Modern Homebrew Emporium

palmdalethriller

California

3.85/5  rDev +3.5%
quality: 4 | service: 4.5 | selection: 3 | $$

Let me say that I put the selection as "3.0 average" because it's the only homebrew shop I've ever been in. That being said, I went in for my first time a couple days ago and was helped out by a friendly employee. I'm pretty new to brewing and just told him that and he hooked me up with some good stuff. I'm now brewing a dry stout that I hope turns out well with ingredients bought from there.

Their selection of hops was somewhat slim, although they had a decent amount in pellet form. From what I understand though hops are very hard to come by anyways. When the hops that my recipe called for weren't in stock, the guy working there was able to suggest a good substitute. Well, I guess we'll see how good the substitute was when my beer is done. All in all an enjoyable experience - better than I expected.

I would recommend the modern brewer to anybody who wants to get into homebrewing.

03-12-2008 19:50:25 | More by palmdalethriller

Mike

New Hampshire

2.31/5  rDev -37.9%
vibe: 1.5 | quality: 2.5 | service: 1 | selection: 3.75 | $$$

I accidentally knocked over my erlenmeyer flask while brewing on Sunday. I called all the Wyeast dealers in the area to find a store that was open and had Belgian Wheat 3942 in stock. Modern Homebrew Emporium agreed to hold their last two packets for me. I left immediately after speaking to them and drove an hour from New Hampshire to Cambridge in the snow. When I arrived they notified me that they had already sold both packets to someone else. I cannot express how frustrated and upset I am with the service that I received. I will never return.

02-03-2013 21:27:09 | More by Mike

stoppertb18

Massachusetts

4.71/5  rDev +26.6%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 5 | selection: 5 | $$

I received a kit from them as a gift and now have returned for batch #2.
They are just really helpful and want you to succeed. No question is too stupid and they have tried it all themselves so they are very knowledgable.
They swapped out the yeast in the Brewers Best Russian Imperial stout kit I bought without being asked because they thought I'd get a better result.
They don't look down their noses at kit people vs. hard core brewers.
Selection seemed good and had lots of stock. If you don't see something, you should ask as it is a small store from, but there is clearly more in the basement.

09-03-2012 15:53:02 | More by stoppertb18

kyle42780

Massachusetts

4.5/5  rDev +21%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 5 | selection: 4 | $$

The best thing about this shop is the people. My friend and I are new brewers and have just finished batch #4. I can't say enough about the helpful advice and guidance that we have received from the employees. They have all of the necessary ingredients and equipment for our needs. If they don't have the exact ingredient, they are quick with an appropriate substitute. They have the knowledge and advice to help you build as elaborate or as simple of a system that you desire. Prices are reasonable too!

Great shop.

01-21-2012 21:49:26 | More by kyle42780

Hopdaemon39

Massachusetts

3.8/5  rDev +2.2%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 3.5 | $$

This is the only homebrew shop that I have been to in my short time brewing but generally they have been very helpful and accommodating. They have a binder full of house recipes that have helped me and my friend get started and whenever I've called with questions they've been helpful in answering them. It seems that they have a good amount of stuff but for example today I wanted to get an oz of whole-flower chinook hops but they didn't have whole-flower or the pellets; however, they had another binder all about hops that gave me a list of appropriate substitutes so I was able to get whole-flower Zeus (Columbus). If you're in the Greater Boston area this is the place to go for your homebrewing needs.

01-12-2012 02:31:39 | More by Hopdaemon39

kdp2011

Massachusetts

4.38/5  rDev +17.7%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5 | $$

I had the chance to visit this place a couple of weeks ago. They have a very wide selection of homebrewing supplies and ingredients. One thing I thought was really convienent about this place is that you can give them a list of ingredients and they can get it ready for you to pick up. From what I saw fresh ingredients, a wide selection of malts and hops, and plenty of cleansing supplies. Everyone there was very knowelegeable and helpful. Good place to stop and get some ideas and stock for brewing.

