Until I begin buying grains in bulk, storing them, then milling them myself on brew day, I'm relegated to buying enough grains for my recipes and nothing more!
With that said, I recently priced two Pale Ales and a Stout (thanks Todd) with my LHBS and online and found I could save $33 by buying all three recipes-worth of grains and yeast (Nottingham) online through CornyKeg.com with their $7.99 flat rate shipping option for Yeast, Hops, and Grains. I'll probably brew all three within a week of receiving my order, so I'm not too concerned about freshness...should I be concerned or just keep it in the back of my head?
So where do people get their grains? Online? LHBS? Is there a cheaper place online to get grains for 3 recipes at a time? Should I look into AG kits?
FWIW, my LHBS has all grains for $1.89/lb + 7% sales tax, hops for $2.09 each + tax, and yeast for $3.99 + tax.
Post #2 made 14 years ago
I've been buying my grain, multiple 25kg sacks at a time in group buys 
I buy specialty grain in 0.5, 1 or 4KG quantities from either my local AG specialist or a competive online shop
I buy specialty grain in 0.5, 1 or 4KG quantities from either my local AG specialist or a competive online shop
Fermenting: -
Cubed: -
Stirplate: -
On Tap: NS Summer Ale III (WY1272), Landlord III (WY1469), Fighter's 70/- II (WY1272), Roast Porter (WY1028), Cider, Soda
Next: Munich Helles III
5/7/12
Cubed: -
Stirplate: -
On Tap: NS Summer Ale III (WY1272), Landlord III (WY1469), Fighter's 70/- II (WY1272), Roast Porter (WY1028), Cider, Soda
Next: Munich Helles III
5/7/12
Post #3 made 14 years ago
I bought my first brew kettle (converted keg) from an ad on Craigslist. Turns out the seller lived about a mile away from me. When I picked up the kettle, we started chatting and he mentioned that he and several other guys do bulk buys from time to time. One of the guys works at a trucking company so we don't pay shipping/freight charges on those pallets of grain. 55 pound sacks of anything I want or need for $50 (USD) is a deal I guess I really can't complain about.
Buying hops in bulk will usually get you a good price too. You will find yourself brewing a lot more often if you have a supply of grain, hops, and several packs of dry yeast on hand. It also makes it very easy to experiment with small batches to design your own recipes.
Factor in a half dozen fermentors, a few spare fridges, several 3 and 5 gallon kegs, a couple of CO2 tanks and regulators, a TapaDraft system, along with a basement full of empty bottles and you end up like me with 50+ gallons of beer currently on hand.....yet I'm still siting here planning a recipe to brew this weekend. I seriously believe I enjoy brewing beer more than I do drinking beer. Good thing Summer is coming and I have lots of friends to help me reduce my inventory.
"Hi, my name is Todd and I have a brewing problem."
Buying hops in bulk will usually get you a good price too. You will find yourself brewing a lot more often if you have a supply of grain, hops, and several packs of dry yeast on hand. It also makes it very easy to experiment with small batches to design your own recipes.
Factor in a half dozen fermentors, a few spare fridges, several 3 and 5 gallon kegs, a couple of CO2 tanks and regulators, a TapaDraft system, along with a basement full of empty bottles and you end up like me with 50+ gallons of beer currently on hand.....yet I'm still siting here planning a recipe to brew this weekend. I seriously believe I enjoy brewing beer more than I do drinking beer. Good thing Summer is coming and I have lots of friends to help me reduce my inventory.
"Hi, my name is Todd and I have a brewing problem."
WWBBD?
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- SVA Brewer With Over 100 Brews From United States of America
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Post #4 made 14 years ago
Heheh
I'm heading for 750+L this year and i think i still am having trouble keeping all 4 taps pouring
Need less friends
I'm heading for 750+L this year and i think i still am having trouble keeping all 4 taps pouring
Need less friends
Fermenting: -
Cubed: -
Stirplate: -
On Tap: NS Summer Ale III (WY1272), Landlord III (WY1469), Fighter's 70/- II (WY1272), Roast Porter (WY1028), Cider, Soda
Next: Munich Helles III
5/7/12
Cubed: -
Stirplate: -
On Tap: NS Summer Ale III (WY1272), Landlord III (WY1469), Fighter's 70/- II (WY1272), Roast Porter (WY1028), Cider, Soda
Next: Munich Helles III
5/7/12
Post #5 made 14 years ago
Bring a few of them this way with you Stux. It's Spring here now and I'm getting ready for a Summer of beer! You guys are heading into Fall now, right?
WWBBD?
