What Ale’s Ya

I’ve Ben going here for a few years now. These guys are great. They know their stuff and then some. They helped me get started with home brewing and are always happy to answer any questions you might have and help with any problems that arise.
Every time I come in here I feel like I walk out knowing something new.

The first time I went in my immediate impression was how condescending the guy behind the counter was. He introduced himself as Chuck — the owner. What Ale’s Ya is the closest local home brew store to me, so I went back a few more times and usually dealt with Chuck. He proved to be just as condescending and insulting every time and it always ended up being an unpleasant experience so I quit going. I’d rather pay a little more for shipping, wait a little longer for things to arrive, or drive a little further down the road and NOT have an unpleasant degrading experience.
I happened to be driving by the other day and thought of something I needed. It was a small item, I knew exactly what it was — I figured I could just run in and grab it without engaging in any small talk, making eye contact, or giving Chuck any non-​verbal signals that would allow him an opportunity to make it known how ignorant he thinks I am and how frustrating it is for [HIM] to have to put up with me.
I grabbed the item, placed it on the counter and it came to something like $ 1.95. I opened my wallet and had no cash so I pulled out my debit card. Chuck huffed loudly and said, «You don’t have a dollar ninety-​five? Not even in your ash tray?» I laughed it off and pretended I thought he was just kidding around, but I knew he wasn’t. As he was ringing the item up he continued to whine and gripe about how it costs him 60 cents every time he has to run a card. I got tired of listening to his problems and if I didn’t need the item I would have just told him to keep it and walked out. But I DID need it so I said, «You can just add the 60 cents to my card.» He responded, «I tried doing that before, it just pisses people off.» He handed me the receipt and said with a great big disingenuous smile, «That’s okay, I like selling things and not making a profit.»
So I’ve decided I don’t want to be the reason What Ale’s Ya is not making a profit. I can get 90% of what I need online and if I do need something in a pinch, I’ll just have to suck it up and drive the 35 miles out of my way to my NSLHBS, (not so local home brew store). I love this new hobby so I plan on spending money and investing in it every month. Fortunately, as a consumer I get to choose where I spend that money; based partly on price — but more importantly on service.

Duuuuuuuude! you have to come here! some of best customer service I’ve experienced! everyone here is super cool. Chuck is definitely the man though! came here kind of aggravated from having problems locating a leak on my CO2 tank, and he did nothing but give me great advice that helped out tremendously! thank you, man! will definitely be back!

Great store, Chuck the owner is very helpful and communicative when it comes to designing recipes and assisting new home brewers. The guy in all the bad reviews is not there any longer just so every one knows, however aside of his attitude the guy was pretty intelligent. Both Chuck and Tim were very helpful many years ago when I started brewing helping me get into contact with the right people to get get some brewery hours to learn which then led to me brewing for both BJ’s and Sun Up. So a lot of the credit goes to this store! Check out a brew out in the back, taste some local home brewers beers and watch how they brew (I should now be attending most) and myself as well as all the other brewers are always more than happy to answer questions or help you learn. Definitely snub the past reviews and get yourself in there.

Still fairly new to the homebrewing thing. I had brewed a few extract batches and want to make the jump to all-​grain. From the moment I walked in the door, the owner and his crony were extremely condescending and tried their best to convince me I had no idea what I was doing. Instead of answering my questions, they tried to quiz me to test my homebrewing knowledge and scoffed when I didn’t know who founded the homebrewer’s association. I was profiled as a young kid who didn’t know anything; maybe if you’re over 30, they’ll be helpful? I’m certain that they just wanted to make an extract kit sale. From now on, I’ll drive out of my way to The Brewer’s Connection.

I love supporting my LHBS. Chuck the owner is a really nice guy and is very knowledgeable. I highly recommend this place if you make beer, wine or cheese.

I always hear about «supporting your LHBS,» but this place is overpriced, even when accounting for shipping charges. I spent about double the online price for an 8oz bottle of starsan when I realized I’d run out on a brew day. The staff are also rude /​condescending. I went in looking for PET caps once and got grilled with questions, to which I explained that glass is not allowed in parks. He asked me why I can’t bring something else and I had to tell him I’m not looking for advice and it’s not up to him to decide if I should drink commercial beer or my own beer when I choose to go hiking or go to the pool.

Went here 2 weeks ago because I got a beer starter kit and wanted to see what all I needed to get a batch going and plus I needed to buy bottles and caps. When I went into the store the man with the grey handle bar mustache was pretty insulting right off the bat. I said to them, hey I got this beer brewing kit from Target and he stopped me right there and said, «Ya a Mr. Beer, I am familiar with it» in a very condescending attitude. Before I could even ask another questions he continued by saying, «Let me say you are going to get mediocre beer at best, OK beer. We here are brewing the best beer on the planet if you want to brew good beer you need to get something different, but a Mr. Beer is an ok place to start to see if you like it.» I was pretty insulted by this and at that point didn’t want to spend a dime at that store but I really needed the bottles and the were the only local place I knew I could by them and the cappers. Well one case of bottles (24) and one manual capper and 400 bottle caps was over $ 40. So not only did I get poor service, but it cost an arm and a leg.
I have already bottled one batch and started brewing another. This time I was smart and went on online and was able to get 1 lb of priming sugar ($ 6.99), 1 case of bottles and caps (16.99) and it was less than $ 30 shipped to my door.
I really wanted to be able to support local business like this but with this type of attitude it is hard. Hopefully they will realize that if you want to be successful you are going to need to be a little more welcoming to the newbies because they are the future of your business.

