Maine Brewing Supply

deltatauhobbit

Maine

4.65/5  rDev +0.2%
quality: 4.5 | service: 5 | selection: 4.5 | $$

So my boss and I are going to try and do some homebrew. We decided to go to this place to pick up a kit and just figure out what we need. What we ended up doing was talking to the owner for about 40 minutes about what we'll need to do and just about other beer related topics.

The store is well-organized and very clean, they have some interesting stuff, good selection or beer, and I suppose they have a good selection of malt and hops, still learning the craft so not entirely sure what I'll be needing or using in the future.

It helps that it's located right next to the GLB, just in case I can't wait for my beer to finish fermenting.

11-20-2008 03:18:17 | More by deltatauhobbit

twelvsies

Maine

4.7/5  rDev +1.3%
quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 4 | $$$

I love stumbling into a place unaware and finding a hidden gem. That's sort of what this place is like. Went to the Great Lost Bear for lunch and popped into the shop conveniently right next door kind of just to poke around. I didn't even know this place existed. If you go to either place, be sure to hit up the other. They have a great array of homebrew supplies, lots of things you don't see elsewhere. The biggest surprise I got was that this place has beer! Like, really good beer, for sale. Small but very carefully thought out selection. Lots of Shelton Brothers imports and hard to find beers such as De Struise, Cantillon, Fantome, and some other interesting choices. I hesitate to blow up the spot but I want to see this place do well. The owner was real friendly and eager to talk beer. Even directed us down the road to another shop that might have Cadillac Mt Stout, which is what we were looking for, but what sold out everywhere in town. I will definitely stop back when in the great town of Portland again, which will be soon.

05-08-2009 17:55:45 | More by twelvsies

berley31

New Brunswick (Canada)

4.65/5  rDev +0.2%
quality: 4.5 | service: 5 | selection: 4.5 | $$$

Oops, didn't realize I hadn't reviewed this place.

I've made a couple of visits here to pick up some supplies (coming from Fredericton, where there is no LHBS), and I've been very impressed each time. The selection of hops, grains, yeasts, supplies, etc. is pretty fantastic. They also have a very nice selection of excellent craft brews, from all over the world, to pick from while you wait, as well as a seating area with reading material.

Where this place really excels is the service. Both times I was here was on a Sunday, which for a lot of people is brew day, so it was quite busy. However, Robert (I think), the owner, never acted rushed. He patiently answered any questions from me and the other customers, and was very friendly and helpful. He could have used some help when I was there, but everyone waiting was very patient and obviously used to the pace for a Sunday.

I wish I had a store like this in Fredericton... ok, A store, but a store like this would be even better.

04-27-2010 22:32:30 | More by berley31

ToasterChef

Maine

4.65/5  rDev +0.2%
quality: 4.5 | service: 5 | selection: 4.5 | $$

I'm a newcomer to homebrewing, and so far this is the only supply store I've visited, but I was very impressed with it. The owner was very friendly and answered any questions I had, even offering suggestions for ways to improve my set-up. It never felt like he was trying to sell me on upgrades or better ingredients, he was passionate about great beer and wanted me to brew the best beer I could.

So far I'm still brewing using kits, so I can't comment on the selections of individual ingredients, but there are plenty of kits for a beginner like myself, in a wide range of styles. The owner even let us know that buying the kits works out as a better deal than buying each ingredient separately.

If you need a beer to enjoy before your first batch is ready, the store has a number of fine beers for sale. It's not as wide of a selection as other stores in town, but I don't think it gets picked over as quickly; I saw Black Albert bottles for sale here when they had sold out everywhere else in Portland.

I imagine that I will be buying my brewing supplies here for a long time and will continually be impressed with Maine Brewing Supply.

Update: Since posting my initial review, I've been back to Maine Homebrew Supply a number of times, and as I predicted, I'm continually impressed with everything about this place. Looking just at the bottled beer that is available for purchase, this place ranks with the best beer stores in the area. Rob, the owner, has been very friendly every time I've gone in, offering advice and going above and beyond what one would expect from a guy who owns a store and is there working every single hour it is open. Lastly, I've gotten a bit more adventurous in my brewing, and I've yet to look for an ingredient that isn't available here. This store really is a gem.

