beer brewing kit

[curiositykt.livejournal.com]

I want to get my brother a beer brewing kit, does anyone know if any of the local brew shops offer kits?

oh, also, bacon salt? anywhere local?

Thanks!

Comments

[faux-eonix.livejournal.com]

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.

[benign-cremator.livejournal.com]

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.

[faux-eonix.livejournal.com]

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.

[tisana.livejournal.com]

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.

[pierceheart.livejournal.com]

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.

[tisana.livejournal.com]

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.

[surrealestate.livejournal.com]

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.

[pierceheart.livejournal.com]

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.

[tisana.livejournal.com]

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.

[pierceheart.livejournal.com]

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.

[nalz.livejournal.com]

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

[badseed1980.livejournal.com]

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. :(

[surrealestate.livejournal.com]

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.

[pierceheart.livejournal.com]

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

[surrealestate.livejournal.com]

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

[library-sexy.livejournal.com]

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.

[dreda.livejournal.com]

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.