We are often asked about where we buy our homebrewing supplies. People see the beers and equipment on the channel and wonder how we source everything. In this discussion, Mike walked through his approach to buying hops, grain, yeast, and brewing gear. A lot of it comes down to consistency, freshness, and buying smarter over time. We also wanted to point out that you do not need expensive equipment to make great beer. We certainly did not start that way ourselves.

How Mike Sources Brewing Ingredients and Equipment

When it comes to hops, Mike prefers buying larger quantities directly from suppliers like Yakima Valley. He usually buys half pound or one pound quantities for varieties he uses often. For lagers, pale ales, and British beers, he likes keeping dependable hops on hand. Cascade, Amarillo, Nugget, and Citra were all mentioned as examples. He has found that larger packages often perform better than small repackaged one ounce bags from local shops. Freshness and storage conditions make a noticeable difference in hop flavor and aroma.

For grain, Mike likes purchasing base malts in 40 to 50 pound quantities. He discussed previously buying from local maltsters when shipping costs were reasonable. These days, he still buys larger amounts because it helps maintain consistency between batches. He mentioned stocking up on Maris Otter, Pilsner malt, Vienna malt, Munich malt, and American two row. Having larger quantities available also makes spontaneous brew days much easier.

Yeast sourcing has changed quite a bit for Mike over the years. He explained that liquid yeast shipping can be inconsistent, especially during warmer months on the East Coast. Because of that, he now uses dry yeast for most beers. The expanding variety of dry yeast strains has made this much easier. When he visits the local homebrew shop to refill CO2 tanks, he usually grabs several dry yeast packets for future brews.

For equipment, Mike tends to shop online through retailers like MoreBeer. He discussed buying Torpedo kegs, SS Brewtech fermenters, and stainless brewing equipment online because local shops nearby focus more on ingredients than equipment. He also shared the story of buying old corny kegs from a soda company liquidation years ago and still using many of them today.

Final Thoughts

The biggest takeaway from this discussion was not to get discouraged by cost. Mike pointed out that many homebrewers online showcase expensive setups, but simple equipment can still produce excellent beer. Fresh ingredients, smart buying habits, and understanding your process matter much more than flashy gear. Whether you buy hops by the pound or just pick up ingredients batch by batch, consistency and freshness are the keys. Hopefully, this discussion helps newer brewers think through their own sourcing homebrew supplies strategy a little more confidently.