Bitter & Esters

The best customer service experience I’ve had in a long time. You don’t see businesses calling customers to help figure out an order and provide recommendations to make it cheaper! Great service, great products, great people. Moved down to Florida but this is the only place I’ll get my homebrew supplies from- worth every penny!

Bitter & Esters is an awesome homebrewing store located in Brooklyn, New York. There are many positive things to say - but I'll keep it a few - 1. Their online chat is awesome - I asked questions prior to buying any home equipment, and they answered my questions within minutes after hours on a random weeknight. 2. At the shop all of the staff including the owner, aren't push or "salesy," you are left with the impression that they love (brewing) beer, and are eager to share and grown the community - they will help you design recipes, or get you started. 3. The 101 class is awesome (I'm sure the rest are too, but as of writing it's the only one I've taken). Whether you want to become a homebrewer, need a refresher, or are just looking to learn and try something different for fun for an afternoon, you can learn (and help) brew a beer and learn about the basics of beer and beer making.

Such a lovely store! Wonderful small team that is as knowledgeable as they are kind. This is the place to go to in NY if you're seeking empty bottles to gift loved ones with coquito or other homemade holiday drinks. I came after many days of searching for 1 liter or 750 ml sealable bottles to raffle in a fundraiser for Gazan orgs like Atfaluna Deaf Society for Children, Sulala Animal Rescue, and Gazan Sunbirds (amputee paracycling team distributing food). I got so many compliments not just on the coquito but on the bottles and how professional it made the drink look! Thank you the B&E team for the help and great selection.

This shop is one of a kind. They are incredibly friendly and helpful. I’m a beginner and I’ve gotten nothing but support from the folks here. Take one of their starter classes, which are held twice a month — you won’t regret it!

I’ve always wanted to come here and finally I did! The shop has everything one would need to homebrew and the people are lovely!!(A Bonus!!) Will be back again for sure!

It's a supply store, a classroom, and a brewing facility. Pretty nice selection of grains, extracts, yeasts and supplies. You can buy materials and equipment, grind your grains, refill your CO2, and even come and brew your own batch in their equipment for a pretty decent price (they'll keep an eye on it as it ferments in a temp-controlled room in the basement). I came for the class and was surprised to learn so much in-depth details of the process. I honestly thought it was gonna be just a high level intro with some funny puns and some brewing action, but we got to learn A LOT. Dan is the man!

Bitter & Esters has just about everything that you need for making your own brew, wine making, or other fermentation equipment and supplies. I had a wonderful experience each and every time I went there. The owner and staff are very helpful and are very knowledgeable.

Really great people, great shop. Fair prices, quick shipping. I've been very happy with all my experiences with B&E. I only wish I lived closer to Brooklyn!

I've taken two of the advanced brewing classes with John and learned a ton each time. Excellent selection of brewing ingredients, including for all-grain recipes, and the whole team here is super helpful and knowledgeable.

It was fun experience and I would recommend it for all beer lovers, even if you don't plan to prepare it at home. Just knew knowledge about beloved drink, super vibes, good beer on a side and lots of jokes around educational things.

These guys are the only game in town for homebrew. Want to make beer? Choose for a whole book of recipes. Exotic hops, spices & herbs mean you can also design your own flavors They also have all you need to make honey wine. Really anything fermented. Hoses, beer thief's, flip top bottles, large cooking pots. Really everything. Plus these guys know 360 what they are doing So they can offer advice. Now go patronize them. We need them In our community !

