Bader Beer & Wine Supply

The folks here are very helpful and more interested in you getting a good brew than them making a quick sale.
Case in point: I showed up to buy some yeast. I mentioned off-​hand that my wine must had yet to begin fermenting after 24 hours. They suggested giving it another 24 hours to be sure, and recommended performing an acid test if nothing happened. They said I could buy a testing kit or bring in a sample for analysis.
I brought in a small sample the next day, and they did the testing for free and found that my acid level was too low — after a quick calculation, they suggested how much to add and which acid they thought was best-​suited to my wine. They also explained exactly how they were testing and what the tests revealed.
I did as they said, and within eight hours my must was happily bubbling away. They could have easily sold me yeast or testing equipment I didn’t need, but instead made sure I was able to get my wine going with minimal difficulties. I got the same great treatment from every employee I interacted with. I’ll definitely be back here when it’s time for bottling.

Very genuine and helpful people. We choose this place over others (which means a lot when you have an option to go across the river and not pay sales tax), because they will go out of their way to help you.

I was a frequent home brewer and a very frequent customer of Bader, then I took about a 10 year break. Getting back into brewing I visited Bader for supplies. The high prices took my breath away.

I’ve been a customer of Baders for years. Whether a it’s parts for my kegerator or ingredients for my latest batch of beer this is the only place I shop.
Their staff are exceptionally knowledgable on beer making and if you don’t know what you are doing they will gladly talk you through the process and help you out with everything you need. If you go In Knowing what you need they are cool with that too.
These people are truly passionate about the craft and it shows.
They also have supplies for cheese making here so when I finally adopt that hobby I know where to find the stuff for it.

$ 2.50 — $ 3 – 00 for an once of hops? $ 1.09 a lb. for plain olé domestic 2-​row malt? I guess when you’re the only store in town you can charge what the market will bear. Much better prices and selection at a couple of stores in Hillsboro.

We have spoken to 3 or 4 different employees here, and all of them are nice, friendly, and knowledgeable. They did not pressure us to buy the whole store or steer us at all.
If other stores in Portland are so much better than Bader’s like the other poster said, they must be awesome, cuz Bader’s is top notch.

I moved here three years ago from out of state and I was excited to have a local brew supply store in Vancouver. I have visited Bader three times, each time I get told what I need and if I disagree with them I get an attitude and they walk away from me. I thought the first time may have just been a bad day or their help was over zealous trying to be to helpful. I ask for a certain yeast or certain equipment and I get told that I don’t need what I’m asking for, I get told…“what you need is this”…they treat everyone as idiots and that you can’t possibly know what they know! Very frustrating. I have to agree with the other posts that they don’t know as much as they think they do and their attitudes are that they are god’s gift to brewing. I’ve been making wine and beer for fifteen years, I’ve worked in commercial wineries as an assitant winemaker to learn the hobby from professionals, I know what I’m doing. I still get told by their novice help that I’m doing things wrong or that the equipment I’m using can’t possibly work for what I’m doing. It’s time to go to Portland or on line for my supplies.

My wife and I went here to start to learn to brew beer. The 3 hour class was fun and the guys are super helpful. They offer tons of recipes and tips for your brewing enjoyment. They also have supplies for making Wine, Beer, Cheese, and Liquor.

I came here a couple times when I started brewing, on my first visit yeah I’m a rookie but I read about and drink my share of beers, the manager tells me I don’t want to buy the equipment I tell him I’m there to buy (bad for business but ok). Their selection for grains, hops, yeast, and hardware is absolutely Spartan. Add all this to the attitude I received (believe me know what kind of beer I want to make and I make it now that I go to real brewshops) this is a brewshop for people who are willing to take somebody elses advice and make substandard beer, the worst shop in Portland is twice as good as Baders.

Attended a beginners home brew class here instructed by Professor Tom and Dr. J.P. These guys did a great job of not only explaining the initial process, but demonstrating that there’s an instant camaraderie between people who have an interest in this hobby. It truly felt that they were genuinely happy to share their knowledge and welcomed any and all questions. Plus, they shared some excellent home brew with the class.
As far as the store goes, it seems to be mecca for home brewers, but granted I haven’t been to many home brew supply stores. Still I was impressed with all that they had to offer for not only home brewing, but wine and cheese making as well. They offer classes on both if I recall correctly.
I see many trips to Bader’s in my future.

Upon realizing that Homebrew Exchange doesn’t carry enough strains of yeasts, I made a call to Bader Beer and Wine Supply (since Steinbart’s was closed). After an awkward conversation in which the Bader owner/​employee BSed me a bit about yeast strains (trying to sell me on the wrong product), I realized there was a strain at Bader that I could use, so I drove all the way to Vancouver, bought it, and went home to make a yeast starter. By the time (days later) when I realized my starter was unusually weak, and needed longer than I could give it, I looked at the vial and… Bader sold me expired yeast.
So, they lie to customers and bully them into buying the wrong products, and they sell expired yeast.
I will never go to this craphole again.

This guys know their stuff, Advice is free and supplies are ample. Wouldn’t have learned how to brew if it wasn’t for these guys. Steve runs a great shop and a solid crew.

Stopped in last evening around 5pm. Busy with perhaps 6 – 8 customers but only 1 person helping everyone. My wife tasted several of the wines that can be made from kits and decided to order one. They did the base mixing, she did a little stirring and on October 9^th she’ll go in to bottle and label 30 bottles of her wine.
I also bought some materials to make home made rootbeer. Plastic bottles and caps, a funnel and some yeast with some instructions from the lone worker.
Nice selection and friendly service. I made beer years ago and found Bader’s to be a good place to stop by and pick up supplies.
Give it a try!

Beer and wine making supplies and advice. Each full and part time employee is a home brewer. Regularly scheduled three hour classes, during which they brew a batch, limited to 12 students.