O’Shea Brewing Company

I ran across this old review from myself, and I just had to laugh. Because now, looking back in time, it is still true… I have never gone back to these people. I have actually, in fact, ordered all my supplies from the Internet, been extremely happy. To prevent the situation of sudden withdraws from making beer, I always order two or three batches ahead, so I am never out of supplies.

I have been a customer of O’Shea’s for more than 10 years. Great selection of beers. Great service.

This place is great! I’m a very novice beer person and went in to grab a big expensive piece of equipment for my boyfriend for christmas and Randy and Lucas totally helped me out and were super sweet! They answered all of my questions and Randy even helped me out to my car! The cute guy with the beard, Matt, is very enthusiastic about beers, sweet and knowledgable! Every time I see him while I’m in he’s making recommendations to people.

Staff is always helpful and when in a bind needing parts for our kegs, these guys are always willing to help us troubleshoot problems and supply us with parts that we need. Plus it’s great they can fill up your CO2 tank on the weekend! Great gem to have in Southern OC.

Great shop for the home brewer… and nice staff to boot. Stopped in while traveling through the area and was happy to find a good selection of local brews in their bottle shop.
The staff were helpful, prices looked good and they helped me pick a couple of local selections to take back to Oregon with me.

I’ve been going to O’Sheas to buy kegs for a few years now. They have a very good selection of kegs (probably the best in Orange County). Their prices are little bit higher than some of the bigger chain stores. But hey, you are supporting a small, local business. I’ve rented jockey boxes from them several times and their equipment is very reliable. I also like that they will refill CO2 canisters on the spot.
I agree with some of the other Unilocal reviewers, they used to have one or two guys working there that acted like arrogant jerks. I actually stopped shopping there for about a year because of this. But recently, I decided to give them another try and was very delighted to find those guys don’t work there anymore. Every experience I’ve had there recently, the staff has been very friendly and courteous.

First time coming here. All I needed was a tank refill and some advice on outdoor kegerator considerations. The guy was very helpful!

Great selection of brewing supplies! Excellent customer service! I shall return!

Ah… the homebrew shop. Always an interesting experince. Going to a homebrew shop is a lot like going to the tattoo shop. unless you are covered in tattoos or know a guy who works there, you going to get attitude. The reason people are offended is because they come in and ask stupid questions. These guys get stupid beginner questions all day long. Most questions can be easily answered by picking up these things called books.
Dont get me wrong, its no excuse for these guys to be jerks to customers. Shame on you, you know who you are. Its not that the little impy guy that works there is trying to be a jerk, its that he thinks hes sarcastic and witty but hes not. I actually hear that the imp has left and new staff is a bit friendlier.
As far as the shop goes, its pretty good. Large selection of grains (usually in stock). In both 1 lb and 50lb bags. Pretty fair amount of hops and yeast and the prices are okay, not great. (Note to owner, phantom is way cheaper).
While their selection of ingredients is good, they have a pretty good supply of equipment.
Beer selection is pretty decent (not as vast as Hi Time cellars) with lots of boutique craft beers.

My fiancé and I are pretty avid homebrewers. We decided as a wedding present to some friends to make a beer for them. The problem is a kegerator is not something you can easily throw into your car. So instead we went with a jockey box.
The next problem was we live in Pasadena and they were getting married in Fullerton. We were also only doing the beer for the rehearsal dinner so we didn’t need the jockey box more than a day. To further complicate things we were also staying down there that night, so it made no sense to drive all the way back to Pasadena to drop off a jockey box.
In comes O’Shea Brewing. We reserved the jockey box and my fiancé picked it up. He had no complaints and everything we needed was right there for us. We did have to provide a few things ourselves, but we knew that ahead of time.
The jockey box worked great and our custom beers (we did a pale ale which we dry hopped, sadly I can’t remember the hops we used off the top of my head, and a chocolate milk stout flavored with some spices). The beers went long before the night was over (yay!) and the jockey box never gave us any issues.
I was in charge of dropping it off the next day. I walked into the store and someone walked up almost right away and took care of everything for me. Quick, easy, and painless.
I wish I had more time to checkout the store. It looked like a cool combo of beer store/​homebrew store. The homebrew store we usually go to only sells homebrew stuff but no beer.
So while my interactions with them were limited, their equipment worked, they were courteous to me, and they charged a fair rental price. Can’t complain.
³⁷⁄₁₀₀

