Maltose Express

Durge

Connecticut

4.15/5  rDev -4.8%
quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5 | $$

First off, I'm not a home brewer. Maybe someday, but there is just too much out there on the market to try already, that i like, and there ain't enough time in the day to do it all. But I went to this place during a recent "Open House" beer tasting event with a few friends. The event was a complete overload, people packed everywhere, lines, exasperated employees looking like deer caught in headlights unsure of which direction to push next. A real mad house and not the most pleasant beer tasting type event I've ever attended. But then I realize that this was an extra special occasion and one that doesn't really apply to the day-to-day purpose here, serving the home brewing community. What I can say is that the place is very large compared to most home brewing centers I've encountered in the past. It is now in a fairly new & improved location with access to generous free parking (if you're not there during a special event) and inside is very new and clean (from what I could surmise under the circumstances). Although I am no expert in home brewing ingredients and equipment, I understood from one of my more knowledgeable friends that there was an excellent selection of ingredients. I know I was getting a case of the drools just eye-ing the stacks of hops and "pre-mixed" brew packages available. So I'm not entirely qualified for this review but I thought I would chime in to say that it is quite an impressive facility and I thought the idea of their Open House was a grand one. It just needs some rethinking given the crowd control issues that resulted in March. Having Captain Lawrence & BruRm there as high end local representatives of the craft was great, if only the beer didn't run out half way through. I have also seen Maltose represented at some local beer fests where they had samples of stuff they made on premises, and some of it was fine, and they did seem like very friendly folks. I wish them well and will give the next open house another try (next time I drink first and ask questions later!).

04-08-2009 23:19:59 | More by Durge

sulldaddy

Connecticut

4.3/5  rDev -1.4%
quality: 4 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5

As I havent brewed in a few years I was a little antsy to get to this store. I wanted to make sure I would be able to make some brew with what I walked out with.
The store is on the left hand side of route 25 in Monroe. Only real complaint is they could use a larger sign on the road so it is not missed by first time customers. The employees were very helpful and explained how their clonebrew kits work. I ended up bringing one of these home today and hope to enjoy a tasty brew in a few weeks. It was also cool to actually be able to taste a brew that they made using their kits.
There was a great selection of beer and wine making ingredients and equipment. I saw mostly extract brewing stuff but I wouldnt be looking for anything else right now. I am sure that the staff would help you find whatever you would be looking for when you arrive at the store. I will definitely return to this store to get my future batches of ingredients.

01-24-2004 23:25:59 | More by sulldaddy

far333

Connecticut

4.5/5  rDev +3.2%
quality: 4.5 | service: 5 | selection: 4 | $$

Unfortunately, there are very few homebrew shops in CT. Fortunately this one is excellent. The owners are experts in the craft, gurus even. And if they're not in the store, their employees are extremely knowledgeable as well. They of course sell their two clone brew books, but they also sell all of the standard home brew books, like Papazian's well-known titles. They don't seem to have much in the way of bulk ingredients, unless there was more in the back room that I didn't see. There is a huge selection of premade recipe kits based on the recipes in their clone brew books. Plus they'll put a kit together for you while you wait, and they'll ship anywhere. Their clone brew recipes are good replications of well-known beers, and they will gladly answer any questions you have on brewing either in person at the store, or on the phone while you're in the middle of the brewing process.

06-21-2003 14:05:19 | More by far333

Hautacam

Connecticut

4.65/5  rDev +6.7%
quality: 4.5 | service: 5 | selection: 4.5 | $$

I've never brewed anything before. This place had good reviews and it's really close to me. Also, I had heard that the owners wrote of few books on brewing and had clone-brew-kits for some really great beers...and recipes for the more experienced.
The store was easy to find in Monroe on rt 25.
The first thing I noticed was the boxes lined up with clone brews...lot's of selection right there...but they actually have lot's more. I chose Petrus Tripel for my first attempt. I also bought their basic brew kit with carboy,lines, capper, fermentation container, hydrometer...etc..everything I would need. The store is full of everything you might need as a beginner or an expert.
The employee who helped me was very knowledgable and friendly...gave me some good advice to get started.
I e-malied them with a list of questions and they responded promtly with more good advice.
I'm glad such a great beer/wine brew shop is so close by.


Just a quick update: as a first time brewer...I had lots of questions on just about every aspect of the process. Nervous about each step....I have really pestered them with questions...by phone, by email and at the store. Tess, the owner, told me to start my brew during their business hours, and to call as often as needed. She said she didn't care if I called 10 times ! Now that's support. Good people, good shop....check it out. They are online too :www.maltose.com

03-12-2006 18:21:26 | More by Hautacam

erosier

Connecticut

4.3/5  rDev -1.4%
quality: 4 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5 | $$

I have searched homebrew shops around the state of connecticut and this one is my favorite. The owners really know their beer and are knowledgable about every aspect of it. My favorite part is the sampling the beers they have on tap. I went once a week during the summer and there was a new beer every time. I got alot of helpful hints about the whole homebrewing process which really improved my homebrew. One of my friends came with us one day and he wanted to do one of their clone brews on the black chocolate stout by brooklyn brewer. There was no kit, but they went in the back and 10 minutes later came out with a kit for him. This place is worth your while.

