Do you recommend getting a mill

[InTheBasement]

For those who have a mill, do you feel it's worth it? I buy my grains from the local shop and they will mill them for me. Will the amount that I save buying bulk grains really make up for the cost of the mill? Is the savings really big enough to warrant it? Are there other advantages of having my own mill as opposed to having the local shop mill for me? Are there aspects of control over my process that make having one a significant benefit?

 

[WarEagleBrewer]

Buy a Corona/Victoria style mill before you go spending a lot of money. Get one made in South America, not China. And do a search here for "my ugly junk corona mill"

 

[beergolf]

A lot depends pn how much you brew. I used my LHBS for years and their crush was pretty good. So I had no issues there.

I even had a grian mill someone gave me but it was always coming out of adjustment so I just kept using the LHBS. Then I finially decided to upgrade and did not cheap out on the set up. It will take a long time to recoup the investment. There is more to it than just getting a mill. You will need a good scale, storage containers.So doing it just to try to save money is not the only thing to consider. I got a great mill, motorized it. Bought a bunch of grain in bulk, good storage containers, a nice scale.

Am I glad I did it? Yes? Will I save money? eventually but I invested quite a bit in my set up. Do I regret spending the money? Not at all. I keep enough grains in stock that I can pretty much make almost any recipe on a whim. Go down the basement, weigh out the grains and mill them. I keep several of the yeasts that I use most often in stock by overbuilding starters and saving them for future brews. A lot of hops in the freezer. I pretty much can brew almost anything whenever I want. I have already done several mid week spur of the moment brews when I had an unexpected day free.

It took a few brews to dial in the crush, but now I have right where I want it. So the consistency is a big plus.

my suggestion is do not cheap on the mill set up and it will last you for a very long time. I am glad I got the set up that I did.

 

[Morrey]

For those who have a mill, do you feel it's worth it? I buy my grains from the local shop and they will mill them for me. Will the amount that I save buying bulk grains really make up for the cost of the mill? Is the savings really big enough to warrant it? Are there other advantages of having my own mill as opposed to having the local shop mill for me? Are there aspects of control over my process that make having one a significant benefit?

We were just discussing this in another thread.

I had my LHBS build my recipe's grain bill and I asked him specifically to NOT mill my grain as I have a mill. I picked it up and he apologized for milling it, and I told him no problem.

Once home I looked at his milling job and it was pitiful. A large portion of the grains were uncracked and the job was very uneven. I ran thru my mill again to smooth out the botched crush job.

I am getting 80% or better efficiency due largely to efficient grain milling. Had I accepted and mashed the grains he presented to me, I'd be lucky to get 65%, probably less. These LHBS mills get used ALOT and the rollers take a beating and wear out.

I would say my grain mill is one of my most important pieces of brewing equipment.

 

[BeardedBrews]

<Edit> @Beergolf beat me to it, everything he said is on point.


I love having a mill, but the answer will depend on how you brew.

Regarding Cost - I can get bulk 2-Row for $0.65/lb, that's ~$0.50/lb cheaper than the per-pound price here. I am about to buy my 3rd 55lb bag and have had the mill for about 8 months, so I am certainly going to get my money back. That said, the cost is only part of the picture for me.

I think the biggest benefit to having your own mill is the convenience of having ingredients on hand. Un-Milled grain can store for quite a long time, so you can keep 5-10lbs of everything. It's 30-60 minutes each way to get to my homebrew shop depending on traffic so this makes a big savings for me.

Some have also found that their homebrew shop crush is not as consistent as they want. If you own the mill you can set it up however you want.

If I was brewing < 25 gallons per year, or if my home brew shop was a short drive and had good hours, then I don't know that it would be worth owning the mill.

 

[IslandLizard]

Among other variables, it largely depends on how much you brew, how you "schedule" your brews (flexibility), and how much control you want over your grist. Many LHBS mills are set quite much wider than ideal for most homebrewers (read: coarse grind) and if you include small kernel grain, like wheat or rye, they may pass through mostly uncrushed.

If you can buy grain in bulk, such as a local group grain buy, LHBS by the sack, or you buy a sack's worth (50 or 55#) from the LHBS, but you'll get it from their bins whenever you want, you may save enough over a year or 2 paying for your mill you bought up front.

If you BIAB, the $25-35 Corona (knock off), as mentioned above, will work great. With some tweaking you can get it to mill the grain exactly the way you want, even in a conventional mash/lauter tun. A roller mill will run $100-200 (and up).

 

[Smellyglove]

You have to run your own numbers in terms of cost and see if its worth for you in terms of dollars.

But, some none-dollar benefits of having your own mill are that you can buy x pounds of this and that grains and brew wheneverer you want, instead of being tied down to you LHBS, and you get consistency.

I work at a LHBS. This might come across as me being an *******, but that's a fact. I mill my grains at the shop just the way I want them, after hours. But, whenever there's a queue building up I open the gap (which decides how much grains are being let down onto the rollers) on the mill and tighten the rollers, this way I can mill faster and still get a good enough crush, but since the gap is bigger it's not as even as with a tighter gap.

