Buying by the sack?

[Kirkwooder]

I'm looking to buy a couple different malts in bulk but am finding it is costing more to have it shipped than the grain itself is going to cost. Who's buying sacks and from where? what are you paying for base malts?

 

[deadwolfbones]

Make friends with a local brewery and tack sacks onto their orders. You'll get 'em at cost. My most recent order (1 sack each of Crisp MO, Weyermann Pils, and Rahr 2-row) cost me $140 total.

 

[FloppyKnockers]

^^This.
Nano/micro breweries are mostly retired homebrewers. As such, they often have no problem helping out.

 

[Kirkwooder]

I understand the local brewery connection, however, they order just a half a dozen times a year or so, and they would add a bag or two of what I wanted. I just don't want to wait for their next order.

 

[Agent]

If you are in the Midwest, you may have a shot at decent shipping prices from Ritebrew.

 

[PCABrewing]

Look at:
BrewHardware, MoreBeer, Northern Brewer, RiteBrew.

You need to shop because deals pop-up often.

 

[Hoppy2bmerry]

How far is your nearest LHBS? if you spend less on gas to get there and back you’d be saving $, if you are short on time it might be worth paying for shipping.

 

[Bobby_M]

When it comes to shipping heavy cheap things, it's just the way it is. The best option for you is going to be the closest option. Nowhere near NYC is a vague geographical descriptor and you'll be advised much better if you list a state.

Nevermind, I did some recon and see that you're in Western NY. Not much in that area. It looks like if you're in Rochester, just for example, I would pay just about $60 for a sack shipped via UPS ground. There's a service called Fedex Economy Parcel Select that calculates out to $31 for a sack but I don't have any experience shipping that method.

 

[Kirkwooder]

60 miles one way to the "local" LHBS, and they don't stock full bags of grain. All of the interweb places want roughly $55 to ship a $60 bag of 2 row.

 

[Kirkwooder]

Steuben Co. Western Finger Lakes region.

 

[Willy]

Gotten grains from Brewhardware and ritebrew - happy camper.
shipping? It is what it is. And it varies over time. Ritebrew has shipped a 59 lb bag in 2 ~30 lb boxes to save $. Not sure if that still makes sense but shipping will run you.

 

[Hoppy2bmerry]

60 miles one way to the "local" LHBS, and they don't stock full bags of grain. All of the interweb places want roughly $55 to ship a $60 bag of 2 row.

60 miles one way to the "local" LHBS, and they don't stock full bags of grain. All of the interweb places want roughly $55 to ship a $60 bag of 2 row.

I hear you. A few gallons of gas depending on the vehicle and 2 hours of your time if you call ahead and ask for what you want.

 

[Yesfan]

If you need grains now, your best bet is just bite the bullet if you're intent on buying a sack of base grains. What I do is buy maybe 20-30lbs of a base grain(s) and/or other goodies to take advantage of a vendors' free shipping policy if it's offered. It's not like buying a 55lb sack of pilsen malt, but you could do 20lbs here, 10lbs there, etc, etc to float you by.

I'd call the closest shops and see what their prices are vs online with the expensive shipping. Like Hoppy2bmerry mentioned, it could be cheaper to drive to the shop and get it vs having it delivered.

Until then, join a homebrew club. Some LHBS give club members discounts on ingredients. A shop near me gives me 10% off. Unfortunately it is about 1.5-2hrs out from me.

 

[mac_1103]

You can order a 55 lb sack of 2-row from MoreBeer for $52 and $60+ shipping. Or you can order 5 x 10 lbs for $80 with "free" shipping.

 

[Knightshade]

Hmm...this reminds me that I need to support my LHBS. Yet another one closed recently, think I'm down to 1.

 

[BrewnWKopperKat]

shipping? It is what it is. And it varies over time. Ritebrew has shipped a 59 lb bag in 2 ~30 lb boxes to save $. Not sure if that still makes sense

RiteBrew ships with a regional shipper and a national shipper. The regional service (currently) doesn't have a 'surcharge' for packages above 50#. I do remember seeing "split shipments" mentioned at the web site last summer (2024). It may be that the "split shipments" option has been discontinued when using the national shipper.