Does it get any more Brooklyn than a homebrewing supply shop that also offers brewing classes? A bunch of us at my office had always wanted to learn how to brew, and I've always been homebrew-adjacent (friends, co-workers, roommates, etc.). So we decided to just pull the trigger and head into Bitter & Esters. But first, we came up with our own custom recipe that the folks at B&E helped us refine (you can read about it here - https://www.adweek.com/agencies/agency-huge-crunched-hundreds-of-beer-reviews-to-craft-the-ultimate-data-infused-recipe/amp/). Jack was incredibly helpful in that regard. We ended up doing two batches (about 265 bottles). The process consisted of figuring out a recipe, scheduling a day to go brew, brewing in shop, and then coming back in 5 weeks to bottle/cap, and transport out (some styles do take longer!). The brewing part was super fun. They make it super simple and taught us a lot about each step (the how and the why). There's also a lot of downtime, so they recommended we bring some beers along and we definitely drank a bunch of them. The bottling/capping day wasn't quite as fun, as it was pretty nonstop work, but with three of us, we got through it in about 3 hours. The whole thing was a really fun experience! We also got to meet the owner John a few times, and he was super cool. I'm sure the price and volume of beer can be a bit prohibitive for most people (especially with all the supplies), but it still came out to under $5 a beer. If you brew at home, they have basically everything you could ever need!

Long time customer but just took a virtual yeast class for the first time. I didn't know what to expect but it was super informative and fun. John answered all my questions and then some. Will definitely be signing up for more classes.

The locus for home brewing in the 5 boroughs. Want to make beer at home? This is the place. In my view, brewing beer can be as simple or as complex as you choose. The great folks at Bitter & Esters can help you make that decision. Wanna brew beer? This is the place. Have questions? Again, right here. I've been brewing for a while. Mr. Beer kits first and then a few B&E recipes. I too their beginning brew class which I highly recommend. In my opinion, it's great for beginners or people like me who want to fill in some knowledge gaps. I've found that you can always ask them questions and you'll get great answers. And great help.

I've been here twice now and both times I was met with polite, knowledgeable staff. There guys know what the heck they're talking about! The shop has a huge collection of gear and grains, all reasonably priced. Not only that, but they host a monthly brew swap event so you can meet other home-brewers and trade recipes. This place is fantastic!

Learning how to make my own beer! I was offered a chance to check out Bitter & Esters courtesy of my blog. So glad we took advantage of it. I felt this class was very informative and enjoyable! The owner/instructor John is very professional, outgoing, and super knowledgeable when it comes to all things beer. Not only did we get a first hand view on how to become home brewers, we also received an education on beer making, it's history, and the ingredients involved. They have everything here you need to get started - instruction, ingredients, equipment - along with a very supportive staff that are willing to help out with any questions. They want you to make good beer! Plus, there are so many different styles and tastes to choose from. Another added bonus was that we received two pints to drink during the class of beers that were brewed by previous groups! They have everything you need here if interested in becoming a home brewmaster. I look forward to taking another class here and get started on my own brews. The guys who own and work here are super friendly, fun, and love beer. That in itself makes you want to come back. Oh boy, this might be dangerous. My liver already hates me.

I signed up for an introductory beer making class online at this place. For $50 you get two and a half hours of hands-on demonstration and teaching about beer making from making your own wort, to adding hops, to sanitation and adding yeast, and finally to bottling. Classes are about 10-15 people but it felt personalized. The instructors and shop staff are extremely knowledgeable and passionate about beer making. They want to pass along their love and knowledge too. I always felt like I was learning something interesting or novel about beer the whole time I was there. The shop itself has an encyclopedic assortment of beer making gadgets and equipment, as well as different grains, hops, yeasts, and more. Since I'm only an amateur brewer I can't give an informed opinion on the selection but it seemed gargantuan. I can imagine people spending their entire paycheck on everything in the store (even though everything is fairly priced and not expensive by any means!). For example, a beginner's brewing set (the equipment) will cost about $95 and the ingredients to actually make a beer will cost about $45-50.

