I'm not sure if this is "new" news or fake news, but I went to Brew Camp today and all the windows are papered up. They are definitely closed but I'm curious if they're reconcepting or out of business. Anyone heard anything?
Sat, Aug 19, 2017 - 4:04pm
#1
Brew Camp - Closed? Temporarily?
Their website has been taken down, so I assume its permanent.
www.singingboysbrewing.com
There was a post that I saw on Facebook. He was thanking people for their patronage but he wasn't making enough at that location and he had to close down.
--james
God damnit.
A friend of mine started a homebrew store a couple of years ago. It was both a bricks-and-mortar local store and an on line store. He recently sold it, he said that while the volume of business was good (over $2.5 million in sales in 2016), the profit margins are paper thin in that industry.
Since I don't have a homebrew store near me, I've adopted a four part strategy:
1) participate in CHAOS group buys and store my grain in the new storage areas upstairs
2) order online at Farmhouse Brewing Supply - for what I need/value, its the sweet spot of the inventory I want and being local-ish. Using regular UPS ground delivery, I usually get my delivery the next day (if I order in the morning) or two days. Also, they support CHAOS. Instead of just ordering what I need for a recipe, now I try to keep small amounts of stuff I use regularly in my storage space.
3) occasionally will stop by Bev Art to pick up supplies, especially if I didn't get #2 above done
4) use the CHAOS ingredient mini-store upstairs if I forgot something on brew day
www.singingboysbrewing.com
Chicago Brew Werks is also a great semi-local option. If you take a half day to get out there, they have a taproom on site (Werk Force Brewing - which is acually expanding), and Ten Drops coffee roasters are also next door.
Brandon Wright owns Werk Force/CBW and is a great guy - I'll try to broach the subject of a CHAOS discount next time I'm there, but they do 10% for AHA members, I'm pretty sure.
For shipping, I would imagine it would be next day or 2 days, similar to the Farmhouse timeline Jim mentioned above.
I've been buying small grain needs + fresh yeast at B&G
Kedzie
--james
I often mail order ingredients that I need for a batch, but learned recently that AB InBev holds large stakes in both Midwest and Northern Brewer. I know it shouldn't matter, but it does. May try Farmhouse next time.
Jumbo bucket got delivered yesterday. Chaos grain store is on. Of course, we might burn through it all on the first barrel project, but that's how the cookie crumbles!