10-05-2007 05:09:16 | More by erosier

jeffthecheff

Connecticut

3.5/5  rDev -19.7%
quality: 3.5 | service: 2.5 | selection: 4.5 | $$

I've been to this place two times while in the area. The good thing about this place is there are always different homebrews on tap in the store. Everything was very good, so whoever made them has some talent. The place is also gigantic. It's maybe 20 times the size of the place I usually go to. They have a really good selection of hops. The equipment selection is incredible. They have any equipment you can think of, including kegging equipment and carboys. They also have a ton of clone kits put together in the store.

The service was alright. They have a hand cranked barley crusher there and you have to crush your own grains. The staff wasn't very conversational, probably because the place is so big. I'm used to getting more advice and conversation with my store, which is part of the fun. Still a great store selection-wise, so it's a very worthy store.

02-26-2010 01:59:32 | More by jeffthecheff

KTCamm

New Jersey

4.7/5  rDev +7.8%
quality: 5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5 | $$

Recently moved to new bigger digs just down the road in Monroe, CT, and what a difference the new place makes - significantly more space, all of their selections are spread out, allowing a lot of space and time to browse. Big selection of wine making supplies as well.

The staff is very friendly and helpful - definitely don't make you feel rushed.

Store owners have written 2 (soon to be 3) books on cloning popular beers. They have some of the kits pulled together in the store - or if there is one you don't see, they'll make it for you (assuming all of the malts, hops, etc.) are in stock. Or call aheads and they'll tell you what they can pull together.

They always have some of their own homebrews on tap, which is always a good thing.

Prices very reasonable - I don't have a lot to compare to, but I always feel like I am getting good value for my dollar at Maltose.

Highly recommend for beginners and experienced home brewers.

02-04-2009 23:51:28 | More by KTCamm

OatmattStout

Connecticut

3.4/5  rDev -22%
quality: 4 | service: 2 | selection: 4 | $$

They moved into a new facility next to Ace Hardware and it was my first visit. Nice place and plenty of room.

The selection was solid and ingredients were extensive. I liked their own boxes for clone brews, great brew choices and all in one kits.

I was not however satisfied with the service. It wasn't very warm. I was asked if I needed a hand but other than that can't say much. When i asked a few questions at the counter I got really short answers. Not what I was expecting as most people I meet who are beer enthusiasts seem to have more passion and interest in talking about craft beer and brewing.

I will go back again as I was not at all offended but just not impressed with my service interaction. Maybe he had a bad day, which we can all relate to. Hell this economy is enough to make anyone a curmudgeon.

02-15-2009 22:05:37 | More by OatmattStout

pittvkyle7

Connecticut

4.65/5  rDev +6.7%
quality: 4.5 | service: 5 | selection: 4.5 | $$

I choose to get all my ingredients from maltoes mainly because of there refrigerated hops and yeast, and because they have a grain mill that you can use for free. It's probably not the most efficient but it's better for me because I don't have the money to buy one, and other places charge for the crush. (I've gotten 72% on my last two batches...so not bad at all) Well I got some great help at this place right from the second I walked in, and the place wasn't slow either. Great time spent here and I will go back for my ingredients again. Oh you can also taste some of their homebrew which was quite good!

Well I went back a couple more times and this place is just great! I always get great help, and they always have all the grains I need for my recipes. I will continue to use this place even though it is not close to me.

03-26-2008 21:22:14 | More by pittvkyle7

dbmcrorie

Connecticut

4.35/5  rDev -0.2%
quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4 | $$$

This is a great place to pick up some of the necessities of homebrewing, as well as browsing for specialties.

I will say that I was not overly impressed by the selection available, but I was not let down either. For basic recipes, they have a good selection of grains available (with an on-location grinder available for use), as well as a great selection of hops and liquid yeasts. I was pleased to see that they properly cared for their hops - vacuum packed in the refrigerator.

What got to be on the expensive end, was their equipment. A lot of homebrewing hardware can be purchased online for cheap, or home built for cheaper. Same for ingredients that can be bought at a local grocery store (honey, treacle, sugar, etc.) Maltose does provide everything you could possibly need (from books and recipes, to bottles, kegs, wort chillers, siphons, etc.), but at a bit of a price.

The service is helpful and friendly. They are willing to answer any questions you have and can guide you to what ever it is you are looking for.

My favorite part of Maltose Express is that they always have two homebrews on tap to sample for free, equipment for wine and mead making, prepackaged "beer clone" kits, and a couple of very cute dogs.

04-07-2009 15:02:01 | More by dbmcrorie