Do you love beer? Then you probably need to get yourself over to Bitter & Esters. Now, I'm no stranger to beer. I've been drinking beer it for about fifteen years now, ever since I stumbled across a party on the beach as a pre-teen and was coerced into smashing cans on my head in exchange for the delicious liquid inside. Older but no wiser, I am taking my love of beer to the next level thanks to John & Doug. They've created a haven for hops-heads: a place where you can go to learn about beer, discuss beer, and ultimately learn how to make beer...not to mention buy everything you could possibly need to brew your own. Don't know where to begin? The Brewshop 101 class is the intro you need. It's like going to school, if school included a couple pints and only taught you about things you were interested in. You'll learn, step by step, everything you need to know about brewing beer. John will go over everything from making wort to bottling; he'll teach you the best type of beer* and where Dogfish's 90 Minute IPA gets its name (among other beer questions you might have); he'll show you what hops and sanitizer taste like, and he'll teach you the most important, ironclad rules of brewing.** If you've already got the process down, buy yourself a kit and get to brewing at home. (Bitter & Esters will also host you and your friends if you'd rather brew in the shop, which will save you a little trouble and some mess). I just brewed my first batch, and it was easy, fun, and a great thing to do with friends (assuming yours aren't also worthless human beings that are borderline illiterate). And in a few weeks, when it's done fermenting, I'll let you know how badly we screwed it up. ______________ *Free. **1. Sanitize everything. 2. You MUST be drinking beer as you brew beer.

Bitter & Esters is one of the best kept secrets of NYC and honestly it makes me so happy that shops like this still exist in this city. I did the homebrewing 101 class and had a blast and learnt so much. I felt so inspired that I came home and immediately started brewing my own batch. (we'll see how it comes out in 4 weeks!) Thanks John for the wonderful class and keep the passion going! CHEERS!

I usually do not write reviews, but these guys are so amazing that I just had to write one. My wife got me their beer brewing class as a gift, which I took it yesterday. It was such a fun and educational experience. The mystery of beer brewing is broken up into simple steps which anyone can do. During the class you not only watch but also participate in brewing 5 gallons of beer, with every step carefully explained. Unfortunately, since it takes 4 weeks for the beer to be completed you don't get to taste your brew. However, they do provide educational samples to go along with the class from their previous brewing classes. Guys also have a fully stocked beer supply store, if you choose you can buy their kits, or make them as simple or elaborate as you want. Lots of fun, will definitely recommend to my beer loving friends.

Upon entering Bitter & Esters, on a Friday night during MTA rush hour hell, I was greeted with a godsend. A pint of homebrew that would put any Heineken to shame. And the entire store smelled delicious, it was as if toll house cookie dough was manifesting somewhere within the shelves. I felt like we met before and they knew exactly how I took my coffee... but with beer. Our instructor was John La Polla, he was not only a master of brewing but he kept the momentum of the class going, knowing exactly when to throw in a pun or a fact. He made sure we were hands on and had an answer for every question asked. While filling us in on how beer is made, he made sure to fill our heads on how to make our own beer - with tidbits of beer history of course. For instance, did you know that a nun suggested that brewers use hops to preserve beers? Me neither, until John told me. Bitter & Esters has forever filled my brain with booze knowledge, but it craves more so I will be heading back for another class or tasting. Who knows, I might be even come up with a batch of my very own beers soon. And definitely no more blank faces from me, when the bartender asks if I'll take an IPA or lager.

Took the Homebrewing Essentials 101 class, and it was excellent. Efficiently run, very informative, and fun. I was really impressed by the vibe. The guys who work there are helpful and enthusiastic, without being mansplainy or condescending. I would definitely take more classes there!

Always has everything I need, great staff and always a good time. Even just to pick up ingredients! Their online pickup is great too, highly recommended if you know you'll be in a hurry and can't spend too much time in the store.

Did a homebrewing 101 class with my girlfriend for her birthday. Super informative and we felt ready (although a little scared) to try our first batch in a week. Staff are helpful and ready to help you plan according to what you already have/where you live. Definitely recommend to people looking for a new food/drink hobby! I want to come back for a mead course....

