Chicagoland Winemakers

Going into a brewery or winemaking store can be a bit intimidating. You never know if the people running the business are the typical snobs associated with the hobby or just regular dudes who have a passion for brewing and have been able to turn their hobby into a livelihood. Chicago Winemakers falls under the 2^nd option. Every time I walk in there I’m greeted by Kyle and his giant goofy grin.
He loves brewing and his passion is what makes this store work. You can go in there with any brewing question, novice or expert, and he’ll have the answer and be willing to take the time to explain or demonstrate whatever is needed. Seriously, you can pop in there just to ask questions, he’ll answer them and not force you to buy anything, but then you will come back and buy stuff because he’s so accommodating.
I’ve been to other shops and have had people roll their eyes, act disinterested, or just plain ignore me as I look around, this has never happened at Winemakers, and because of the welcoming atmosphere and extensive knowledge, this is now the only place I will shop for all of my brewing needs.

Great service and had good advice for a novice! Will be back here again many times I’m sure.

I am very new to home brewing and wish I knew this resource was so close to my house.
I stopped in and they were able to help me make a recipe for my small 1 gallon setup. The staff was very helpful in answering my questions. I look forward to stepping the size of my operation up. When I do, I will be going here to get all my equipment and ingredients!

Just as fairly priced as the best on-​line shops but so much more value. the owners are never too busy to help — even when they seem like they should be too busy to help. From the most elementary question to an exhaustive knowledge of the contents of the books on their shelves — these folks are an amazing resource for all range of brewers of beer, wine or mead. It’s sad to see small stores go away as big box store of imported products take over. This is the type of place you hope never goes away. Combine friendly service, good products and well-​informed staff and you have a winner.

If you need home brewing supplies for beer or wine, this should be your go to shop. Hell, even if you just have questions about home brewing, this should be your shop.
Chicagoland Wine Makers has an impressive section of home brewing supplies combined with extensive knowledge of the brewing process. Owned by a young couple who are home brewing enthusiasts, you are always greeted with a smile when you walk into this shop. Kyle is happy to answer any questions we have, from what grain should we get to giving us a lesson on the differences between yeast types.
So if you are in the market for a new hobby or already have begun brewing at home, give this store a try for your supply needs!

I really like these guys.
They’re always very friendly and helpful. From what I understand the current owners haven’t owned the place for very long so if you went a long time ago and weren’t happy please stop by again because they do seem to be making improvements every time I stop in.
I’ve yet to stop in there and them NOT have what I was looking for which is really nice, especially when its urgent needs for brew day. One trip the male owner (don’t know his name) even gave me some of his beer and let me know what he brewed it with.
I don’t know their names but both of them seem to know beer making pretty well. I really like stopping in for Hops and Yeast since those are two items I really don’t like having shipped.
At the end of the day they’re probably my favorite local homebrew shop simply due to location, large stock, knowledge, and their friendliness.

Went back last Thursday. Picked up ingredients for a Rye PA and for a golden ale. I plan to add fruit to the latter.
Once again, Kyle was fantastic. Paid attention throughout my visit. Put together two recipes on the spot based on what I said I was looking for. I haven’t made a bad batch yet after shopping here, and am really looking forward to how these two turn out.

Chicagoland Winemakers was a blessing for me today – they had exactly what I wanted in stock, in addition to a host of other goodies.
I went to another homebrew supply today to pick up an extra couple of airlocks (the second most important piece of brewing equipment next to the freakin’ bucket!) and they were out! So, after leaving said store, I called up Chicagoland Winemakers and the person I spoke to actually chuckled when I asked if they had airlocks in stock – and justifiably so – they had about 200 of them!
So, in addition to picking up the airlocks and grommets, I picked up all the ingredients I needed to make an English IPA. I had a great experience and the guy that was there was very helpful in selecting the right hops and yeast to go with the extracts I purchased to optimize the flavors.
Needless to say, I WILL be coming back to Chicagoland Winemakers, especially without the fear of needing to call ahead for the most basic supplies, unlike at said other store…

Granted I’ve not been to any other LHBS but this one seems to have something new every time I visit, which is about every week or so. My guess is they started with the wine and slowly moved into beer, but the beer selection/​supplies always seems to be expanding– kudos for that.
The prices are VERY reasonable and the staff is extremely helpful, knowledgeable and nice. I’d like to see some sorghum syrup there but that’s doubtful… maybe I’ll try to talk them into it next visit :)
If you want to get into homebrewing, head here and talk to the guys, they will help and set you up.

I started home brewing about a year ago. I had wanted to since collage, and I decided to take the Hopy plunge. I was going to order online, but I since I had never brewed before I kind of wanted to actually see what I was buying.
I went to Chicagoland Winemakers, and the man working there was very helpful. He set me up with a Deluxe Kit, a 5 gallon stock pot, 48 beer bottles, and a English pale Ale kit. My bill came out to be around $ 230 from what I remember.
It’s nice having a home brew store instead of always ordering online. Sometimes you just need one or two things and you don’t want to pay for the shipping. Or, it’s brew or bottling day and you realize that you are missing something: bottle caps, priming sugar, your air lock is missing. It’s nice just to run to the store and get what you need.

Possibly the best and most reasonably priced home brew shops in the area. When it comes to brewing supplies, this shop seems to have it all.
The staff is very helpful and knowledgeable. They were able to answer all of my questions as well as give a good deal of practical advice. Pricewise, this shop beats the competition on most supplies.