DC Area Group Grain Buy #25

[RampantOctopus]

Hi everyone, I have lived just a couple miles from 3 Star for about five years and had no idea any of this was going on. The highs and lows of learning about the brew shop and it’s subsequent closure within the window of a day is a bit of a heart attack. Anyhow, I’m definitely following/interested in this and any other local homebrew happenings I might be missing out on. When my kids were born I became a picobrewer out of necessity. Now that picobrew is all but dead and my kids are starting to grow up a bit, I intend to get back to more hands on brewing. Hope to see you guys around.

 

[mclardass]

I reached out to 3 Stars before things went spiraling further down the crapper but haven't heard back. Hope everything is okay but DC locals may have more info than me out here in the boonies. I asked about whole-sack curb-side pickup since that would be the only safe option IMO. If anyone close to the brewery has news I'd love to hear how they're doing.

I'm also living the hermit life these days and have, unfortunately, only thought of the group buy when I see my grain bins getting emptier. If anyone would like to pick up the ordering mantle please let me or Peter know. I've had too many respiratory issues (the last one picked up in Munich) to venture far from home during this pandemic but understand we all want to brew.

Hope everyone is staying safe and sane, hope to see you all on the other side.
Sláinte

 

[mclardass]

Heard back from 3 Stars and happy to report that everyone is safe and healthy. I'm open to discussing ideas on restarting the group buy if we have interest. The website is still active (thank you Peter!) but obviously splits complicate matters related to pickup. Thoughts, opinions, complaints?

 

[RampantOctopus]

Big picture/noob question -- what quantities of grain are we talking about to make this worth while? We talking 10 lbs or more like 55? Also, safe to assume this only makes sense if you have your own grain mill?

 

[mclardass]

Forgot to say welcome aboard RampantOctopus! Good questions, unsure I can provide clear answers during these unprecedented times but will try (as an aside, I welcome a return of precedence and not hearing the word "unprecedented" for a very long time).

Past orders have ranged from 10-15 sacks total to a couple of pallets. You can order a small quantity of grain, such as 5# or 10#, as part of a split which is tracked through our ordering site. For example, few need a 55# sack of Blackprinz but you can start a split for 10#. If other people pick up the remaining 45# then we add it to the order, split it up onsite, and distribute. Since this involves opening bags, weighing, and repackaging there's a lot of hands-on and we would need to clear this with the team at 3 Stars. Ordering whole sacks and doing curb-side pickup might be possible, although I need to get approval from the brewery, but unsure how everyone in the group feels about that limitation. If you only need base malts then it would likely be acceptable but if you mostly get 5-10# splits then it might be best to support your LHBS.

I'll need base malt soon myself and the price at my LHBS are, unfortunately, double what we get from 3 Stars.

 

[RampantOctopus]

might be best to support your LHBS

almost certainly in my case... lucky for me MD Home-brew is only :30 away... speaking of which, I should probably start planning an order. Thanks for the info-- looking forward to keeping in touch.

 

[mclardass]

Check in occasionally or watch the thread, we may be able to swing an order at some point and pricing is attractive for larger quantities.

 

[Tobor_8thMan]

OK, I'm probably willing to up my order > 5 bags if someone is picking up in the NOVA area.

 

[popquizkid]

I am going to need 3 or so sacks of base malt within the next couple months, so I am open to participating without splits if we can get one going for the fall.

 

[Tobor_8thMan]

I know Jay's in Manassas, VA is no longer an option, but any other possible NOVA locations for us to use?

 

[BrewSavage]

I only have enough base malt to last me about 3 months.

I wonder if we should consider full sacks only this buy, if it happens at all.

 

[Transamguy77]

I’m going to need some base malt in the fall also, I’ve always had luck getting my grain cheap but with what’s going on this might need to be the way to get it. I also think it should be full sacks at this time.