Okay everyone, I’ve been doing business with these guys for a little over a year now and have done quite a bit of business with them. So you’re probably asking why 4 stars and not 5? Well they don’t deserve a 5.
As you read through the rest of these reviews, there’s a person in this store with a little bit of an attitude. The old man and chuck are cool and willing to help, especially when you grow balls and start experimenting with new recipes or need help.
I continue to go back because these 2 guys. I also like small business and the personal touch to that business. I am like some people on here though. I have tinkered with the idea of doing business online as I really don’t like the snobbish attitude of the one guy that works there sometimes.
Overall they normally have what you need.
Hope this helps.

Just started making my own beer. Man, if I could just hang out in that store all day I could learn so much. Chuck, the owner is very knowledgeable and happy to help a beginner such as myself. I will be back for sure.

My Father-​in-​law and I went in yesterday for some last minute supplies for my very first brew day. Everyone was very helpful. Looking forward to future business here.

Great customer service and very knowledgeable. If your an expert our a beginner like I am this place has what you need. I’ll definitely be back!

I don’t know who the young fat guy is with the Mohawk is (who hasn’t realized he’s not in high school anymore), but he has drawn the last straw for this buyer. I have been in there four times now and dealt with him, and gotten nothing but snobbish attitude from him. Chuck, the owner, is always helpful, but unfortunately is not there a lot.
The problem with home brewing, and buying supplies for such, is that occasionally you run into these people. They have all the knowledge and don’t feel that they should share that knowledge with up and comers. That guy is exactly that type of person, and the one reason I will be going elsewhere from now on. Today he actually had the nerve to say «We don’t recommend that, but if you want, we’ll always make a sale.»
Very disappointed.
They have all the supplies you could need for home brewing, and as long as you get Chuck or the other older guy you will be fine, and even have a great experience. That fat young guy is zero help and should be in an unemployment line with all the other delinquents.

Just had a terrible experience with the chubby kid with freckles. Went to purchase a beer brewing kit that he tried to overcharge me on. When I asked why my total was so high, he responds with it is higher in the system. When asked about honoring the price that was clearly marked on the item, I was told that he «wasn’t going to drop the price because of somebody’s finger slip». I chose not to buy the item and he was a total asshole to me with his genius responses such as «awesome man» and «fine with me». Sounds like these people should reevaluate who they hire on.
FYI: they work on at least a 100% markup (confirmed) so the «mismarked» price would have still been profitable by quite a bit. I would have purchased if it wasn’t for the pompous attitude of the staff.
Recommendation: do yourself a favor and find another shop/​source

I just moved to Surprise, AZ 2 weeks ago and was needing supplies and was tired of mail order (waiting for it to come, what if i forgot something, shipping costs, etc) so I drive the 20 minutes to what ale’s ya.
GREAT SHOP! I have met Chuck and another older gentlemen the two times I went in in the last two days. They are knowledgeable, friendly and their selection is fantastic for grains, hops and yeast. Their prices are good if you factor in shipping from online as many don’t offer that for free anymore and they crush the grain for you if you do all grain extremely well! I do Brew in a Bag and got 85% efficiency from their crush!
Their smaller equipment like carboys, various supplies and hydrometers are reasonable priced and are of good quality. I am in the military and they give a 10% discount which is huge for a small locally owned business. They have been in the area for 16 years and with their combination of price, customer service and selection I see them being there for a long time. I can’t wait to go back for my next purchase!

Chuck is awesome! Extremely helpful, kind and will talk to you and help you experiment with new brews. The store has everything you need. It is more expensive than online, but when you get to talk with Chuck, it makes it well worth the extra price, plus it keeps my money local. The 3 stars is because every time I am in there and am helped by one of Chuck’s other employees, they are abrasive and talk to me like brewing beer is beneath me. I have friends who brew who’ve experienced the same thing there. I really want to keep shopping locally, but I’d rather not deal with that type of treatment. Chuck, as much as we enjoy shopping with you and keeping it local, we hope you get some better help soon so we can continue.

I hate to be the first place to not love this place, but hear me out. I have been in here a few times recently as I am new to home brewing and I am getting quickly addicted. I don’t know nearly as much as I would like to on the subject, but I can’t be the only newbie walking into this store.
The first time I walked into this store I had a great experience, however this most recent visit was less then satisfying. The gentleman that was helping me seemed very knowledgable but very abrasive. Every question I asked seemed like a burden to him. I appreciate local business and I truly want to support them, but I would rather order my supplies online then deal with the trouble of feeling stupid in the store.

I’ve been buying my home brewing supplies here for years. They have everything you need to brew beer, make wine and even make your own cheese! I’m looking forward to making cheese.
The best part about this place is the owner, Chuck. The guy is a wealth of information on brewing beer and wine and will spend as much time as you need discussing supplies, techniques, Harley’s, the weather or anything else.
Support your local business and quit drinking bad beer, head on over to What Ales Ya today!

Located on the south side of the street next door to the PepBoys.
Chuck is very friendly and knowledgable. The prices are also fairly competitive. There are tons of Brewers Best kits available as well as fresh grains, yeasts, and most equipment you can think of.
If you are thinking about brewing come check this place out. If you already brew and order everything off line come and pay a visit to a real nice LHBS.

I love beer so I started brewing beer. For something like brewing beer I figured and heard that it is worth going to a local homebrew store and getting the down low. What Ales Ya is the closest store to my house about 30 minutes each way. The drive is completely worth it as all other posts here point out.
We were greeted as we came in and once I let them know I wanted to start brewing beer their excitement level grew. They walked me though every aspect of brewing the brew kit I wanted to do (Hop Nog 2010) and even talked me out of going glass.
I posted about my first brewing experience here and will update as the process continues.