Brewing 101 - what a fun way to learn such a complex process! Doug was funny and extremely knowledgeable, I doubt there are any beer (or Game of Thrones) questions that he couldn't answer. A gift card to this class is a GREAT present for anyone interested in home-brewing, or just likes beer in general.

Great 101 class on brewing with entry- level instruction. Great if you're wanting to learn in an unintimidating environment. 5 stars for Dave's class and his instruction!

This place is just fantastic. Doug was there to give me some much needed advice and I happily walked away with more then I was planning on getting. Can't wait to get back here and start making some of their recipes. Let's hear it for truly local brewing. I got a great sense of knowledge and care for the service and goods they offered, and I think that reflects in all the other yelp reviews. Obviously these guys are doing something right. Become a homebrewer, a winemaker, an urban chemist, and get your goods from B&E. They know what's going on.

Have taken two classes here and exclusively get my ingredients and supplies here. Great guys, super helpful and knowledgeable.

I've been to B&E a number of times, but today was the tipping point for me to write up a review. I never write things online but the folks at B&E are simply the best! Last week I went into the store to consult with John about which extract recipe to choose from and he helped me select one out based on my preferred beer style. He was incredibly patient and helpful, which goes a long way for someone not as experienced as myself. Today I made said batch of beer and towards the end of the process in a panic called them up to get some advice on how to correct my potential flub. Not only were they very down to earth and not beer snobby, but Bobby spent nearly 15 minutes on phone with me talking me off the ledge and assuring me that all was well in beer land. I hope to crack open this batch in about 5 weeks. I'd highly recommend this spot to anyone interested in making beer, wine, kombucha, mead, you name it!

My awesome boyfriend surprised me with a Living Social deal to take Bitter & Esters' Intro. to Homebrewing class! We were originally scheduled to take the class during the week of Hurricane Sandy, and it was kind of tough for us to reschedule, but we finally made it - four months later! It was definitely worth the wait. Upon arriving, we were greeted with a glass of beer made by a previous class. Each attendee receives an instruction booklet with a homebrewing recipe. The class is small, only about a dozen people. As a result, the experience is very intimate and hands-on. Everyone got a chance to take part in the process. We learned all about hops, yeast, grains, and fermentation. Together, we made a rye beer, and we can go taste it in four weeks if we'd like! At the end, John, one of the co-owners, gave everyone a 5% off coupon for a homebrewing kit. My boyfriend and I are definitely going to arrange our schedules and come back to buy the kit. I'm really excited to get started! I highly recommend this place for class and/or supplies. The owner we met was so helpful, laid-back, knowledgable, and friendly. I could tell that he really puts his heart and soul into the business, and he's eager to help beginners get started with homebrewing as a hobby.

Absolutely fabolous! Great selection of beer.

Homebrewing Made Easy! I've taken the intro homebrewing class at Bitter & Esters then brewed my first beer on premises there. I've always been a shy of homebrewing in my tiny NYC apartment, so it was awesome to craft the beer at the store. Johnny, one of the owners, was a huge help with suggestions on the recipe and kept an eye on the process. The fact that all the ingredients are there at the shop, at a good price and fresh, made it so easy to pick out the malts and grains. I know they get shipments of wet hops when in season, so I'm planning on brewing with them sometime. They keep the store clean and had all the equipment sanitized... best part of the process is they do the clean up at the end as well. There's very much a DYI feel to the store, which is exactly what I want from a homebrew shop. Both Johnny and Douglas always seem happy to chat and are knowledgeable about all aspects of beer making. I know they've been getting into wine making and kombucha too. I highly recommend signing up for a class there or dropping by and talking to them if you've ever thought about homebrewing anything.

My wife bought me a class for a birthday present. Unfortunately, I was out of town for work when the class was scheduled. The place would not let me reschedule or refund the money. Just took the cash and ran. That kind of customer service ensures no business from me in the future. About 10 batches into my brewing fun. Not a penny went to these guys. Be aware, they will short change you for a few bucks on the front even though it costs them allot more in the end.