04-15-2009 13:39:06 | More by ToasterChef

Chowdahead

Maine

4.85/5  rDev +4.5%
quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 4.5 | $$

This is a new home brew supply store in Portland and in my opinion is the best store in Maine. Unlike most home brew stores where you crammed in to a space the size of your coat closet, Maine Homebrew Supply is large and spacious. It's neat and easy to navigate with a great selection of ingredients and equipment. They even offer a selection of quality microbrews and Belgian beers in bombers. The prices are pretty standard and the owner is friendly and very helpful answering any questions. During this time of hop shortage they have the best selection I have see around these parts. All in all I highly recommend this store for any homebrewer in the southern Maine or eastern NH area.

01-29-2008 01:18:40 | More by Chowdahead

TonyReaves

Maine

4.7/5  rDev +1.3%
quality: 5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5 | $$$

Easily the best selection of yeasts I've seen in Maine. Nice selection of hops, and great equipment. A nicely-curated beer selection, friendly service. The only reason I don't buy more homebrew supplies here is that everything seems to cost 10-20% more here than other places. But most places don't have nearly the selection or the inviting atmosphere.

And it's open for a few hours on Sunday, which is usually brewing day, which is usually the day I realize I don't have any cheesecloth bags or that my yeast has expired. If I'm there, it's probably a Sunday, and I'm probably buying 3 cheesecloth bags, a tube of White Labs yeast and 5 bottles of Belgian beer.

05-17-2009 06:39:44 | More by TonyReaves

lou50rp

Maine

4.5/5  rDev -3%
quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5 | $$

Stopped in for the first time yesterday afternoon. Combined with a trip to RSVP and the Great Lost Bear.
I found a good selection of ingredients. The store was well laid out. Found everything I needed and even a couple that I didn't.
Staff was helpful, when I asked for something, but let me browse when I didn't.
Nice selection of imports, including some Black Albert bottles at a reasonable price -$11.
I found the prices of the brewing supplies I purchased to be in line with what I have purchased elsewhere. Went on line to check.
This will become a regular supplier for me, as I can get good supply and prices (and lunch and a brew nextdoor).

08-08-2010 14:47:49 | More by lou50rp

bishopdc0

Maine

3.66/5  rDev -21.1%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4 | service: 3 | selection: 4 | $$$

I live about hald a mile from this place and being nextdoor to the Great Lost Bear you can't go wrong.

That said however this place is EXPENSIVE nearly $6 per lb for DME I had to scale back the review to reflect. They have an amazing selection of grains hops and yeast, tho their dry yeast selection was small. I don't like the way you have to order grain from a list which he goes in back to grind. That's fine but the shops popularity makes service slow and there isn't pricing anywhere for grains. I felt like an idiot ordering 4 or 5 different grains and asking how much each was then on a few realizing the price and wishing I hadn't ordered them. I calculated the price per batch and I can make it cheaper with northern brewer, which sucks cause I like helping a local guy

02-22-2011 13:36:34 | More by bishopdc0

gtn80

Maine

4.2/5  rDev -9.5%
quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | $$$

Maine Brewing Supply has been a lifesaver when I have needed yeast, DME or a piece of equipment in a timely manner. Rob's customer service has definitely improved immeasurably since they first opened, and I find him to be a great resource now.

To be honest though if I plan ahead I do most of my purchases from online retailers, because I feel like Maine Brewing Supply's prices are too high on grain and hops, and especially on equipment.

Now, I'm not an idiot, I understand the economies of scale that online retailers get to enjoy, and I definitely throw plenty of dollars the way of Maine Brewing. They servce a purpose for me, for quick, convenient purchases.

On a side note, Rob has a great selection of beer there, again, pretty pricey, but he has some stuff I haven't found anywhere else.

11-12-2010 21:25:44 | More by gtn80

Bowdoinbeerboy

Maine

4.7/5  rDev +1.3%
quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 4 | $

The place that launched my odessey in homebrewing! Found this place through an online search and wasnt really expecting all that much, boy was I wrong! The store contains all the supplies one needs to get started (and plenty to keep the verteran well stocked as well) and a decent selection of ingrediants. I have trouble finding some varities of hops and malts sometimes but they have most of what you could ever need. Also contained here is an impressive supply of quality brews at fairly good prices. Many of these beers are difficult to find in the southern Maine area and its nice to have them all in the same location. To top it all off the owner is extremely knowledgable, friendly, and a homebrewer himself, a solid find all around!

06-11-2008 16:32:16 | More by Bowdoinbeerboy