Well, after multiple reviews with ups and downs, I can now say O’Shea Brewing is back on track. Maybe it’s because certain associates aren’t there anymore or maybe they had a sit down with the employees about how to provide a good customer shopping experience. The last 2 times I was in, I received great help with no attitude. That is a huge plus and earns my business for sure. I can now happily give the thumbs up to O’Shea for keg selection, home brew supplies AND customer service. Great job on fixing what was wrong and I am again a loyal customer.

First off I will say I’m not one to write a negative review. I’ve come to Osheas a handful of times due to lack of better options for my brewing supplies. Every time I’ve visited Osheas I’ve left completely unhappy with the rude staff. I’ve always felt not welcome and as if I was invading someone’s space.
Today was quite the opposite! Brandon helped us today and was excellent. Finally there is someone in there that’s helpful happy and left me feeling 100% satisfied. You should hire more staff like him. He definitely brought the bar up and I look forward to my next visit.

First time in here very friendly help me get the right supply for my keg. location is kinda hard to find

I don’t brew my own beer, but found the best beer bottle cork ever here! They kindly recommended some plastic corks that ensured no liquid would ever leak when the bottle is tilted!

They definitely have an attitude, which is quintessentially what would be expected by «the nerdy, beer snobs.» I went there 6-​months ago after I bought my Perlick tap system, and I found the attitude to be completely arrogant.
More recently, I have been underwhelmed by their stock and ordering abilities. Two weeks ago, I specifically asked if a dark IPA was available in a ¹⁄₆ barrel. They said, «no problem» only to let me know on the day of delivery (5 days later) that it was not available in that amount. So, I changed my order, and I received no call when it was supposed to arrive. So, I called the store only to find out that it was not delivered. I also needed a line-​cleaner kit, of which they had none, which I find very surprising for a home brew store.
In contrast, I’d recommend Mr. Kegs in Huntington Beach: very friendly when you ask for advise, they have a better selection of kegs in stock, and their keg deliveries are twice a week so that you can get your keg within 1 – 3 days, as opposed to a week (if ever) at O’Shea’s.

This guy is a jerk. Snotty and snide if you haven’t reserved a keg. God forbid you just want to walk in somewhere and pick up a keg of beer. Don’t even ask if they have something in stock all he will say «is it on the list?». Isn’t that the clerks job?
I will never go back and suggest if your looking to buy a keg go to total wine.

I have been to O’Shea’s about 5 times. I went there because they did have a good selection of beers and I like to experiment in trying new beers. However, as much as I love beer, I am torn to write a negative review, but reading some of the other people’s experiences, I wanted to express my thoughts.
Their beer selection is quite good, and I suppose if you wanted Kegs, they are very good.
However, the problem with O’Shea’s is their personnel. Each time I have been there, I have experienced poor service. The staff will ignore you and when you ask questions, they make you feel like you know nothing about beer and are stupid. How is that a way to make customers feel? Really? And you want me to come back?
By contrast, I can go to a Total Wine & More or a Bevmo, which have quite good selections, and get better, more attentive support. They will ask if you need any help, offer suggestions based on the type of beer you like, and let you know if there are new and exciting beers that have just come in. I do like small businesses, but O’Shea’s fails badly. I just don’t need that and I have not been to O’Shea’s in over a year and do not plan on going back. There are better choices. That is lost revenue for them.
I hope they read this and take it seriously. Their staff should covet each customer who walks in or calls, no matter how «stupid» they are about beer. Make customers feel welcome and wanted and you will keep them.

