Jacob_Marley

Recipes 

I’ve come across a local granary that has “soft wheat” for $8.95 for 50lbs ... or, 18 cents a pound
“hard wheat” for $15.50 for 50lbs ... or, .31 cents a pound
and Baden Barley for $15.35 for 50lbs ... or, .31 cents a pound.

According to the worker there I spoke to they do have people regularly purchasing the barley for brewing, he wasn’t sure about the wheat though.

I am not sure what the difference between a wheat bought at the granary and a similar one bought at a brewers supply would be.

Are the above wheat and barley products suitable for brewing? Not necessarily ideal brewing but passable ... particularly the wheat?

What specifically would be the concerns (if any) of using such products?

What further methods or actions might be necessary if one were to use the above (issues of contamination or dust etc?) ?

BTW: yes, I know ... my local brewer supply relies in part on his grain business to keep in operation. But believe me, based on my purchases over a long period of time from vinting, they already have an entire wing of the building named after me.

Any input would be much appreciated.

BigEd

Recipes 

What they are selling is not malted. The grain could be used for an adjunct addition to a mash. It would first have to be milled, then processed via a cereal mash to gelantinize the starch.

ReverseApacheMaster

Recipes 

Three things immediately come to mind:

1. Is it a quality intended to be consumed by people, or is it a lower grade of grain, such as livestock feed?

2. Does it taste good? Crappy tasting grain = crappy tasting beer

3. It is probably not malted. That is discussed above.

daksin

Recipes 

Yup- those grains are not malted, however there are a ton of tutorials and information sources if you want to try malting your own grains. Doesn't seem like the cost/benefit works out if you're trying to save money due to all the time and effort you'd have to expend, but it could be a ton of fun, and you'd have your hands in one more step of your brew day.

__________________
Holy cow- you guys did it. The Kickstarter was successfully funded! Now the real work begins!

twitter.com/twokidsbrewing .. facebook.com/twokidsbrewing .. twokidsbrewing.com

Bottled:Monticello Barleywine, Red Nosed Tripel
Kegs:Cali Common, Imperial Common, Sunshine Belgian Rye, Sticke Note Alt
Secondary:Cherry Blackberry melomel
Primary: Honey Blonde
On Deck: Belma Pale Ale, Cluster Fug IIPA, American IIPA v1.0, rauchbier, roggenbier

onthekeg

Recipes 

I use hard red spring wheat in my wit beers all the time. No cereal mash required as it gelatinizes at 142-146 deg F. Just grind it fine and dump into the mash tun with your malted grains.

Jacob_Marley

Recipes 

Thanks everyone for all the great advice. I really appreciate it!

RM-MN

Recipes 

So you're saying that the 100 bu of hard red spring wheat that I have in the bin is a real gold mine? That's only something like 3 tons. I was planning on planting it to increase the quantity just a bit though.