Denver Bulk Buy #3

[Blackgaurd_Brewing]

So the count looks like 2300Lbs, seems like that should be enough to do a bulk buy somewhere else if we cant get CMC to help out. Its only $1380 in buisiness, I couldnt imagine a such a huge company needing our piddly order.
Anyone have ideas of where else we can get a bulk buy set up?

 

[Nateo]

the only response I recd was a "Let's do it!".

That sounds like he's willing to help us out. Maybe he gets a lot of emails and doesn't read them very closely. I've dealt with a lot of wholesalers, and you really shouldn't expect the same customer service level you get with a retailer. That's why the retailer can charge twice as much. Also, how can he know a delivery date when we haven't paid and placed the order?

 

[riverfrontbrewer]

That sounds like he's willing to help us out. Maybe he gets a lot of emails and doesn't read them very closely. He should, he is in the sales business. I've dealt with a lot of wholesalers, and you really shouldn't expect the same customer service level you get with a retailer. That's why the retailer can charge twice as much.Then he shouldn't have contacted ME looking for our next order after he basically told us to phuck off previously Also, how can he know a delivery date when we haven't paid and placed the order?

I tried to get him to commit to coming to Denver with a 4 week lead time since several of the Denverites won't/can't purchase before knowing the delivery date so they can get off work, get a babysitter, whatever.....seems like common sense to me.

Again if someone wants to contact him and try to put together a buy, feel free. I assume he will email me again when business slows down and he NEEDS the homebrew crowd.

 

[3guysbrew]

I was just in the Valley and picked up 100 lbs of 2-row. Has anyone looked into the legality of picking up a bulk order? I could get a truck and might be willing to do this if I could get enough other brewers. Sorry if this has already been discused.
Clinton

 

[riverfrontbrewer]

3 Guys-

I dont think this has been discussed. I am sure it would be an option since it keeps him from having to deliver it. The only small issue would be that he won't sell onsite, he has to meet you in town somewhere so you would have to transfer xxxx lbs from his truck to yours. This was my experience anyway. He said that if they sell on site it would be retail then they would have to pass healh dept food grade inspections.

What do you think it would cost you to pick up 50 sacks (2500lbs) of grain and bring them back?

 

[loctones]

If this does happen, and I'm not too late, I would be interested in 50# of pale. After getting a bad crush from my LHBS, I decided that a grain mill was going to be the next item added to my equipment set.

 

[JustinB]

I'd also be interested in 100# of pale if it's not too late...

 

[riverfrontbrewer]

FYI

recd another email from Jason this eve, it appears he is now ready to do a sale, if anyone wants to contact him and put one together feel free.

 

[BrokenBrew]

Think I'm going to pass on this. Brew Hut has Two-Row for $45, and they are responsive and treat me with respect.

They deserve my business and loyalty. Jason doesn't seem to care, isn't responsive, and really doesn't deserve either.

I'll stick with the Brew Hut. They're good people.

 

[Wayne1]

Think I'm going to pass on this. Brew Hut has Two-Row for $45, and they are responsive and treat me with respect.

They deserve my business and loyalty. Jason doesn't seem to care, isn't responsive, and really doesn't deserve either.

I'll stick with the Brew Hut. They're good people.

I guess that depends on your definition of good. They did ask Jason not to sell direct to homebrewers during the last buy. They said they would stop selling his grain if he did sell direct. Jason does not respond well to threats. He sold to us anyway.

I really don't see what the big problem is. Jason is in business selling grain. His main clientele has always been the micro or brewpub market. He was good enough to allow homebrewers to buy grain from him. Would Briess, Rahr or Muntons? He even delivered rather than shipping. This was going out of his way.

So we got spoiled and now expect this level of service when he is maxing out his capacity? His constant and larger clients need to be serviced first. Then if he has excess capacity, the homebrew market.

I like Jason and his product. I would rather deal with him then most of the homebrew shops I have been in. I got more attitude from The Brew Hut than from anyplace in town. I, personally, will never buy from them.