I've brewed for a few years and decided to take the 101 class with a friend who is just getting into it. I didn't expect to learn as much as I did! The instructor was great and the techniques I learned will definitely increase the quality of my future beers.

I was putting together a jockey box(mobile dispensing kit) and it had just been assembled and I was about to get into a car and I proceeded to drop the CO2 regulator gauge directly on the ground and shatter it into a million pieces. The gentleman who had helped me all day ran inside, grab a new gauge and replaced the item in 1 min free of charge. This is my store for forever. I will get all of my beer accessories from here and no other from now on. I have been in here about 5 times for varying small stuff until the jockey box. I will now come here directly for all items, big and small when it is brewing related

Just finally made the visit this fantastic Local Homebrew Shop on Washington Ave in Prospect Heights! What you get here are quality ingredients, amazing customer service and extremely competitive pricing for basically anything you might need to get started homebrewing or to continue making amazing batch after batch. For the beginner, there are classes that will make your introduction to brewing a lot easier. The guys at the shop are super-friendly and will make you feel comfortable and any intimidation-factor that you had about brewing will melt away. For the intermediate or not-first-time brewer (I fall into this camp), there are a ton of great recipes with easy to follow directions and checklists to make sure you have everything you need. The staff is more than happy to share their brewing wisdom, give you tips, or troubleshoot your brew process. You really never stop learning when brewing so having immediate access to such fantastic customer service and brewing know-how right the neighborhood is a huge asset! Other awesome stuff includes a la carte grain selection (pay by the oz) plus free grain milling. All types of hops, yeast, and extracts. Every month they have a get-together where people share their product with other homebrewers. The bottom line is this: Homebrewing should be all about having FUN and making great beer. Here you get the people and the ingredients you need to do just that. No more online ordering for me!

Came here for a home brewing course. Their passion for brewing good beer and knowledge to share that is commendable.

The Brewshop 101 class was great. Informative and well run. Can't wait to start making beer. The staff is great awesome.

The wife surprised me with the birthday gift of learning how to brew my own beer. A nice surprise during the class was the chance to sample the work product of a previous class. The instructors were great, the course was more interactive than lecture. Picked up the starter kit and supplies - hopefully my first batch will be ready to test July 4th. Can't say enough about how much of a fun Saturday afternoon this was. They do private events too - which would be a lot of fun.

I don't drink beer, but I like this store. Weird right? I've been here with friends who brew and I've made some solo trips. I've experimented with making hard cider and wine. I mean, who turns down the possibility - no the opportunity - of making your own alcohol? In my case, I really enjoy fermenting juice. It's pretty easy, it's cheap, and it's fun. I get all my supplies from, and all my questions answered at Bitter & Esters. Staff is very welcoming, friendly and knowledgeable.

Had such a great time brewing beer here with these guys. Learned about what goes into making beer, measurements, process, temperatures, malt, hops, yeast, oh joy! Can't wait to try our beer in a couple weeks!

Oftentimes, an establishment is only as good as their proprietors. Bitters & Esters is no exception... John and Doug both have a passion for homebrewing that seeps out into the store they've built. When I go to this place, I don't feel like I'm walking into a store to buy a product, I feel like I'm going to a friend's house who happens to have a stash of stuff that I happen to need. New to homebrewing, I always have questions when I walk into this place. Unlike a lot of specialty stores, the staff there seem eager to answer them. They often go out of their way to explain both the science and the art of homebrewing, and I always walk out smarter than I was walking in. Can you find cheaper stuff online? As in most other cases when shopping, yes. But even after I go to all the homebrew forums, after I look at all the online suppliers, I still walk into B&E because of the knowledge, support, and encouragement I get from the staff. I would recommend this place to anyone.

Great spot for those into the finer sides of drinking, plus a BK museum discount = 20% off Beginner Brewshop 101 class.

