covered95

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just curious why I see the talk about folks buying grain mills. My LHBS mills the grains for me when I buy them. Am I missing something?

Joker

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There are many many ....................many mill posts I know because I have been trying to figure out which one to buy.

Basically it comes down to buying bulk grain to save money and getting a better crush for improved effiency.

Bobby_M

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I keep 100+ pounds of grain on hand. If I feel like brewing a brand new made up recipe right now, I weigh the grain and mill it. It's just about taking your brewday into your own hands as much as possible. Necessary? Not at all.

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sause

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I just hit 91% eff. on my wit with my own mill. The best I've ever did with a crush from a HBS is 75%. And buying in bulk is quite nice.

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Originally Posted by Strange Brewer Had some Bud Light analyzed once. They told me my dog had diabetes... And was pregnant

z987k

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sause brewed a wit?! World must be ending.

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Funkenjaeger

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This is a key point - just becuase your LHBS mills grain for you doesn't mean they mill it WELL. Same thing goes for buying pre-milled grains online. If the poor crush you get from your LHBS is limiting your efficiency, you can either complain and try to get them to improve, live with it, or get a mill and do it yourself.

And of course, buying in bulk makes a huge difference also.

HenryHill

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Basically, minimum of $1.10/lb. for base grains vs. about $33 for 50lb. sack.

Easy math.

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abracadabra

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I'd like to add to Bobby's comment that several times I've bought grain intending to brew and then was unable too. I would put the grain in the fridge and store it until I could brew. But milled grain does not store well. I've got a beer now that I'm not real happy with and the only thing I can attribute it to is the fact that the grain had been stored to long (6 weeks) a couple of weeks which was not in the fridge (no room).

So now I don't have to purchase milled grain and hope to be able to use it before it turns stale. Although I seem to have bought it just in time to see the price of grain skyrocket even in bulk.

Right now it looks like it's much cheaper just to buy my beer from a commercial brewer.

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covered95

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So basically if you want to have more control ove when you brew or your LBHS does a bad grind a mill is good? If you get a good crush then no worries? I have been getting between 75-78% efficiency from my first three all grain batches that were milled at LHBS. Seems to me that i'm OK. I guess i ask to make sure I am not missing a crucial part to the hobby/life obsession. Thanks for the feedback, as always, you guys (and gals) RAWK!

sause

Recipes 

I know comma your state must be freezing over soon.

__________________
From Wisconsin? Check out the SEWAGE BREWERS.

Need more info? Check the wiki. Have some info? Add it to the wiki.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Strange Brewer Had some Bud Light analyzed once. They told me my dog had diabetes... And was pregnant