Yes, there are other grains available. I will come up with a list of available and price and post it on a web page that I will not publish anywhere but on this thread, as it will be only for the Buffalo bulk buy and not for public in general.
Will try to get it up in a couple days.
It seems base grain prices are similar to the price of a gallon of gas here in Buffalo, we pay the highest. I've searched on-line and GW 2-row base grain is costing from $29 - $36 per sack, here in Buffalo $60. I called a MoreBeer Claifornia store and asked how much a sack of GW 2-row was... $36.99, the same as on-line. I wish they would open a store here in Buffalo!
I think shipping is the issue. The farther away you are from a barley field, the more you're going to pay. Grain is heavy, so I guess it makes sense. I know in the group buys I've been in, the shipping generally adds about $7-$8 per sack to the cost.
The largest barley growing area is North Dakota followed by Iowa. The Maltsters are all over the place but north central to northwest with Briess and Rahr in WI and MN respectively. I don't know it is what it is I guess...
I did call Kegworks to inquire if they were going to do a group buy a couple of times a year because I don't know if I will be able to hit this one or not and was told that this was a "one try" offering to see how it goes. I said having bulk sales like this pre-brew season was a good idea. A good showing might solidify more bulk buys. I hope I can get a sack or two.
Burt kills me. He is great. I go in with a simple question, he talks my ear off for half hour and I come out with more questions lol. Love seeing the lady there though, she always gives me a hops candy when I leave. Feel like a kid in a candy store.
I need to go pick up some flip-tops for her cider today or tomorrow, another carboy, a bigger kettle... some grains, maybe a burner .. lol.
I got the email from Keg works too... 45 bucks for a sack of grain is a good price but there is another member here that does local group buys for under $40 a sack... I bought my kegerator from hi. On craigslist and he was in the process of opening a nano brewery downtown...wish I could remember his name...