Brew & Grow

I called before I headed out: They claimed that they did do CO2 refills.
However, after getting there (it’s in a shitty area that’s a paint to get to)… they claimed that they didn’t do CO2 refills and that they only do an exchange program. (Basically they are a middle man for doing CO2 refillls).
For someone that claims to be there for brewing, you should be able to handle that need. I’ll take the not so convenient hours of NFC (whom are awesome) rather than these guys.

Enjoyed a terrific home brew class and learned a ton about ingredients, process, tasting and more. Pretty amazing how 20 people can taste the same beer at the same time and have so many different descriptions for it. Good beer is an amazing beverage, but my heart still holds closer to hard cider, as a tastier and healthier lifestyle choice.
We look forward to taking an advanced home brew course in 2016.

Great selection of yeast, malt and hops, but the staff seems annoyed/​bothered to even just ring up your purchases. It seems like there is nobody in charge, and the inmates are running the asylum.

Amazing selection of kegging equipment! We needed a specific keg part and they had it! They also have bulk grain that you can weigh out so there’s no worry of having random bags of grain leftover from a batch! The guys are super friendly too! I had an issue with my bike and they even took a minute to look at it! Also, when we came by today, they offered us free beer samples!

Great store, great selection, friendly staff. I had been to a location out in Roselle, as well. Props for both locations.
I’m a newbie home brewer, starting with something as simple as cider. Until recently I acquired my brewing equipment online, but I got sick of the shipping costs. A lot of the equipment at this store were actually cheaper than ordering online anyway. My most recent visit was to purchase a mini auto siphon and some tubing. The total cost was a little more than half what I would have paid online. From now on I will have to make a trip out.
They do have a great selection of supplies for brewing as well as growing (as the name so cleverly implies). I noticed a great selection of hops and ingredients for beer and wine, fermenting jugs and carboys, bottling equipment. One of these days I may take part in a brewing class that they offer, or learn more about gardening and take advantage of their growing gear.
Out of the corner of my eye I also spotted a cheese making kit. As I have delved briefly into cheese making, I will have to check that out, as well.

I’ve been here twice. The first time was to attend the Advanced Homebrewing Class, so I’ll start with that.
The instructor, who’s name I forget, was clearly very knowledgeable. I definitely learned a lot in the 4 hours I was there. The place is big and sometimes it was difficult to hear him even when standing a few feet away though. They could use a mic or he should project his voice just a little more. I would also have liked more hard copy instruction to take home. He said he would email the class some stuff and never did. But overall, worth the $ 30 bucks.
My second visit was to buy some stuff for my first homebrew. This is where I felt some feels. It was intimidating, and I really wanted someone to ask if I needed help. They did not.
So I approached someone after about 20 minutes. That person was Hailey. She was rad. I am sure I came off as a little neurotic because I was nervous I wasn’t getting the right stuff and my brew would be a disaster. But she was a great help.
The 3 star rating is because they didn’t want to change the mill setting and I was told in class that it’s something they will in fact do. I use brew in a bag and would have liked a bit finer grind. Also, they could use a little extra help while a workshop is in session. Hailey helps with that so her time is split, and the other two folks were busy the entire time I was there.
In conclusion, beer.

A great place to find everything for your home brewing needs.
My husband and i came here to find some materials for my brother-​in-​law, who is pretty serious about his home-​brewing. We had no trouble finding what we needed, and the staff is always happy to help you or answer any questions you might have.
One thing we never noticed before — this place doesn’t sell glassware. We were looking for some glasses to include in my brother-in-law’s gift, and we had to go elsewhere.

If you’re just beginning with either brewing or growing this is a decent place to start. But anyone industrious and innovative enough to get into these endeavors can save a lot of money purchasing these things as good or better quality online without paying exorbitant mark ups, plus 9.25% sales tax. You also get a much better return policy with companies online. B&G is caught between being a wHolesale warehouse and a niche specialty shop. Worst of both worlds– the look of the former and cost of the latter. Standard barley grains should never cost that much!

Great one stop for brewing supplies. Their prices are comparable to places online and you don’t have to pay shipping, which can get expensive with glass carboys and cans of malt extract. They were out of the kit that I had wanted but suggested another that was similar. They also let me know when the one I had wanted would be in, if I wanted to come back. They also had helpful suggestions with regards to wine clarifying agents. Other reviewers commented that the staff are indifferent. I didn’t experience that but they weren’t proactive although they had suggestions and offered help if asked. You’d expect a laid back atmosphere from a beer and grow store. I can’t comment on the ‘Grow’ part of the business, but the selection looked extensive.