So I am halfway through my project with B&E - we've brewed two batches that are maturing in the basement. I will follow up this review if it gets better or worse, but so far it is an easy 5 stars as an event user of the place. Since I don't even know how the beer is going to taste yet, the main thing to talk about is the staff. These are high quality people that you want to have a beer with (and can). They are extremely knowledgable, focused without being overbearing and genuinely nice. The policy of BYOB and food is great to do an event there - takes about 3-4 hours to brew a batch. I'll be back!

Sooooo I never knew this place existed. I happened to park right in front in search of a wine shop so I could purchase wine to make my Thanksgiving Sangria. While getting out of my car I looked inside and noticed they had a shelf with jars. Oh shoot! I don't have any jars to transport the sangria. These guys were wonderful and spoke to me about what they offer. I will be back with an updated review on one of their classes.

A few weeks ago Vimbly, a website that lists things to do throughout New York City (some of which are free!), invited me to check out a home brewing class at Bitter & Esters, a home brew shop located in Brooklyn's Prospect Heights. Cool! But wait a minute,what is home brewing? For those that don't know, it's basically a do-it-yourself brewery, where you make the beer, bottle it, and best of all, drink it, all in the comfort of your home. The class was Brewshop 101: Home Beer Brewing Essentials and our group was treated to an interactive beer making experience. What's so great about this class? You're immediately greeted with a pint of home brew when you walk in the door. You get to learn everything you could possibly want to know about beer as well as how to brew your own. The teacher and co-founder, John La Polla, is funny, entertaining and keeps the class going with jokes and little known beer tidbits. You get to drink some more home brewed beer. You are taught the techniques and theory behind home brewing and how to avoid common mistakes. You get to participate in actually making a beer during the class AND you get to come back in a few weeks and give the beer you made a try! It's a lot of fun! While I can't say that I'm now an expert on malts, grains and yeasts, the class was a lot of fun and the entire group had a blast learning the ins and outs of beer making. Bitter and Esters prides itself on its array of home-brew essentials, and they're not joking around. They have walls lined with anything and everything you can possibly imagine related to home brewing. Being a home brewing novice, I had no idea what any of this stuff was, but thanks to our fearless beer teacher, John La Polla, I quickly learned all that goes into making a bottle of the stuff. This class was definitely a good time and I'd highly recommend it to anyone - whether you're just looking for something to do after work or if you're a beer connoisseur. Not only does Bitters and Esters offer classes, but they also give you the ability to brew on premises - essentially renting out space for you to brew beer, leave it to ferment and then come back to bottle it and take it home. Really cool set up they have going! So it's pretty clear that I loved the Brewshop 101 class at Bitters and Esters. Now how about Vimbly? This is the first time I'd been exposed to the site but I really like how they've gone about aggregating events across New York City. I can see myself saying goodbye to endless googling in search of date ideas or weekend activities. Customizable by category, the site displays events in a calendar format, allowing you to easily see what's available and when. Check them out and check out Bitters and Esters. Just don't forget to save me a beer! *This event was provided free, courtesy of Vimbly.

I had been in and met John the owner shortly after they opened a couple years ago. He's friendly, chock full of information, and passionate about Beer making, three qualities that made him instantly likable. Today was my first visit back since then, and John was wonderful. I got a 5 gallon brew kit (early Father's Day gift) and I'm looking forward to great beer and more good experiences at B&E.

It was worth the trek from Queens. Walked in and was greeted right away. I was able to pick out a recipe and have it tailored for a 1 gallon home brew kit. I got to ask lots of questions, learn some new things, and buy aditional supplies. Doug was great, and I'll be back in a month with a Citra hopped beer for him to try.

Great introductory class with knowledgeable people who are always available to help in every step of the brewing process. Can't wait to start brewing my own beer. Highly recommend

Wouldn't even think of going elsewhere for my brewing supplies. The guys are incredibly knowledgable and will help out people of any level with advice and direction. Also, if you're worried that going to a physical store is more expensive than ordering stuff online, you should compare prices. You'll be pleasantly surprised!

