The Winemaker’s Shop

I have bought products at the Winemaker’s Shop sporadically over the past few years. They have a good selection of beer making equipment and ingredients. My interactions with staff have been moderate to good. I’ll elaborate below.
I went here when I wanted to get started with homebrewing. I’d done my research online — prices, techniques, lingo, etc. I’d read Charlie Papazian’s book and was fascinated. I felt ready to jump in. The staff was eager to help me get started, and walked me through the basic equipment I’d need. I bought some hops and malt extract, and brewed a very average Brown Ale. I was ecstatic.
I’ve bought various other ingredients to make hard apple cider, apple wine, and recently a few ingredients for root beer.
Access is easy because you can park right on High St. There’s also bike parking, but usually I trust my glassware to the automobile instead.
Overall, I think this place deserves 4 stars for solid selection and above — average customer service. Great location, too!

I have shopped here for several years and every time I leave happy. The selection of equipment isn’t staggering but it’s realistic — there really is no need to have 50 different types of thermometers, for instance, if your just making sure that your wort or must is the correct temp. I have had one instance of hops being a little suspect on the freshness but it wasn’t a show stopper. Many of my friends order their equipment and grains online because of price or freshness but honestly I prefer a regular store front — where else can you meet people with the same interests and discuss potential issues all the while stocking up on stuff you need? Anyway the store is clean, the staff is very polite and very helpful. Help keep these places open and stop by!

I go here to fulfill all of my winemaking supply needs. I highly recommend this place due to it’s convenient location in the center of the city (I’ll admit I have to make a special trip because I live outside of the city) and they have everything you will need to make wine or beer. The staff is also knowledgeable and helpful and friendly.
I think the prices are fair and reasonable, although it’s hard to say because I’ve only ever bought my supplies at one other place.
If you’re making wine or beer, this is your place to get started and replenish your ingredients. Oh yeah, and replace something that you’ve broken in the process. Ouch!

The selection isn’t bad but everything is insanely overpriced

This shop is a last resort for me for home brewing supplies. I mail order most of my hops, and seem to find the hops & grain I need pretty easily around town, doing most of my shopping at Neil House or sometimes Gentiles. I struggle finding the yeast I need; it seems like yeast is the most perishable of homebrew ingredients, and the one item that is the hardest to substitute. So, I’ve had occasion to visit the Winemaker’s Shop (as I did today) specifically for yeast.
This place is more focused on wine than beer, and is wildly over-​priced. But for some reason, they seem to be better stocked, or turn inventory less rapidly, than other shops. They carry Wyeast yeast, and frequently have what I need in this department (as they did today). Based on price and selection, I wouldn’t use this location as my primary place for shopping for homebrew supplies, but in a pinch, I go here.
Also, the staff here is decidedly un-​knowledgeable about brewing. At Neil House, Patrick (a commercial brewer) will make recommendations on recipes and substitutions. At Blacklick Liquor (which sells homebrew supplies), Joe the manager is a homebrewer and can guide you some. At Gentile’s, Ryan or whoever is working the counter is most likely an experienced homebrewer and can do the same. At Winemaker’s, I feel like I am dealing with a cashier rather than an expert, and would be reluctant to take their advice if it was offered, which it never has been.
I would give this shop 1-​star, but the fact that they’ve saved my bacon a number of times, providing the missing yeast I need, merits another star.

I have been to all of the homebrew shops in the local Columbus area and none is more expensive than this one. The grain is $ 2.99 a pound no matter what you get! That is about a $ 2 more than what you normally pay for 2-​row. I had an okay interaction with a young guy in there once. Overall I would say that you are better off going to gentiles or if you can make the drive out to the east side you can save a TON of money going to Neilhouse.
Save yourself money and time and visit another place.

I have been here a few times to check out the selection, but I always end up going to Gentiles for what I need.
I’ve never felt particularly welcome here, and I don’t feel like the shop keeper know much about many of her products. I called in about some PBW and was told the price and size, when I arrived it turned out that price was for half the amount. I went back to Gentiles and got the stuff for about $ 3 less.

This shop seems decent, but it’s really expensive. I would go to Gentile’s instead – they have a wider selection of ingredients with more reasonable prices for the exact same stuff.

I am going to buck the trend here. I have been homebrewing for 2 years and have never, ever had a good experience here in 4 or 5 trips.
Grossly overpriced and general lacking in the spirit of customer service, this shop and its employees just rub me the wrong way. For some reason, it always feels like the shopkeepers are genuinely distressed to stop what they are doing and help me.
The saving graces are that it has a pretty good atmosphere and is generally well stocked. On street parking is usually packed, but at least it is free.

I read about this store on Unilocal and decided to check it out. It’s run by a very nice lady, who’s husband works at a brewpub downtown. They sell concentrate and kits for making both beer and wine and she was as helpful as could be. I’m not sure if I’ll ever get around to making my own but this would be my first stop if I do.

This is one of two local brewing stores, and the only one that is especially focused on brewing (weird, I know).
The first time I went in there was the first time I brewed. I had mistakenly bought an all grain kit from northern brewer. I explained this to the woman who was working. She looked scared for me and quickly collected a pile of things that would help me (I was set up for extract brewing). She then explained carefully how I was to prepare everything and said that if I needed help I could call them and ask questions.
The only reason I give it less than 5 stars is because it is fairly expensive. I think I paid more than 3 dollars for an airlock. Then again, one of two shops in a metro area so I guess they can afford the expense.
Friendly staff, good products, very knowledgeable.

The Winemaker’s Shop is a rarity in that they’re extremely knowledgeable and have tons of experience. It’s run by a botanist and an accomplished high profile microbrewer, and it’s been around for decades.
The shop is really easy to peruse, and the staff is friendly and extremely well informed. I’ve been to beer stores that happened to have beer brewing kits, but I never get the information I need. This is especially awesome because brewing beer and wine is the absolute focus of the business, so they can field any question you might have.

I have to admit that I’m not a homebrewer. It’s a hobby that I covet, however. I guess a combination of nervousness and laziness keep me from diving in. Even though I’m not brewing yet, I do try to visit the stores whenever I spot one — just for research’s sake.
The shop stocks starter kits as well as kits for individual beer and wine types. Of course, they have individual items like fermenting buckets, hydrometers and hops. The yeast selection is plenty varied as well.
The employee was very friendly and helpful on the day that I visited, even though she seemed pretty busy. I asked about making mead. Though she took the wind out of my sails a bit when she said it would take a year to ferment, it was a great and informative experience. When I seriously get into the hobby, I’ll be returning to The Winemaker’s Shop.

Having taken up a hobby such as homebrewing, I was looking for a local store that has a large selection of kits and other top quality supplies such as liquid yeasts and fresh grains and whole hops.
Winemaker’s shop has it all and more. The owner is very knowledgable, and helped me find the right supplies for my recipe. I ended up spending about $ 50 on my supplies (for 5 gallons, or 54 bottles, not too bad).
The location is convienant, close to 315 and broadway in clintonville.
There is another shop on w 5^th that I heard about in grandview and will check out and compare, but for now I am very happy with what they have here.