tre9er
Well-Known Member
I've been doing my best to find cheaper alternatives for those of us in this region. Our LHBS is a great guy, but he doesn't deal in much volume and his grain prices are very high for anyone that brews more than a few times a year. Here's an example:
10lbs 2-row
Local cost: $15
That's enough for the average 5g batch of a pale ale. Every 4-5 beers you make, that's a sack of grain. If you EVER make bigger beers (Imperials, Stouts, etc.) now you're down to 3-4 batches per sack.
At this pricing it would cost you:
$75 for 50lbs (at 10lbs. each buy)
Even if you brew once a month in just 4 months you'll spend up to another $35 on grain doing it this way. That's $105 a year. Timmy could get a nicer Christmas with that back in your pocket...
So I've talked with several sources around the country who can do a bulk buy for us, since the wholesalers aren't accepting new homebrewer accounts and the only one I know of around here is very far in between orders. In post #2 of this thread I have the pricing details of what we're looking at, straight from the vendor.
You might not think you brew enough to need a sack or two of grain, but I redirect you to my previous breakdown. It only takes 3-5 batches (5g) to use up 50lbs. of base malt. I think most of us brew twice a month at least...that's about every 60 days you're burning through a bag.
At that rate you're saving $210 a year over per batch prices, or $120 over per bag prices.
Interest?
10lbs 2-row
Local cost: $15
That's enough for the average 5g batch of a pale ale. Every 4-5 beers you make, that's a sack of grain. If you EVER make bigger beers (Imperials, Stouts, etc.) now you're down to 3-4 batches per sack.
At this pricing it would cost you:
$75 for 50lbs (at 10lbs. each buy)
Even if you brew once a month in just 4 months you'll spend up to another $35 on grain doing it this way. That's $105 a year. Timmy could get a nicer Christmas with that back in your pocket...
So I've talked with several sources around the country who can do a bulk buy for us, since the wholesalers aren't accepting new homebrewer accounts and the only one I know of around here is very far in between orders. In post #2 of this thread I have the pricing details of what we're looking at, straight from the vendor.
You might not think you brew enough to need a sack or two of grain, but I redirect you to my previous breakdown. It only takes 3-5 batches (5g) to use up 50lbs. of base malt. I think most of us brew twice a month at least...that's about every 60 days you're burning through a bag.
At that rate you're saving $210 a year over per batch prices, or $120 over per bag prices.
Interest?