Would rate 3 1/2 stars. OK, got into home brewing 20 years ago and have been to many home brew supply stores. This place has just about everything you REALLY NEED to brew your own beer and make wine. Of course, there is always going to be some kind of obscure piece of equipment they don't have or some strain of yeast they don't carry or they may run out of a hops or 2. But all in all, these guys do a pretty good job of carrying the essentials and beyond. Most of the staff are very helpful with questions, and they seem knowledgeable since they all claim to brew and make wine. Some of them seem to annoyed if you ask a question. One clerk was annoyed that I showed up with a grain order. He wanted to know why I didn't email to the store so he could have had it ready when I got there. Anyway, brewing your own beer and wine making is a lot of fun. These folks have what all beginners need and 99% of what an all-grain brewer would need. Just wish the one young man was a little friendlier. Would very much recommend buying a starter kit from these people (wine or beer). Lastly, they insist on milling all the grains for you. Other home brew stores are self serve and there is no signage to state that. So not knowing, I went to mill some 2 row and got scolded. Oh well--maybe I need to just buy a grinder for my own use at home. read more

Customer service non existent. I went in here to buy a regulator because I want to use it to make seltzer. When I walked in I was greeted and informed what isle they would be in. After finding nothing the employee came over and showed me but didn't know anything about the specifications because "she's not into kegging". So I try to ask general questions but she keeps repeating herself that she doesn't know anything about the reg. She seemed annoyed that I was asking her questions about products they sell. When I bring up her attitude and ask if there is anyone around who can help she tells me to "chill out". We end it at that and I walk out. Too bad, because I was ready to spend money at a local merchant instead of online. Pros: -Great selection of bottling equipment -Good selection of grains / home brewing supplies -Good location if in Newark Cons: -Customer service / Employee attitude read more

After being ripped off time and again by this store and its staff, I'm never coming here again and I tell all my fellow homebrewers to avoid it at all costs: 1. Mislabeled and unlabeled grains and grain prices, as well as improperly stored and milled grains. I have had to fight their staff about grain prices nearly every time I have purchased them. 2. Unlabeled and mislabeled whole leaf hops that I was told were from 2013 but were from 2011. 3. Improper grain substitution recommendations and poorly-trained staff. I have literally had to pull out my phone and use by brew recipe app to show the staff how incorrect their recommendations are. Still no change in skill or knowledge after nearly a year. 4. Expired and improperly stored liquid and dry yeasts. Have had to re-pitch and/or re-do a starter on multiple occasions due to dead yeast. 5. Generally unhelpful, rude, and overpriced. Without some major changes to the staff and the management policies of this business, there is no way they can compete with the fast, affordable, and higher-quality online options for obtaining equipment and supplies. read more

I have been a customer of How Do You Brew for several years, and have always found the shop to be a great place for my home brewing needs. I was unaware that the store had changed hands until today, when the new owner went out of his way to help me out on a day that they were normally closed. I was unaware of their new schedule, and I did not want to intrude. I told the new owner that I was willing to come back during regular business hours, but Jason was still willing to help me with what I needed, and that alone speaks volumes about his attitude towards meeting his customer's needs and approach to customer service. Hat's off to the new ownership! read more

Great home brew shop. The new owners are fantastic. Very customer friendly. Great events like Sip and Shares and Q&A sessions. They even have some local malts and generally have the yeast and hops I'm looking for. read more

The service and selection were fantastic. As soon as I walked in, they asked if they could help me. I told them what I wanted to do and he helped me find the right recipe and then grabbed everything I needed. Couldn't have been more helpful or friendly. I will definitely be back. read more

I don't recommend this store at all. Each time I have been there I get the stink eye from the workers as if I shouldn't be there. Don't show up to the store with your own grains expecting that you can get them cracked because they have a ridiculous store policy where they refuse to crack grains from anywhere other than the store. The girl gave me the excuse that one time a guy came in with grains that weren't properly stored so it junked up the mill and they had to clean it. One time. I will never go to this store again. read more

Wow!! What a bunch of oversensitive girlie men posting reviews on YELP!! Ive been going to How Do You Brew for about a year now...great selection of grains and hops as well as equipment.....They even have classes periodically on brewing....the staff have always been very friendly and helpful...they aren't pushy but if you ask they'll help.....admittedly some staff are more knowledgeable that others...a couple times I asked questions and someone called me later to answer the questions which is fine....Overall a great place. read more

Place has a great selection of grains, hops, yeast and equipment. Never really had an issue with the service. I haven't found them overly friendly though including the owners, couldn't even get them to crack a smile. As others have said this is the type of business where you might have the novice or the veteran brewer walking through the doors and all of the employees have to be willing and knowledgeable to talk to anyone walking through the doors (now there are some that have worked here that are GREAT so not everyone is that way). Their prices are much higher than what i can get online with shipping even factoring in that I am not paying taxes in DE. Also they need to do something with their hours. They are a hobby store, most of the people walking in there i would imagine are working during the day when they have their hours. Earlier hours on Saturday (8 or 9), hours on Sunday (maybe 8-12) and later hours throughout the week would be much more beneficial that opening at 11 every day. If they were to lower their prices and improve their customer interaction mentality and change their hours, the place would be my #1 go to shop, I wouldn't even consider online. read more