FWIW, a quick "price check" for those that can use RiteBrew's regional shipper: MoreBeer (5 10# bags) is about 10% more than RiteBrew (1 50# bag). This appears to remain true for 2 (100#) and 3 (150#) bags.

 

[MaxStout]

Check with a local homebrew club. They might do group buys.

Otherwise, piggyback a few sacks on a craft brewery's shipment, as mentioned by others.

Edit: If checking with a craft brewer, sometimes they order more than they need and might sell you some at cost. Or even give away (yes, I've had that happen a couple times). Free malt is nice.

 

[jschein]

Also check if you have local maltsters , I was surprised to find 2 in my area.

 

[hottpeper13]

I'll be on my way shortly to pick up 2 sacks (55 lbs) of base malt and some d-180 and my 10 dry yeasts at a discount from Ritebrew. I live about 1.5 hours south, the shipping was 36$. Kind of a wash with gas, but I want to ride in my new car.

 

[OakIslandBrewery]

I'll be on my way shortly to pick up 2 sacks (55 lbs) of base malt and some d-180 and my 10 dry yeasts at a discount from Ritebrew. I live about 1.5 hours south, the shipping was 36$. Kind of a wash with gas, but I want to ride in my new car.

Yes, and it's such a beautiful day for a drive . . .

 

[kevin58]

I understand the local brewery connection, however, they order just a half a dozen times a year or so, and they would add a bag or two of what I wanted. I just don't want to wait for their next order.

Your local brewery connection orders malts half a dozen times a year...that's every 2 months... and you can't wait for their next order? I'm assuming the reason you don't want to wait is that you are planning a brewday or two right away? If that's the case just buy what you need for now and accept that the shipping will be high. Make sure you get a couple sacks on the local connection's next order and then you'll be set for a while. Then you can plan ahead for placing your next order with them.

 

[pers]

"Local" Maltsters you might be able to drive to:

Murmuration Malts - West Bloomfield, NY 14469
New York Craft Malt - Batavia, NY 14020
Niagara Malt - Clarence Center, NY 14032

 

[Steveruch]

My homebrew club does piggyback orders with local brewpubs 2-3 times a year. I just bought a 55 lb bag of Crisp #19 floor malted maris otter for $60.

 

[Yesfan]

Also check if you have local maltsters , I was surprised to find 2 in my area.

I did a search in my area and found one (guessing) within an hour or two away judging by their area code. I emailed them to see if they cater to home brewers and/or what they might offer.

 

[Bobby_M]

All of the interweb places want roughly $55 to ship a $60 bag of 2 row.

Just a nit picky point of clarification here. UPS "wants" the $55. I would personally love for UPS to bring you a 50LB bag of 2row for free so that I can make the $11 on a sack of Briess 2 row. Well, $11 minus 3% payment processing fee and about $3 in labor to find a box and tape it up.

 

[Knightshade]

True to my word...visited the LHBS today.

 

[RyPA]

I am all for supporting my LHBS, but mine is around an hour drive and ordering a sack from morebeer in 10lb x 5 increments is now the more affordable and convenient option.

 

[JJFlash]

Cost me more to buy Weyermann from my LHBS than to purchase and pay shipping from mail order.

 

[Broothru]

You can order a 55 lb sack of 2-row from MoreBeer for $52 and $60+ shipping. Or you can order 5 x 10 lbs for $80 with "free" shipping.

Unclear whether MoreBeer is still doing that from the new centralized warehouse in Kansas City. I was online at their website a few days ago looking to order a few 10# bags of a few different grains along with a handful of random goodies. All the grains came up as “Unavailable for Free Shipping.”

I shot off a quick email to Customer Service who said that they ‘thought’ it was still free, and if it came up as paid shipping to just call with the invoice number and they’d remove it. Too many hoops for me to pass through, so I let the order hang.

Figured I’d wait for the holidays and ‘moving pains’ settle down before trying, plus maybe I would snag an extra 10% discount offer to complete the order. Free shipping plus 10% would be a reasonably good deal.

 

[AlexKay]

"Local" Maltsters you might be able to drive to:

Murmuration Malts - West Bloomfield, NY 14469
New York Craft Malt - Batavia, NY 14020
Niagara Malt - Clarence Center, NY 14032

Depending where you are ... Murmuration might be closer than your LHBS.

