Local Beer Distributors Selling Home Brewing Supplies

As home brewing becomes more and more popular, I’ve noticed an interesting trend.  Whether it is simply capitalizing on an available market or whether it is a sign of the times in craft beer, many of our local beer distributors are selling home-brewing supplies.  In Northeastern PA, Plaza Beverage in Pittston has been selling home brewing supplies for over a year.  Further south in the Lehigh Valley, Tanczos Beverage, Link Beverages and even Shangy’s in Emmaus have all either installed a home-brewing section already or are planning to do so.  As the craft beer scene grows locally, and our home brewing clubs memberships increase, the demand is obvious.  While some may think this is a sign that craft-beer pricing has reached a tipping point, and people are turning to a more economical way to brew great beer, I think it’s more than that.  Why not sell someone a great case of craft beer, and if they aren’t buying pre-made beer….why not sell them home-brewing supplies?…or better yet…maybe both.  It just makes sense.

Whether home brewers dream of becoming a professional brewer, or whether they just love the hobby…home-brewers are buying supplies and it is becoming a larger and larger market.  I also think having home-brewing supplies on display is a great idea to encourage the casual beer-shopper to perhaps get interested in better beer…and whether that better beer is a home-brew or a craft beer…now you can find both in one location.