This place is great whether u make big batches or small they got grains extracts even a binder of clone recipes. But the big inventory is the only reason one should come here. As a new brewer they were not helpful, no enthusiasm, nothing i was left to fend for myself. Brewing is a art that a place like this should embellish with its customers, but this place is strictly retail! They way they have the grains set up is pretty much self serve which is cool, but good luck getting anything out of the employees. The workers would rather sit at the counter drink thier own beer and play candy crush then to help customers! Unlike northshore brewing these guys never offered samples and seem to know little about brewing themselves. I will only come here if I must!

The best local shop for grabbing all of your brewing supplies.
Sassafras, syphons, strainers, sweet malt extracts, super hops, savory strains of yeast, and supplemental supplies superimposed on special pamphlets stapled to the cork board near the salida.
They even have soda syrups.
Sample some of their several in-​store brews. Yep… free samples. Burp.
The guys are kind and not as snobby as some of the other locations I’ve been to recently. But they do not cater to nano or pico brewers. Their gear is more for the larger format home-​brewers… 20 quarts or more.
Tell them you brew one-​gallon batches and they kind-​of snicker. But that’s my deal. Small, inexpensive, quick. It is such a satisfying hobby. No big, expensive equipment. Plus I can brew several types of beer without giving up my basement.
I’m hooked.

Staff is awesome and eager to answer and questions you may have! I just took their advanced homebrew course and learned so much. Prices are very reasonable as well! Thanks so much guys!

Great place! Much larger selection than my local stores in Columbus Ohio. The shop on Addison has a much better selection than the one in Schaumburg FYI — go there if you can.
The setup they have to select and weigh your grain is really awesome! A personal cart with a scale and a bucket. I felt like a kid in a candy store. Fairly priced as well. Will definitely return for the advanced all grain class.

I’m not the beer brewing expert in my party, but when I was handed my half of a shopping list, I found nearly everything on there without much trouble at all. They had plenty of ideas about hops substitutions as well!
Mostly I love this place because the people that work there are so darn friendly and laid-​back (I know, I know). We once arrived after doors had been locked – missed it by one minute – and they warmly let us in anyway, offering us a sample of beer on the way out. All around, good form!

This place is awesome! They have everything you need to make beer as well as wine, cheese, pop etc, plus a good selection of quality gardening supplies. Everyone that works there is really friendly, and extremely helpful. I always leave feeling good about what (beer) I’m gonna make.

My first visit to Brew & Grow was to pick up some supplies for brewing a porter with a close friend. I’ve read a few books on home brewing, but not a lot of specifics– and the staff is super helpful and not condescending in a way I was a little worried they would be. The selection is top notch– they have everything for novice brewers to professionals and serious hobbyists hanging in between. Lots of variety, fair prices, and great staff.
The five stars really comes from the free Intelligentsia, though. Genius move.

If you «square foot garden» this is the only place, that I am aware of, in Chicago proper, that sells vermiculite in a large volume (4 cu. ft. for $ 19). Vermiculite is a critical component of «Mel’s Mix» when gardening with raised beds. The alternative, perlite, floats and is not nearly as good as vermiculite– although they carry that product as well.
They sell worm castings too, kudos guys!

What a cool place.
Went there to get some beer brewing lessons as a gift and discovered all sorts of other options including some nice cheese making kits. Helpful staff.
Everything you could imagine for home brewing options — other indoor hobby items as well.

This place is amazing. Clean, well-​stocked with amazing products, friendly, knowledgeable staff. You can’t go wrong. This is the perfect place to stock up on brewing and growing (right?) necessities for both the novice and the expert.
I fall into the novice category, so at first it was a little overwhelming, but I found something incredibly exciting (to me)…a cheesemaking kit! I’ve been wanting to make my own cheese for about 10 years, but out of either sheer laziness, I haven’t gotten around to it. I purchased a kit to make cheddar, mozzarella, gouda, feta, colby, ricotta, you name it! It came with all the ingredients necessary. The only thing was that the fellow who rang me up forgot to give me the refrigerated bits, the veg rennet, meso/​thermophilic cultures. No big deal. Stopped by a few days later and picked them up with no hassle.
I will most definitely be back.

I went to the old location, before they moved.
I didn’t get any of the pretension people mentioned. Though I was trying to grow and not brew. I needed lights to start some seeds indoors, for a garden. I felt like I was the only one who went here not to grow pot though. I asked about lighting systems and they had a lot of info, just not in my price range. I ended up getting some clamp lights at menards for way cheaper and everything seems to have worked. The plastic trays here were more expensive as well, and they didn’t have the peat pellets in any sizable quantity. the plastic pots were an okay price though.
Can’t see why I’d come back.