owner, but I never got the names of any of them.

Here's the problem: there's another guy there that is pretty close to that description (though shorter and quieter) and he was great--he's in there most of the times I go in. Wouldn't want them getting confused.

Aw, why avoid him? Go in there and pull rank.

Interesting. The tall guy description doesn't ring a bell at all, but the shorter/quieter guy who's there most of the time is almost certainly Randy. He is indeed awesome.

The tall guys sounds somewhat like the guy I think is the owner, who, when I have asked him a question or three (common questions) acted like he didn't want to be bothered by someone as lowly as a customer.

I dunno, this guy was almost...following me around the store to continue to be mean. I tried a couple times to say that I was OK, I'd find what I needed, and he insisted on "helping."

I described it to a friend who's a regular there, and she's friends with the owner, and she was appalled. I think she'd have recognized the description. At least, I really hope that's not the owner.

Actually, knowing who it is would lead the asshole I am to say something to him, if I saw it:

"Hey, you know, there's a very active homebrewing contingent in and around Davis Square ... and they talk to each other. If you want to continue to treat female customers like they're idiots, everyone will learn about it, and take their business elsewhere, after notifying the owner of your behaviour, and its consequences."

But, as we all know, I can be a serious dick.

That's not being a dick - that's almost being nice and giving them a warning.

I'm sorry to hear that. They were polite to me the (one or two) times I've been in there on my own, but I recognize that my experience doesn't mean everyone else gets the same. I wonder if it's a particular employee who's a jerk to women, or a particular one who isn't, or something. :(

Wow, that sucks. I know this can be an issue in male-dominated areas such as homebrewing, but just to provide another female brewer data point, they've always been very nice to me, to the point that I consider one of them and his fiance friends now.

Back when I was a lot hotter and studied & worked in another male-dominated field full of guys with poor social skills (computer science), I used to see a lot more of that.

Slightly off topic - at some point, could I ask you for some all grain tips, for a total AG newb?

Of course! (Though I think it's on-topic. :)

I have not been in a few years, but I never had a problem there and always found the staff fantastic and helpful.

Sorry to hear your experience was not as good.

I am sorry to hear that. I and my wife (both women, I must point out) have had scrupulously excellent service there every time we have gone, and we started as utter rank newbies without a clue.

I don't know if they have a specifically prepackaged equipment kit (They definitely have prepackaged ingredient kits), but Modern Homebrew on Mass Ave will have everything you need.

I wholeheartedly endorse Modern Homebrew Emporium on Mass Ave. My boyfriend and I got our brewing stuff here, and the staff has always been so helpful.

...are you making bacon beer...?

I've seen bacon salt for sale at the Stop and Shop on Mass Ave. in Arlington. I suspect it's at many of the local grocery stores.

I had a bad experience with Mr. Beer and highly recommend getting something a little more expensive.

I got my kit from Modern Brewer, and got great service from them (example: stuff was going wrong on my first batch, and I called them up, and they helped me over the phone). In my experience, they really don't push anything you don't need on you.

Remember, sometimes these people aren't sexist, they're just a-holes (feel better). There's one employee over there I avoid, but on the whole, I'd strongly recommend them (not that I know of a local brick-and-mortar alternative).

You have to remember beer brewing is a hobby, so like any other hobby, you'll have people that take it a little too seriously.

If you're looking online, I have a friend that has ordered stuff from www.morebeer.com and liked it. Realistically, whoever you're getting the gift for will be better served by going to Modern Brewer and asking questions than trying to go it alone or reading stuff on the internet.

Stop & Shop at South Bay has Bacon Salt every time I think to look for it.

Modern Homebrew Emporium on Mass Ave is the closest, but I haven't had good experiences with them since they changed owners 5+ years ago. It's never a good sign when a customer is giving the staff advice on going all-grain...

Other alternatives are Beer & Wine Hobby in Woburn, or online places like morebeer.com, northernbrewer.com, beer-wine.com (which is actually the website of Beer & Wine hobby in Woburn).

I know exactly the dick-ish guy everyone's been talking about and I think he's gone now. Oddly confrontational and offering opinions when not asked. When you do ask, it's condescending and annoying as hell. To the woman who thinks he's sexist, I can't speak to that, but he's definitely been kind of a jerk to me, and I'm a man.

Guy just has zero people skills and shouldn't really be working with the public.

Randy and the new woman (forgot her name) have been very, very helpful, indeed.

Wouldn't throw out the baby with the bathwater regarding Modern Homebrew.

Followup thread here: http://community.livejournal.com/davis_square/2050085.html

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