 

[riverfrontbrewer]

I am worn out from brewing 3 batches today and now have to get cleaned up for a party....I would like to weigh in on this tomorrow though.....On another note, if any of you Denverites are going to the Broncos game tomorrow, my wife an I will be at Strange Brew at about 11:30.

 

[BrokenBrew]

Wayne,

Coming from you, I might have to rescind my statement about Jason. It's been a little frustrating waiting for responses from him. I understand, but it's still been frustrating.

Let me see what happens with Jason. I'll probably change my mind. It's hard to pass up the price even with the frustration.

Scott

 

[riverfrontbrewer]

Has anybody contacted Jason to put this together yet?

 

[bosdave]

I know I am a bit late to the game, but I would like to get in on this if it happens. I would do 100# of 2row pale. I believe that I saw that this will cost $60 plus delivery fees and that I will have to pick up on a certain date? Let me know please!

 

[Buffman]

Think I'm going to pass on this. Brew Hut has Two-Row for $45, and they are responsive and treat me with respect.QUOTE]

Is that for a 50# sack? The last time I asked them about a bulk purchase, they were charging over $60.

 

[qulith]

Is that for a 50# sack? The last time I asked them about a bulk purchase, they were charging over $60.

For 50#s of Rahr, I just bought a bag about a month ago. If you want the CMC 2-row I think it is around 66.

 

[RDWHAHB]

Has anybody contacted Jason to put this together yet?

No. I think everbody wants cheap grain, but doesn't care enough to work for it. At least that is the camp I am in.

 

[Wayne1]

No. I think everbody wants cheap grain, but doesn't care enough to work for it.

It also seems that people are only concerned with price instead of quality. Your base malt will make up the majority of your fermentables. I have not come across ANY North American base malt of the quality of the Colorado Malting Company. It blows the Briess, Rahr, Gambrinus, etc out of the water. The Pilsner malt is easily equal to if not better than the European Pils.

I, personally, am going to be too busy with my own business to put in the time to organize this buy. I am willing to help whoever does step up to organize it. The last group buy felt at times like herding cats. I am sure there is someone here that has the organizing skills to make it easy for them.

Business IS business. In these times, I think it is great that a small start-up company can get the demand for their product from highly respected breweries that they have to turn away small orders. Jason has certainly taken care of the homebrewers in the past. The last bulk buy, he sold to us at the lowest price he has EVER sold the grain for. Including the big orders he has sold to New Belgium and Odells.

During the last group buy, an order for a certain amount was placed. For whatever reason some people didn't show to pay for it. Dealing with a "normal" business, I would have been on the hook for paying for the grain, as I placed the order. Jason went beyond "normal" business dealings and took the abandoned grain back with him.

I hope there is someone here who does have the time and skills to put this group buy together. Country Malt Group has made it clear that they will not deal with homebrewers. They will only sell to homebrew shops. Colorado Malting Company has indicated that they will still deal with hombrewers, even though it may cost them business.

If there is someone who is willing to step up and put this together, please get in touch with either riverfrontbrewer or myself and we will give you the contact information for Colorado Malting Company.

 

[riverfrontbrewer]

Random thoughts that run through my head concerning this:

Positives:
In my face to face dealings with Jason, he has been nothing but great

Their malt is awesome, I would def agree w Wayne on that.

When we can get great malt at half the hb store cost, I am all for it.

Negatives:

We (hbers) are definitely the low man on the totem pole as far as customers go. Not sure why that is deemed as "ok".

I have only met Wayne one time, but have read many of his posts and know he has lots of experience not only as a hber, but also on the commercial side of brewing as well, so nothing but respect for his views and opinions. With that said I am going to disagree, or take the other side of the arguement, on the statement about selling to us versus homebrew stores. If CMC sells us 50+ sacks of grain, but only sells a certain hb shop only 5 bags at a time, that isn't really doing us a favor, that is just a smart business move.

SO, I guess I am going to think about putting this together. Here is what will happen. I am going to send Jason an email asking him what grains he has available to offer us, when he would like to deliver, what is the best way for all of us people to prepay.