 

[beergolf]

Here is some grain mill porn for you...hahahahaha

Monster Mill MM2 Pro, All American Ale Works power grinder motor. Anvil scale. VIttle Vaults for grain storage.

 

[bonecitybrewco]

Here is some grain mill porn for you...hahahahaha

What motor is that? I am looking at doing something similar....

 

[beergolf]

What motor is that? I am looking at doing something similar....

All American Ale Works motor, 180 rpm. That thing is so powerful I think you could grind rocks with it. Not the cheapest, but easy to set up and works great.


https://www.allamericanaleworks.com/

 

[Murphys_Law]

I bought a Cereal Killer for around $100 and haven't looked back. I buy a few different grains in bulk and then when I want to brew I will stop by the local to buy my specialty grains, some yeast and any add'l hops I may need (also try and buy my favorites in bulk, as well). I usually have a few brews lined up so when I'm ready I make a starter, mill my grains and brew on!

It is great having complete control of the crush and having freshly milled grains on brew day. I didn't buy the mill as a "ROI" type of a purchase...not sure when the break-even point will even come but I don't regret this purchase one bit.

 

[Morrey]

Beergolf:

This is just about TOTALLY awesome! I am green with envy

Was this a pre-constructed cart/unit that you modified? Do you simply put an empty 5G pail in the cabinet to catch the grist?

 

[Morrey]

I bought a Cereal Killer for around $100 and haven't looked back. I buy a few different grains in bulk and then when I want to brew I will stop by the local to buy my specialty grains, some yeast and any add'l hops I may need (also try and buy my favorites in bulk, as well). I usually have a few brews lined up so when I'm ready I make a starter, mill my grains and brew on!

It is great having complete control of the crush and having freshly milled grains on brew day. I didn't buy the mill as a "ROI" type of a purchase...not sure when the break-even point will even come but I don't regret this purchase one bit.

Exactly, and I never once considered my mill as a purchase that would pay for itself. Rather this is an important tool to give me control and consistency.

 

[beergolf]

Beergolf:

This is just about TOTALLY awesome! I am green with envy

Was this a pre-constructed cart/unit that you modified? Do you simply put an empty 5G pail in the cabinet to catch the grist?

No I built it so everything would fit. I used melamine board and iron on edging. There is a switch and a plug on the side that you cannot see, so I can plug in the scale, and turn the mill on and off. I even put a shelf in the cabinet side so that an ale pail will fit with only about 1/8" clearance. keeps the grain dust down to almost nothing.

Took a while to design but I am super happy with the results.

 

[Morrey]

No I built it so everything would fit. I used melamine board and iron on edging. There is a switch and a plug on the side that you cannot see, so I can plug in the scale, and turn the mill on and off. I even put a shelf in the cabinet side so that an ale pail will fit with only about 1/8" clearance. keeps the grain dust down to almost nothing.

Took a while to design but I am super happy with the results.

Impressive...totally impressive!

 

[Hammy71]

Well....if your to a point of thinking about buying a mill, then your ready to purchase one. I couldn't imagine not having a mill as part of my AG brewing equipment. The ability to buy a pound of a specialty grain and only mill .25# and save the rest in a zip lock bag for the next brew saves me so many trips to the HBS that it has paid for itself many times over just in gas. Also a local brewpub sells me 2-row at cost in 55# bags. I'm on my second mill after 8+years. The first was a Barley Crusher and it lasted me 4-5 years and I eventually had to replace it with an adult version....a MM2. Love the thing. Mine is a simple setup. Harbor Freight 1/2" drill and a shelf I got at the local Ace for a Black Friday deal.

 

[mongoose33]

Yes you can save money. How much depends on how much you brew.

I knew I'd save money, but that wasn't the major reason for buying a mill. I wanted control over the process; I'm not dependent upon any LHBS doing it right, or having to worry about their crush. I'm able to get exactly what I want.

I get my malt from Ritebrew; either I pick it up or I have someone else do it if I'm lucky. They have 2-row malt for $38/50 pounds and Maris Otter (a fave) for $53/55 pounds. That's 76 cents a pound and 98 cents a pound.

At my LHBS, I pay $1.50/pound for 2-row, and I can't get Maris Otter at all (though I suspect it would be $1.75 or more).

So I'm saving 74 cents per pound. A typical brew has 10-12 pounds of grain, so just for the sake of argument, I'm saving $7.50 or more per brew.

From that, you can do the math. If you buy, say, a Cereal Killer, you've paid for it after maybe 14 brews, and at that point, it's all "profit," or, if you will, savings. AND, you control your crush.

 

[beergolf]

So InTheBasement (op) I think you got your answer.. hahahaha . Now just decide on which mill to get and how to set it up.

Lots of good mills out there and a lot of different ways to set them up.