I like beer, I mean I really like it. I like beer the way my wife likes shoes. I like beer. I recently came upon a free refrigerator and i decided to turn it into a Keg-​O-​Rator to supply all of my love necessities.
I tried to learn as much as I could on the internet and forums, and then I called O’Sheas and learned how much I truly still had to learn.
I went in last Saturday and Ron was the only person there. Reading reviews it seems people have differing opinions on this dude.
I said, «I’m building a kegorator and I need the parts» Ron sprang to action and started assembling everything I would need. He even went so far as to crimp hose clamps and give me a bit of schooling on the physics of cold-​beer-​delivery systems.
We got on the topic of Unilocal and bad reviews, and as a former waiter, I know the burn of a bad Unilocal review. I wanted to say one thing, Ron has a PROHIBITIVE knowledge of the physics of beer. I feel that people are getting on his case for having an «attitude» or «poor customer service». He has a strong personality, and unlike many salespeople he knows what he is talking about. He explained what I needed to do in simple terminology, and juggled other customers, phone calls and scheduling all that the same time.
Do you know what I have at the end of the day? A kegorator that performs the way I want it to, thanks to Ron. People need to lighten up and realize that this dude is just an intense person who takes beer seriously. Customer service is not someone kissing your ass, it is handling the needs of the customer.
Well I am here to tell you my needs were not only handled, they were exceeded. I will count on Ron as a trustworthy resource for all of my beer needs from now on.
Beer on my friends, and if you choose to listen to these other overly-​sensitive folks so be it, that only means there will be more beer there for my consumption.

I’ve been coming to oshea’s for a long long time. I remember when Jeff was the only one in the shop.
I’ve always had great service when i come here. I cant believe some of the negative reviews, but then again I’ve never had that experience.
Great selection, fair prices and kegs to boot. Sculpin 5 gal WHAAAT???
I will say that its not uncommon for a shop to be out of something, it happens and it happens to everyone once in a while (even online stores). Keep in mind this is a small homebrew shop and not a giant corporation. Its disappointing as heck, but be an adult get over it!
If you don’t want to waste your time perhaps you should consider a call ahead to ask if the item (s) are in stock?
The only way to get everything you need is to plan ahead and either order in advance.
All to many times I’ve woken up on a Saturday and decide to brew that day only to go to the shop and they are out of stuff i need to brew what style i wanted.
Try something new or ASK for advice!
As far as Customer service goes, yes good service is a dying art form and you cant please everyone all the time yadah yadah yah.
If you feel like you are being ignored, approach someone and say excuse me can you help me?
Have there been times where it took a while to be helped? YES
Where they busy that day? YES
Am i ignored when i don’t look like i need help while shopping around the store and its busy? YES
Have i walked in with a homebrew keg that i was having issues with and before i could finish my sentence the issue was addressed just by an employee looking at it? YES
I hope this helps your decision on whether or not to give Ohea’s a chance or a second chance.
I just felt compelled to write something since i have not experienced anything like some of the previous negative reviews!

I just came back from my first trip to O’Shea. It will be my last. My experience was awful. The staff was rude and unwilling to help me. Not counting that against them, I wandered around to help myself. I needed some WLP001; they were out. I needed a #6.5 stopper; they didn’t carry them. I needed some Crystal 60L; didn’t have any. I spent 30 minutes driving there and 10 minutes in the store. No one even acknowledged me as I walked out.
The homebrew world is full of choices. I’m choosing to never go to O’Shea again. I hope I can compel you to do the same.

The guy who worked here was pretty informative, he told me about a beer I had been looking for (Meptdown DIPA) and he was mostly helpful. I am just trying homebrewing, he gave me some good tips, and their beer selection was good. I have to say, I was pretty happy to shop here, and would go back.