 

[mclardass]

Reached out to 3 Stars and will see if they're comfortable with resuming. I still believe whole-sack is the only reasonable option, for the time being, since on-site splits are too risky for brewers and staff. Health and safety are paramount, I can't drink beer when I'm dead.

 

[mclardass]

Can I get a headcount on brewers interested in whole sack orders and a rough number of sacks you would order? Discussing options with 3 Stars and we had eleven full sacks on the pre-pandemic order but no idea what brewers need now. Feel free to PM me if that's your preference, nothing firm yet but getting a count would be helpful.

Related, 3 Stars is no longer an LD Carlson customer (after closing the LHBS) so there will be fewer products available. Waiting on an updated product and price list which obviously may affect your participation.

 

[Transamguy77]

If I’m driving over an hour I’m in for at least 6 probably 8.

 

[IslandLizard]

Can I get a headcount on brewers interested in whole sack orders

I'm still set from the last buy, so no order from me this time.

I still believe whole-sack is the only reasonable option,

Absolutely!

Now brewers can still split sacks among themselves, off the premises.
Just be safe!

 

[popquizkid]

I would be in for at least 3 whole sacks, depending on what the grain availability is moving forward.

 

[Wgoose1]

2 or 3 sacks for me.

 

[Tobor_8thMan]

Once again, I'm good for 5 to 6 sacks if someone in the NOVA area is picking up.

 

[BrewSavage]

2-3 sacks.

 

[IslandLizard]

Related, 3 Stars is no longer an LD Carlson customer (after closing the LHBS) so there will be fewer products available. Waiting on an updated product and price list which obviously may affect your participation.

From what I remember all Product Codes starting with a number are LD Carlson.

Those starting with letters, being an abbreviation of the maltster, are supplied by BSG.

 

[pdcm]

I feel sort of silly sliding in here and asking for just 1 sack of base malt, but that's about my level - I'd also need to sign up with @mclardass since I'm new, but I figured I'd wait until things are moving along.

 

[BrewSavage]

I feel sort of silly sliding in here and asking for just 1 sack of base malt, but that's about my level - I'd also need to sign up with @mclardass since I'm new, but I figured I'd wait until things are moving along.

There's nothing silly about only needing 1 sack of grain.

 

[Transamguy77]

So any word on if this will happen yet?

 

[mclardass]

Finalizing details with 3 Stars but unsure when we'll start accepting orders. I plan to clear out the existing order, since it's so old and includes splits, and then open for a short period and get the order placed quickly. If I had to guess, I'd say we're looking at November but if 3 Stars gets back soon then we could get an order placed this month for October delivery.

 

[Tobor_8thMan]

NOVA, anyone?

 

[bhamdhamDC]

Brand new to the area (moved to Arlington in July) and have an 8 week old so I'm interested in keeping brew day short and using DME. Are 50 pound (or other bulk sizes) bags of DME available as part of this order? If so, I'll PM my name, cell, email to join the ordering site.

 

[mclardass]

Welcome to the area and welcome to parenthood/no sleep. We used to order DME (and many other items) but with 3 Stars closing their homebrew store and dissolving the relationship with LD Carlson it's likely removed from the order list. I'm waiting on a final product sheet but will check and see if DME can be ordered through one of their other providers.

 

[bhamdhamDC]

Appreciate it (on all counts)! I'll keep checking in on this thread for an update if you wouldn't mind posting an update once you get the final product sheet, thanks again!

 

[pdcm]

NOVA, anyone?

Yup, about 10 miles from 3 Stars, in Arlington.

Appreciate it (on all counts)! I'll keep checking in on this thread for an update if you wouldn't mind posting an update once you get the final product sheet, thanks again!

Welcome! In case you don't already know them, you can order supplies and do curbside pickup from The Brew Shop on Clarendon Blvd between Courhouse and Rosslyn. There's also My Local Home Brew Shop over in 7 corners, near the Sears, sort of across from the Dogfish Head.