10-16-2011 17:17:48 | More by kdp2011

donkeyrunner

Massachusetts

4.8/5  rDev +29%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 4.5 | $$

I go here so often I can't believe I haven't reviewed it yet.

The atmosphere is that of hanging out at a freind's house. That's because the staff is often hanging out waiting to help people. Very casual which I like. I've never had a question that they couldn't answer. In addition to answer my finer brewing questions I also often see staff guiding a first time brewer through selecting a beginner beer kit.

The shop is small and it gets crowded on weekends. Saturdays and Sundays it's tough to find an unoccupied bucket to gather grains, an unoccupied scale to weigh them and then wait for the grain mill. It's probably not as bad for people who aren't as impatient as I am.

As far as selection goes I've been homebrewing for 3 years and they've almost never not had anything I wanted. They do often sell out of Simcoe though.

Prices are average. Hops seem to be a little more than online but the grain seems to be a little cheaper. Evens out in the end I suppose. I also like that I can buy exactly as much grain or hops as I need so I'm not left with a spare 1/4 lb. of chocolate rye that I'll never use.

I believe that people vote with their feet and as such that this is the only homebrew store I go to is a pretty big compliment.

09-25-2011 17:06:58 | More by donkeyrunner

DrinkingDrake

Massachusetts

4.14/5  rDev +11.3%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5 | $$

I go here often for my supplies. Employees are extremely prompt to help with the majority of them staying out of your way. Great selection of whole grain, hops and yeast. If they don't have a specific ingredient the staff is knowledgeable enough to guide you to a correct substitution. I love being able to weigh all my grains into one bucket and grind all at once into a couple bags. They trust you enough to mark the correct amount so you don't have someone constantly over your shoulder. You can weigh out specific amounts of hops and grain so you don't have anything extra sitting around wasting away. There is a great selection of homebrew equipment and if you know exactly what you are looking for it is easy to find fast. Great prices on ingredients. With my last visit I was brewing a Bitter which cost me only $30 including my liquid yeast. They also carry Rhizomes in the spring and they have a giant plant creeping through the store right now. Convenient location if your live close to the city. This is my regular store.

08-07-2011 16:57:55 | More by DrinkingDrake

FightingBob

Wisconsin

3.05/5  rDev -18%
vibe: 3 | quality: 4 | service: 1 | selection: 4 | $$$

Okay, so I read some of the positive reviews and some negative reviews on this homebrew store and I went back twice before writing this review.

MHE is great in that they have most everything a homebrewer would need. Things are a bit more expensive than other locations. I knew this going in, but being new to the area, I was hoping to gain some knowledge that I hadn't elsewhere.

If you are new to brewing this may not be the best place to start. The employees who work here will treat you rudely if they think you may be a novice.

The craft brew and homebrewing cuture is all about sharing knowledge and making a better beer for all. Learning about the process, equipment, styles, and art from others is all part of it. There are many different ways to go about this and no one has all the answers about how to homebrew. Even homebrewing pioneer Charlie Papazian said on the 9/28/06 podcast of Basic Brewing Radio that even after three decades of brewing he is learning new things. The guys who work here act like you are wasting their time for being in their store if you ask questions that make you appear to be a novice (god forbid if you are one) or suggest that you may try a different approach than what they suggest. There are less expensive and more welcoming places to go outside of the city.

08-01-2011 20:51:48 | More by FightingBob

JBK

Pennsylvania

4.65/5  rDev +25%
quality: 4.5 | service: 5 | selection: 4.5 | $$

The people that work there are so amazing and always helpful, the store is awesome and has everything and I love the complete self service style they got going on. All in all a great store. I live in PA, but make sure when I go to visit my parents I stop off here and get all my supplies for my next couple of beers. The prices are great at least from my perspective of only 8 homebrews under my belt. This place rocks, I would totally recommend it if you are anywhere in the boston area or within driving distance of boston.

01-25-2011 02:08:59 | More by JBK