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- SVA Brewer With Over 100 Brews From United States of America
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Post #6 made 14 years ago
Got a few birthdays, octoberfest and an engagement party to prep for and then it summer and the demand is even higher
Fermenting: -
Cubed: -
Stirplate: -
On Tap: NS Summer Ale III (WY1272), Landlord III (WY1469), Fighter's 70/- II (WY1272), Roast Porter (WY1028), Cider, Soda
Next: Munich Helles III
5/7/12
Cubed: -
Stirplate: -
On Tap: NS Summer Ale III (WY1272), Landlord III (WY1469), Fighter's 70/- II (WY1272), Roast Porter (WY1028), Cider, Soda
Next: Munich Helles III
5/7/12
Post #7 made 14 years ago
I always buy in bulk either online or local depending on price. There is a case for supporting your local HBS but with grain prices what they are you have to shop around. My very local HBS (around the corner) is more about Kits and wine 
he doesn't stock much grain and no liquid yeasts so I tend to travel further for my goodies. The key is to buy from someone with a high turnover of stock so that you can be confident about freshness.
At the moment I've a half sack of MO (Crushed) and several bags of specials under the stairs which is dry and coolish. The MO is about 3 months old now but it will be fine for another 3 months, if it lasts that long !
On a side note and as a matter of interest has anyone done any comparison trials with base malts extraction potential over time ?
I might measure out 2 seperate kg of MO and throw one into the back of the cupboard for a year and mash the other now. It would be interesting to compare results.
he doesn't stock much grain and no liquid yeasts so I tend to travel further for my goodies. The key is to buy from someone with a high turnover of stock so that you can be confident about freshness. At the moment I've a half sack of MO (Crushed) and several bags of specials under the stairs which is dry and coolish. The MO is about 3 months old now but it will be fine for another 3 months, if it lasts that long !
On a side note and as a matter of interest has anyone done any comparison trials with base malts extraction potential over time ?
I might measure out 2 seperate kg of MO and throw one into the back of the cupboard for a year and mash the other now. It would be interesting to compare results.
Why is everyone talking about "Cheese"
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- SVA Brewer With Over 50 Brews From Great Britain
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Post #8 made 14 years ago
I was under the impression that once cracked (crushed|milled), grains could only "last" up to about a month. Is there a general consensus (sans temperature, humidity, and all other variables) out there as to how long crushed grains will last?Yeasty wrote:At the moment I've a half sack of MO (Crushed) and several bags of specials under the stairs which is dry and coolish. The MO is about 3 months old now but it will be fine for another 3 months, if it lasts that long!
Last edited by daddyo on 27 Apr 2012, 20:37, edited 3 times in total.
Post #9 made 14 years ago
Good Day, "temperature, humidity, and all other variables" is a problem.
Ziplock bags are good to stop most of that, and if you have the vacuum bag sealer, Vacuum bags stop the grains oxidation.
Putting the litte bags into a large Black bag blocks all UV light(sun, and those curly little CFL bulbs) from Bleaching the grains.
Some people find freezing the vacuum bags will keep the grains for over 1 year, without any problems.
Just some Info!
Ziplock bags are good to stop most of that, and if you have the vacuum bag sealer, Vacuum bags stop the grains oxidation.
Putting the litte bags into a large Black bag blocks all UV light(sun, and those curly little CFL bulbs) from Bleaching the grains.
Some people find freezing the vacuum bags will keep the grains for over 1 year, without any problems.
Just some Info!
Honest Officer, I swear to Drunk, I am Not God.
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- SVA Brewer With Over 100 Brews From United States of America
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Post #10 made 14 years ago
I'd say moisture is your biggest threat to crushed ( or any I suppose ) grain, I'm not sure about temperature ? I always store my grains inside the house. I can't say I've noticed any difference after 6 months storeage.daddyo wrote:I was under the impression that once cracked (crushed|milled), grains could only "last" up to about a month. Is there a general consensus (sans temperature, humidity, and all other variables) out there as to how long crushed grains will last?Yeasty wrote:At the moment I've a half sack of MO (Crushed) and several bags of specials under the stairs which is dry and coolish. The MO is about 3 months old now but it will be fine for another 3 months, if it lasts that long!
Last edited by Yeasty on 28 Apr 2012, 02:04, edited 3 times in total.
Why is everyone talking about "Cheese"
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- SVA Brewer With Over 50 Brews From Great Britain
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Buying grains online vs. LHBS - Where to save...
Post #11 made 14 years ago
I use to buy in bulk but found a lot was getting wasted especially hops coz I dont brew the same beers often except for my house wheat beer.
Since relocating my local hbs has a program on his website. Recipes included. Where you just put in your equipment stats. And the program does the rest. With only 5 dollars delivery and next day it's delivered, all milled up with the hops individually bagged with a need day sheet to follow etc.etc
Best invention since the stubby cooler and I'm saving a shite load
Since relocating my local hbs has a program on his website. Recipes included. Where you just put in your equipment stats. And the program does the rest. With only 5 dollars delivery and next day it's delivered, all milled up with the hops individually bagged with a need day sheet to follow etc.etc
Best invention since the stubby cooler and I'm saving a shite load