Here is a very long thread to look at. https://www.homebrewtalk.com/showthread.php?t=159950

 

[InTheBasement]

Well, yes. I came back today at lunch to read any responses and it has consumed half of my lunch time. I think the answer is that it is worth it. I am fortunate that I am not looking at this as a way to save money. This is a hobby for me and so I expect to spend on what I do. I think the data shows that mill ownership is a clear benefit to the hobby. I think I will get one. OK, so now let's take a walk down that road. I am not one to buy cheap and then have to go and buy again. I am so fed up with reading on line reviews for ANYTHING anymore. IT seems when I read reviews, I get the range from "This is the most awesome product ever" to "This is so horrible that it almost led to the end of my life". I never know what to think. So from a brewing community perspective, what would be the way to go? What mill would I get that most would agree is bulletproof?

 

[BeardedBrews]

What mill would I get that most would agree is bulletproof?

I bought the Cereal Killer from AIH and have been very happy with it.

If I were buying again today I would probably splash out for a 3-roller: http://www.beveragefactory.com/homebrew/pre-fermentation-equipment/kegco-KM11GM-3R-grain-mill.html

Reports indicate the Kegco is comparable in build quality to the MonsterMill at a fraction of the price. Honestly I think money is better spent in designing a clean and efficient grain storage system and milling cart than in the mill itself.

I liked these because they were stackable, available in a variety of colors, included a handy scoop, and they were cheap ($14 for the common colors):
https://www.walmart.com/ip/20903095

<edit> The big rolling container holds about 35lb of 2-row, the little one holds a bit more than 10lb.

 

[brewcat]

I bought a corona style one. I'll store some specialty grains and just buy crushed base grain. I've done full recipes but the mill is a little slow. I also get a good crush from my LHBS. So I save a bit of time and don't have to deal with grain dust.

Someday I'll probably get a better setup, but right now I don't have much space for grain storage. Plus that money could be used for a more kegs.

 

[beergolf]

I just can talk about the mills I have owned. Do not get a Barley Crusher. Hated mine.

I am super happy with my Monster Mill. MM2 Pro. Nice 2" rollers, 1/2"drive shaft. This mill is buil tlike a tank. Easy to adjust, and gives a nice crush. Not the cheapest, but so solid I can see it lasting a long time. I have done about 30 brews using it and I am very pleased.

http://www.monsterbrewinghardware.com/store/pc/MM-2Pro-3p100.htm

I also like the All American Ale Works gear drive motor. 180 rpm and enough power that I think that I could grind rocks with it. Easy to set up. No messing with pulleys and belts. Just bolt it down, wire it up and you are good to go.

https://www.allamericanaleworks.com/shop/grain-mill-motor-shaft-couplers-package/

My set up was not cheap but an awesome set up.

 

[dryboroughbrewing]

Love my mill it's an mm2 2.0, I too replaced my Barley Crusher a couple years back after it died on me, the Monster Mill has been a champion by comparison. Motor wise I'm using a .5 HP motor from Harbor Freight that I bought a few years back, mated to a 10:1 gear reducer from ebay. For storage I use the white buckets from home depot, topped with gamma seal lids.

 

[Transamguy77]

I will echo what others have already said, I have a corona mill and I get great efficiency with it, I can also brew or prep whenever I want.

I did motorize my corona and that is nice, if I crush on brew day it's crushing while I'm getting set up.

 

[InTheBasement]

OK, now how about the decision between 2 roller and 3 roller? Any benefit either way?

 

[plepper]

Ditto on the Corona mill my whole setup was about $30.00 not counting the drill motor. It was an easy DIY project and allows me to brew whenever I want. Buying grains in bulk has paid for the mill setup in the first bag. I also just picked up 4 Lbs of hops for under $23.00 from Yakima Valley Hops. Buying in bulk and smart shopping has lowered my cost per batch and added convenience to my brewing.

 

[RM-MN]

OK, now how about the decision between 2 roller and 3 roller? Any benefit either way?

Corona mills have no rollers. They work fine. They are also cheap.

 

[jekeane]

I have a mill and my efficiency went up 7% using the factory settings over my Lhbs mill. I do save money on bulk grains about $10-15 per sack. But when you figure the mill and the storage containers it will be a while till I see a return, and I brew a lot.

For me it's a matter of convenience more than anything. I'm able to get the efficiency I want and I don't have to make trips to the homebrew store as frequently. If I want to squeeze in a small stovetop biab batch I can just run out to the garage and I have what I want.

I have a barley crusher right now and will likely move to A monster mill when / if the one I have gives up the ghost.

 

[mattdee1]

I bought a mill as part of my initial "lump investment" to get started in brewing, which was a year and a half ago, and I haven't even taken it out of the box yet.

 

[kh54s10]

I bought a mill as part of my initial "lump investment" to get started in brewing, which was a year and a half ago, and I haven't even taken it out of the box yet.

Get it out! It give you consistency, options for spur of the moment brewing. Unmilled grain lasts longer so if you stock some grain you can make up a recipe and brew it right away. No trip to the LHBS or waiting for an online order to arrive.