What Ale's Ya — Attraction in Phoenix

I firmly believe in supporting local Mom and Pop businesses and I’ve held off writing this for 3 weeks so I wasn’t just responding emotionally. My wife and are long time customers and benefited greatly from Chuck’s experience as we assembled our brewing supplies (all from What Ale’s Ya). We evolved from kits to to partials, all the while adding more fermenters, corny kegs, taps, a CO2 set up, hoses, equipment, parts, supplies and ingredients. We even met, and spent an afternoon with Adam, Allie and family at one Chuck’s Christmas parties where we shared our brews. We had brewed a Stone Cali-Belgique knock-off which Adam really liked and he introduced us the the art of quick cooling that he had rigged. When Chuck told us he was selling to them, we were thrilled! Fast forward…Covid…building a new house…. moving to Surprise… we are finally gearing up to start brewing again. We have a whole room dedicated and sadly unused.

3 weeks ago, was my best friends 50th birthday. He rented an Airbnb to accommodate family and friends from all over. He purchased a keg of Warsteiner from Total Wines not realizing that he needed an A System Tap Coupler (heck, neither did I!) He called me in a panic as he was trying to hook it up to the kegerator we had given him, and we determined what the problem was. Guests were on their way and I told him I had his back. I contacted Total Wines and they only had hand pump adapters and recommended What Ale’s Ya. Perfect! Problem solved! I love What Ale’s Ya!

When I got to What Ale’s Ya, there was only one person working and a line to the door. I felt for the poor guy and even let a couple of customers in front of me so I could have his complete attention. I explained my situation and told him that I needed an A System Tap Coupler desperately. He and I walked over to the wall where they have the couplers in boxes and there were none available. While I had been waiting patiently, I had noticed that they had several opened couplers sitting on a shelf between the register and the Yeast cooler. I asked him if there was an A System coupler there? He said, “Yes, but they aren’t for sale.” I told him I was a long time customer who’s referred many other customers and asked him to check with Adam. He called Adam and after some resistance got permission to sell it to me, “as is, at full retail, out of the box, on a shelf and with no promise that it even worked.” He handed it to me and said, “Here it is, but there are no returns. If it doesn’t work, we will help you with the parts to make it work, but you can’t return it because it doesn’t work.” Other than sitting on a shelf with an $89 price tag and looking unused and with no other choice to help my friend out, I agreed and bought it.

I drove back to the party in North Phoenix and prepared to get the Octoberfest pouring! It wasn’t an A System coupler! I don’t even know if it worked or not! It flat out wasn’t what it was told it to be! Needless to say, this was a big disappointment and other beer choices had to be made.

Later that week, my wife went to speak with Adam and Allie, who were now both there, and explained what had happened. I wasn’t there and can’t speak for their tone, but it didn’t go well. My wife felt very disrespected and they finally agreed to “give” us a store credit for their error. Needless to say, I am enormously disappointed in how this whole thing went down. I will use up our credit and then I will never refer anyone, or take my business there again. What were they thinking?! Why would they burn a...

Great! I have been extract brewing on my own for while, and decided to go to the beginning extract brewing class on 15 January 2023. I was in town for a few days from Alaska, from a small town without a brew store. I am absolutely overjoyed with the class. The owner is knowledgeable, very friendly, answered every question. It was good to verify the things I knew, and learned a lot that I didn't know. The class took us from beginning to end, in an understandable way. For the absolute beginner, go to this class and you will have the confidence to start brewing that same day. For those that have brewed some before, you will learn a lot. Best 25 bucks I've spent in a long time. The store is small and friendly, everything you need to start brewing is there. They even put recipe kits together to get you going. Even if you don't brew your own, go to this class. It's like a live show of "How It's Made " you might find yourself with new hobby. 100 percent awesome! The instructors enthusiasm shines through, BONUS, he...

I would recommend this store, they are very helpful! I was trying to get my new CO2 5lb tank refilled, 99% of places only exchange the tank not refill it! I have brand new tank (shiney) and did not want a exchange one (ugly looking) I called the shop and Spoke to Roger and asked the question.... do you refill or exchange CO2 tanks? his reply was we fill them with the best quality CO2 - (beverage quality) I said geat! will see you soon. I arrived about 20 mins later to be met by Roger and he was very helpful and helped me out. the gentleman that filled my tank was also great he explained the born date of my tank 9/17 and filled it. i asked about a washer for the tank and he gave me 2 and told me they were reusable, great service all round...would recommend this place 100% let's keep local...