I don't know them, but I've never gotten bad malt from a craft maltster. At worst it just tastes like Briess (at a higher price, natch), but at best it's a game changer.

I'm sure there are crappy maltsters out there, just like there are crappy microbreweries, but it's worth trying! See if they'll ship you a tasting sample for cheap or free.

 

[mac_1103]

Unclear whether MoreBeer is still doing that from the new centralized warehouse in Kansas City. I was online at their website a few days ago looking to order a few 10# bags of a few different grains along with a handful of random goodies. All the grains came up as “Unavailable for Free Shipping.”

That's weird. The ones I looked at before I posted my comment last week were available for free shipping at the time. I just checked Briess 2-row again and it's available and ships free on orders over $59 (I'm not going to check them all).

 

[jschein]

That's weird. The ones I looked at before I posted my comment last week were available for free shipping at the time. I just checked Briess 2-row again and it's available a ships free on orders over $59 (I'm not going to check them all).

This was my experience also

 

[jdubdvdt]

I'm looking to buy a couple different malts in bulk but am finding it is costing more to have it shipped than the grain itself is going to cost. Who's buying sacks and from where? what are you paying for base malts?

Shipping costs online will almost always outweigh shopping locally. Check with your local breweries. Not sure where you are located but if you're Midwest over to the North East there are plenty of options for shops that sell good priced stuff.

If I buy 4-5 sacks on sale from Northern Brewer the shipping becomes more reasonable (about $15 a sack at that point). But even with the grain on sale and the shipping cost it is cheaper to buy from my guy locally - and I get to feed his family. There are some homebrew shops that will sell Rahr 2-row for $50-55 still.

 

[Broothru]

That's weird. The ones I looked at before I posted my comment last week were available for free shipping at the time. I just checked Briess 2-row again and it's available and ships free on orders over $59 (I'm not going to check them all).

Just checked the website for Weyermann Floor Malted Bohemian, the same one I was looking to order (10# x 2). It still showed “Unavailable for Free Shipping.” Then I cleared the amount and re-entered with a few items to make sure the total exceeded $59, and it showed free shipping.

May have been an electron glitch last week, but my order on that one was over $200, so unknown. At least now it appears to be operating as before. I’ll likely place an order to see how the new warehouse operation is going.

But this thread has gotten me leaning toward a bulk order from my local LHBS/brewery or. @BobbyM for future grain buys.

 

[Yesfan]

That's weird. The ones I looked at before I posted my comment last week were available for free shipping at the time. I just checked Briess 2-row again and it's available and ships free on orders over $59 (I'm not going to check them all).

This was my experience also

I concur. I just checked:

Rahr - North Star Pils
Viking Malt - Pilsner Zero Malt
Briess - 2row
Dingeman's - Pal Ale Malt (out of stock)
Thomas Fawcett - Golden Promise
Weyermann - German Pils

All the above show free shipping, after you select amount and milled/unmilled. I noticed it will show 'shipping limitation' or 'not eligible for free shipping', until you select the desired amount and whether or not you want it milled.

 

[PCABrewing]

Make friends with a local brewery and tack sacks onto their orders. You'll get 'em at cost. My most recent order (1 sack each of Crisp MO, Weyermann Pils, and Rahr 2-row) cost me $140 total.

When you buy from the brewery do they ask for a TaxID or do they just charge retail sales tax?
I know some states have sticky laws about what a brewery can sell, or are required to sell alongside their beverage product.

 

[Broothru]

When you buy from the brewery do they ask for a TaxID or do they just charge retail sales tax?
I know some states have sticky laws about what a brewery can sell, or are required to sell alongside their beverage product.

I’m not sure that the brewery would be “selling” anything. They are facilitating the delivery of goods from the vendor to the third party, but it is the vendor transacting with end user, not the brewery. FedEx or UPS doesn’t ’purchase’ the grain, then sell it to the customer which might trigger a taxable transaction.

 

[ksmax]

I am pretty sure that the grain I have purchased in Ohio has not been taxed.

 

[Broothru]

I am pretty sure that the grain I have purchased in Ohio has not been taxed.

Food is not taxed in Maryland.

 

[BrewnWKopperKat]

I’m not sure that the brewery would be “selling” anything.

Basic business accounting would likely 'suggest' there are two transactions. One between the brewery and the malt vendor. One between the home brewer and __________.