At this point I will start a new thread as the official ordering thread for this bulk buy with the first post outlining what we are being offered, delivery date, payment details, etc.

Then we will have x amount of time to get this organized and paid for pre-delivery. When you place your order you will pm me your HBT user name, real name, and phone number. Keep in mind the delivery will likely be in the Park Meadows mall area, on a weekday, in the middle of the day.

What say you-


Chris

 

[riverfrontbrewer]

Email sent....here we go

 

[Wayne1]

Chris,

Thank you for the compliments. My take on the whole situation is not as a brewer but as a small businessman. I have been on both sides of the issue professionally and that is what I am basing my arguments on.

My thoughts for CMC are based on his selling to breweries, not homebrew stores. New Belgium and Odells are ordering 20,000 lb quantities at a time. That would be my priority to filling orders, if I owned the company, even over a couple of pallets of various bagged malt.

I will be happy to help you out with the order, but my time is limited. I have my own orders to fill.

Cheers,
Wayne

 

[zman]

What base grains do they have available and what are their prices?

 

[Vitamin R]

I was in on the last buy and will gladly do so again...min 100# of pale, and 50# pils, possibly more...just waiting for the final costs and instructions and I'll confirm my order...

Thanks to Wayne1 and riverfrontbrewer for getting this in motion!

 

[riverfrontbrewer]

Random thoughts that run through my head concerning this:

Positives:
In my face to face dealings with Jason, he has been nothing but great

Their malt is awesome, I would def agree w Wayne on that.

When we can get great malt at half the hb store cost, I am all for it.

Negatives:

We (hbers) are definitely the low man on the totem pole as far as customers go. Not sure why that is deemed as "ok".

I have only met Wayne one time, but have read many of his posts and know he has lots of experience not only as a hber, but also on the commercial side of brewing as well, so nothing but respect for his views and opinions. With that said I am going to disagree, or take the other side of the arguement, on the statement about selling to us versus homebrew stores. If CMC sells us 50+ sacks of grain, but only sells a certain hb shop only 5 bags at a time, that isn't really doing us a favor, that is just a smart business move.

SO, I guess I am going to think about putting this together. Here is what will happen. I am going to send Jason an email asking him what grains he has available to offer us, when he would like to deliver, what is the best way for all of us people to prepay.

At this point I will start a new thread as the official ordering thread for this bulk buy with the first post outlining what we are being offered, delivery date, payment details, etc.

Then we will have x amount of time to get this organized and paid for pre-delivery. When you place your order you will pm me your HBT user name, real name, and phone number. Keep in mind the delivery will likely be in the Park Meadows mall area, on a weekday, in the middle of the day.

What say you-


Chris

Zman-

I highlighted that so could see it this time!

 

[zman]

Zman-

I highlighted that so could see it this time!

I was just curious what they had available or what others have gotten since their site is not really descriptive.

 

[riverfrontbrewer]

Z-what they have avail seems to change a bit, so I am not going to try to guess at this point....I have sent him an email and will report back as soon as he responds.

 

[Ridebreck]

I'm down for a sack of pils if it happens to be available. Not sure what the deal is with their pils, but it seems like its been sold out for months.

 

[riverfrontbrewer]

Update-

Still waiting for a response.

 

[denverdan]

Thanks for putting this together Chris.

I'll be in for something depending on how the logistics work out. Also, I'm new to all grain so this is a great opportunity to get some quality grains on the cheap.

Looks like quite a few people are lurking on this thread so there should be more than enough for a decent sized order.

 

[RDWHAHB]

It also seems that people are only concerned with price instead of quality. Your base malt will make up the majority of your fermentables. I have not come across ANY North American base malt of the quality of the Colorado Malting Company. It blows the Briess, Rahr, Gambrinus, etc out of the water. The Pilsner malt is easily equal to if not better than the European Pils.

Didn't mean to upset anybody. Just stating that there is a lot of interest (in cheap HIGH QUALITY grain), but not many have the time/motivation to put it together. That was my situation.

Thanks Chris. I can definetely help your bill go down a little if you make this happen!