My girlfriend and I just took the Hops course this past weekend and it was exactly what we wanted, as it was informative but didn't feel like we were in a classroom or anything like that. The tasting at the end of the class was a great way to experience the differences between how the hops affect the final taste and aroma, especially how beer brewed with two different types of hops can taste different than from each of those hops individually. It's also given us the confidence to attempt to dry hop our next batch, something that seemed too daunting before this course showed us it's a lot more simple than it seemed.

Amazing place! Think of just "wanting" to brew then being shown/told/helped and instructed how to! Also most of the ingredients are pretty affordable and more importantly the advice the owners give is great! First beer i brewed turned out great and was absolutely because of their help!

This place is amazing. I've taken every single one of their beer making classes and they're all fantastic, well worth the money. If you're interested in homebrewing, start with the 101 course and buy the kit with it. John is an amazing teacher, as are the other instructors there. They have recipes you can pick from and will sell you all the ingredients needed to make it. The homebrewing community in Brooklyn is really welcoming and fun, and pretty soon you'll find yourself addicted. The 200 and above level classes all come with tastings to help you learn to distinguish flavors and better appreciate beer and deepen your understanding of the impact of different ingredients on the final product. The prices are reasonable, and if you buy from them then when you screw something up during the brewing process you can call them in a panic and they'll calm you down and tell you how to fix it (I've done this many times). A lot of the employees go on to get jobs at local breweries, and Bitter & Esters has become a major hub of the NYC brewing community. They also host fun events like bottle swaps where you can trade homebrew with other hobbyists, and often serve as a drop off location for local competitions, should you ever want to get some notes on your beer from professionals. I did this once, not expecting to win of course, but hoping for feedback, and got some great tips on my IPA. I love Bitter & Esters for getting me involved in this community and recommend it to anyone who is interested in beer.

These guys taught us how to brew beer and have served as our go to spot for getting supplies every time we brew from now on. Sure, you can probably save a few bucks buying online, but the service here is second to none- these folks want you to brew great beer and will do everything they can to help.

I've been homebrewing for about 6 months and I've visited a few shops in the city, and Brooklyn. Bitters & Esters is by far the best I've been to thus far. I went there to make a standard American Pale Ale. John (the owner i assume) was extremely helpful as he and I worked out a recipe together. They are fully stocked when it comes to all your malts, grains, hops, yeasts, and equipment. This place is way out of the way for me, but it's well worth the time rather than visiting Bowery Whole Foods and Meet Hook/Bklyn Kitchen, where the selection of ingredients isn't as complete. B & E is the spot for the novice homebrewer, up through the advanced. Unpretentious, with excellent service and knowledge to get you on your way to making delicious beer. I'll be going back for my next batch as well.

I have never written a yelp review ever. I don't know how to say thank you enough for helping me with my tap handle emergency, but this public forum seemed like as good of a place as any. These people are heroes! Seriously the best!

I sought this place out because I thought they might be able to sell me a few supplies for some fermented hot-sauce I'm making. After all, brewing, pickling, fermenting... very similar. Not only did they have what I needed - at a totally reasonable price, by the way - but they totally very to upsell me to something more expensive. And they could have. They said they'd rather have me remember that this is the kind of place that sells people what they actually need. Apparently, it's also the kind of place where people who are passionate about beer can gather to learn about brewing, hands-on, and hang out with others who share their passion. There were at least a dozen people participating in a workshop when I walked in on a Saturday night around 7pm. Looks like they have lots of classes and events. A very cool place. I'm glad I know about it, and recommend it highly.

I am a newbie at brewing, a friend of mine for me a hard cider brewing kit, and I did some online research to see what I needed. The cider was easy to come by, but the champagne yeast was impossible, even big grocery stores like fairway don't stock it. I was about to give up, when I found This little heel of a place online. For the home Brewer it's got everything, and the guys who run the shop are incredibly nice and knowledgable. Think I might try home brewing some beer next!