Mainbrew — Restaurant in Hillsboro

Main Brew has a great selection of grain, yeast, equipment, and cold beer ready to drink! However, I went to this establishment to buy ingredients for a 3 gallon batch and was at one point talking to an employee about the diversity of grain and yeast, the conversation got pretty in depth, and we talked a while, roughly 20 minutes. That is until the owner or manager (don't know which, but my gut says owner) comes over and right in front of us (no discretion at all!) basically says "forget this guy, he is only buying a 3 gallon batch worth of grain and one packet of yeast... so stop talking to him. We got orders to fill" at this point the worker is clearly in trouble, hangs his head low, and gives me the cold shoulder from thereafter whereas prior we were really clicking, he was imparting vast knowledge on me, I was very grateful, and really digging Main Brew. So basically I feel that this place has great selection, great staff... but unfortunately a money hungry, let's move lots and lots of grain, but disregard community, and disregard the art of the brew type of boss. The soulless feeling of “all that matters is the money” emanating from the owner hit me hard and has been really bothering me for weeks now. I won't name any of the other brew shops around town but at these other places I have always felt a part of a community that appreciated the art of the brew first and was happy to make money only second. Keep Portland Weird, keep people like the boss man at Main Brew from bastardizing our diverse and vibrant brew community where we look out for each other, converse with one another, learn together, and grow together. I partly came to this city for the beer culture, years ago. It has since grown vastly which is awesome but let us please push back against those who want to rob it of its genuine worth and...

Did business with him ONCE. Never again. I wrote to Kevin the owner disagreeing with something on his web site. Instead of being respectful, he told me "that's your opinion and nothing more". Yes true, but a very rude response.

I visited his store once. Went in to buy some yeast. Almost nothing had a price on it. I asked him why? He said to ask him if I want to know. Seriously? What if stores did that? Just scan everything. No Kevin, I'm not going to ask how much every item costs.

Of the few items with a price tag, he is more expensive than any other place I have gone to, except Steinbarts. I asked him why the prices were so high? I expected an answer telling me his shipping or rent went up. No. Instead he told me if I don't like the prices, go somewhere else. I definitely will, but I expected a more professional answer.

I have gone to Brew Brothers many times and the owners have told me that numerous customers have complained about how rude, condescending, and arrogant Kevin was to them. I recently went to a welding shop for CO2, he mentioned Main Brew, and I explained my experience. The employee agreed and said he will no longer deal with them because of the rude owner.

For those who say "I've never had a problem with him", just because you haven't does not invalidate...

Ok, I read the one star review and can only assume that he either went to another homebrew shop and got them confused, or he works for one of the other ones in Portland and is worried folks will travel to Hillsboro just to buy there.

I first started brewing back in 1997. I bought the initial equipment from some place in Tigard because I didn't know Main Brew was nearby. I have bought nowhere else ever since.

Kevin is the most knowledgeable brewmeister I have even met. He is infinitely patient with everyone - seriously the guy is a rock. I've watched his place be filled to the brim and he never was once short with anyone. Ever. And I've been going there 17 years.

Most conversations with him is usually me having a vague idea of what I want to brew, and he runs with that - walking me through exactly what grains, extracts, hops, and yeast I need to do the job. I have never made a bad batch when I follow his lead. He'll point you to the right equipment to do the job, depending on how meticulous you want to be. He won't try to sell you anything you don't need.

Seriously, the guy loves his job and it shows. He...