[babalu87]

Thread on Beer Advocate

http://beeradvocate.com/forum/read/2970833

This will really raise my brewing costs if they stop selling in bulk to homebrewer clubs

Quote:
We recently acquired Brewcraft and intend to open up other distribution points in the near future.

However, we appreciate the continued business our loyal homebrew customers have given us. With that being said we intend to continue to make our current product line available to our current home brew accounts but we will not be accepting new home brew customers. Homebrew customers who have done business with North Country Malt Supply and Mid Country Malt Supply over the past 12 months can place orders by calling our toll free number (NC: 888-368-5571 - MC: 866-428-1438) or by e-mailing: orders@northcountrymalt.com.

Thank you for your continued support.

Kelly J. Kuehl - Director of Sales
The Country Malt Group

[theDarkSide]

Boy am I glad I just placed my first order with them about a month ago.

[tygo]

Ouch.  I hope they don't discontinue it completely at some point, even for those who have ordered in the past.  Just got a new sack of MO and a pound of hallertauer mittelfreuh pellets from them the other week.

[Hokerer]

Ouch.  I hope they don't discontinue it completely at some point, even for those who have ordered in the past.  Just got a new sack of MO and a pound of hallertauer mittelfreuh pellets from them the other week.

Yeah, let's hope they don't discontinue in the future.  Guess I'll need to order a sack every 6 months to keep things active.

[bluesman]

I'm not sure I understand the reasoning behind this decision.

Probably $$$.

That's a loss for the homebrewing community.  

[dhacker]

A definite loss to NCM.

Goodwill is priceless . . .

[bobburchler]

I'm not sure I understand the reasoning behind this decision.

Probably $$$.

That's a loss for the homebrewing community.  

They're protecting their distributors, which is very common practice.

[babalu87]

I'm not sure I understand the reasoning behind this decision.

Probably $$$.

That's a loss for the homebrewing community.  

They're protecting their distributors, which is very common practice.

No, but they are becoming distributors.
The only homebrew shop they were ever associated is one in Maryland.  Hopefully they will still allow full pallet orders, otherwise I'll have to incoorperate my homebrew name

[hamiltont]

I'd say their acquisition of BrewCraft pretty much sums it up.  BrewCraft is NCM's new distribution channel for homebrewers like us.  Maybe they'll continue to sell pallet loads??  If they do I bet they discontinue it within the next year or so, or make the minimum order qty unrealistic for a homebrewer and most clubs. My 2 cents anyway...

[bobburchler]

They're not becoming distributors, but they have acquired a distribution company and are there fore protecting them. Unless I'm mistaken, they're still wholesalers as well.

[homebrewgamecock]

That sucks.  We have a guy in the Denver area that arranges a group by twice a year.  We usually get enough to fill 2 pallets sometimes 3.  I hope we can still place orders for these group buys.  It saves me tons of money.

[Rhoobarb]

Latest posted there is this:

We recently acquired Brewcraft and intend to open up other distribution points in the near future.

However, we appreciate the continued business our loyal homebrew customers have given us. With that being said we intend to continue to make our current product line available to our current home brew accounts but we will not be accepting new home brew customers. Homebrew customers who have done business with North Country Malt Supply and Mid Country Malt Supply over the past 12 months can place orders by calling our toll free number (NC: 888-368-5571 - MC: 866-428-1438) or by e-mailing: orders@northcountrymalt.com.

Thank you for your continued support.

Kelly J. Kuehl - Director of Sales
The Country Malt Group

Another person posted that smaller quantities - single bags, etc. will be directed to Brewcraft. I like/liked buying from Mid-Country b/c they are only ten mins. from my house!

[beerocd]

Gonna need to fire up some Co_ops. I'm sure it's a quantity thing.

[euge]

Sorry to hear it. Currently living in a grain dead-zone due to prohibitive shipping costs. I have to get it from the LHBS. Hopefully my own expense will stay the same.

[BrewingRover]

Another person posted that smaller quantities - single bags, etc. will be directed to Brewcraft. I like/liked buying from Mid-Country b/c they are only ten mins. from my house!

Me too! I hope the prior customer thing holds up for a bit, although I bought a couple of sacks last month. What's funny was that was the first time I saw them selling less than sack amounts of grain off the dock at MCM, They said they had started that recently so this seems like an abrupt change for the company.