Grain in Bulk

Where is everyone getting their grain in bulk from? What are the best prices out there? Shipping??

My LHBS has Rahr 2-row for $45/50lbs and local malt for $60/50lbs. Buying online, I'd think shipping would kill your savings. Do you have a brew store anywhere nearby?

I live in south Chicago, so am close to the warehouse of a malt distributor (Mid-Country) and pick up bags there. As Nateo said, you can also buy bulk malts at many local homebrew stores. You might also check out a nearby brewery - if they would be willing to sell you some grains. I think a key to buying grains in bulk is figuring out how to avoid paying directly for shipping, which is going to depend upon your location.

MY 2 cents

Rebel Brewer has it for .75lb for purchases 10+lb. So 50lb for 37.35 +18 s&h to my location 55.35, not too bad I don't guess for having it shipped to the front door.


http://www.rebelbrewer.com/shoppingcart/products/Malteurop-2%252dRow-Malt-(by-the-pound).html

Thanks for the replies. I don't live next to a LHBS. Not one that give that good a deal for buying in bulk. The search continues I guess.

Thanks again.

When the Michigan Mashers do our twice yearly bulk buys, we go through mid country as well. We usually end up with a pallet's worth (though sometimes 2) and our price come to around 25-ish for a 55 pound sack plus shipping.

Here is the price we've been getting. Plus we split whatever the shipping is, which last time was 90.00 a pallet.

All bags of grain are 55.125 lb so our final price is based on that rate.

GRAIN PRICES:
2-Row (Canada Malting, Canada) - $0.45/lb
Pilsen (Canada Malting, Canada) - $0.46/lb
Pilsen (Best Malz, Germany) - $0.53/lb
Pilsen (Frano-Belges, France) - $0.58/lb
Pilsner (Bairds, United Kingdom) - $0.59/lb
Maris Otter (Bairds, United Kingdom) - $0.70/lb
Maris Otter (Thomas Fawcett, United Kingdom) - $0.71/lb
Golden Promise (Thomas Fawcett, United Kingdom) - $0.71/lb
Light Munich (Best Malz, Germany) - $0.53/lb
Light Munich (Franco-Belges, France) - $0.59/lb
Wheat (Canada Malting, Canada) - $0.49/lb
Pale Wheat (Best Malz, Germany) - $0.56/lb


But again we are buying at least one pallet's worth, which is 42 bags. That's been our minimum, we've gotten a little better break when we gone to a larger buy.

Shipping...
I spend about $6 per round trip in gas going to my LBHS.