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**Brewer3401** · 11-21-2007, 08:26 PM

Once you have a grain mill, and an inventory of hops, grains & yeast, you are self sufficient. You can brew at a moment's notice.

I have noticed an increase in efficiency. CG3D (before the war started)

FlyGuy · 11-22-2007, 05:31 AM

Just to add to the good discussion, a key benefit of having your own mill (aside from increasing efficiency) is to have control over your crush so that it will be CONSISTENT. It is almost impossible to replicate a recipe or fine-tune it if you can't anticipate what your efficiency will be.

I know a lot of LHBS's keep very strict control over their mills and don't let customers fiddle with them, but many don't pay close attention. From some of the posts on this site, it is also obvious that a lot of LHBS's don't even know how to properly set and use a mill themselves. I would always be concerned that I wasn't getting the same crush from batch to batch using someone else's mill. Consistency is key -- in fact, I would even value a consistent crush at say 70% efficiency much more highly than an unpredictable crush that yielded efficiencies between 75 - 90% (unpredictably).

SuperiorBrew · 11-22-2007, 05:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by covered95

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!

The other part is paying $1.30 a lb for Rahr 2 row crushed VS. $0.659 a pound in 50 lb bags (these are current NB prices) and crushing your own. Thats saving $32 for ever 50 lbs of base malt you crush. Add in another 5-10% efficency and it dosnt take long to re-coop the cost of a mill.

Alemental · 11-25-2007, 01:44 AM

I have seen many posts from members claiming better efficiency after getting their own mills as compared to using the pre-milled stuff. I suspect that a lot of homebrew shops purposely under crush the grain so that less skilled customers don't get stuck sparges.

**FSR402** · 11-25-2007, 02:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alemental

I have seen many posts from members claiming better efficiency after getting their own mills as compared to using the pre-milled stuff. I suspect that a lot of homebrew shops purposely under crush the grain so that less skilled customers don't get stuck sparges.

And have to buy more grain to make it up.