expensive ag ?

[Golddiggie]

so you guys are buying 50lb bags?

55# sacks of base malt... That's typically UK 2 row and Maris Otter (Bairds currently)... Last group buy I was involved in, I also got a half sack of honey malt and split a sack of amber malt. :rockin:

 

[Hopper5000]

so whats the price on a 55lb like 40 to 50 bucks?

 

[bottlebomber]

If someone is every remotely concerned about cost and wants to brew regularly they have to buy bulk. I got a grain mill and it payed for itself after about 2 sacks. Hops are a no brainer. 1 lb of Simcoe, $25. 16 ounces of Simcoe at 2.99, $47.85

 

[Golddiggie]

so what's the price on a 55lb like 40 to 50 bucks?

For what I get its under $40/sack total including truck charges. You can get US 2 row even cheaper ($25/sack isn't uncommon).

 

[BOBTHEukBREWER]

56 lb of maris otter crushed pale malt is 28 UKP , half a packet of yeast 1 UKP and hops are 4 to 8 UKP per kilo depending on type so max of 13 UKP for a 3.8% pale bitter.

 

[Golddiggie]

56 lb of maris otter crushed pale malt is 28 UKP , half a packet of yeast 1 UKP and hops are 4 to 8 UKP per kilo depending on type so max of 13 UKP for a 3.8% pale bitter.

Wish I could get those prices, but better for unmilled grain (I'm pretty much already there on grain, so everything else). I like to mill the grain for each batch on brew day. Considering how you're probably paying extra to have the grain milled for you. That's good pricing on hops (~$6.39-12.78 for 2.2 pounds of hops). Current exchange rate is 1:1.5977 (pound to US$).

 

[revco]

I can pick up a 50lb sack of Montana grown two row for $45 from my LHBS, any time all the time. Not the best price in the world, but it's good malt and locally grown. Definitely inquire about bulk base grains, it's the only way to fly with AG and you'll end up easily using it with 10lb here, 12lb there. Even if you only brew 4-5 times a year, you'll certainly use it up well before it expires.

 

[Robin0782]

Wish I could get some of these 50 lb prices. I'm paying $54 for 50 lbs of US 2-row at my local shop. About $1.13 a pound after tax. Not terrible I guess but even $45 would make me smile.

 

[Mojzis]

For what I get its under $40/sack total including truck charges. You can get US 2 row even cheaper ($25/sack isn't uncommon).

I'm paying 50 for 55lbs of 2-row. I thought that was a good deal until i saw this

 

[Golddiggie]

I'm paying 50 for 55lbs of 2-row. I thought that was a good deal until i saw this

Just checked the 2011 pdf for the grain buy... US 2-row was under 55 cents a pound, depending on which maltster you went with (GW was the lower cost). Also looked up one of the price sheets for another group buy I was involved in. The sacks of MO I got were $39 each, delivered cost). UK 2-row was $34 a sack (55# per sack). Looks like the US 2-row was not much less in price. Don't remember where I got the other price, but I do recall it being mentioned at some point not that long ago. Although I could be mixing it up with another malt. Still, under $40 for a 55# sack is pretty good in my book. :rockin:

 

[Mojzis]

Just checked the 2011 pdf for the grain buy... US 2-row was under 55 cents a pound, depending on which maltster you went with (GW was the lower cost). Also looked up one of the price sheets for another group buy I was involved in. The sacks of MO I got were $39 each, delivered cost). UK 2-row was $34 a sack (55# per sack). Looks like the US 2-row was not much less in price. Don't remember where I got the other price, but I do recall it being mentioned at some point not that long ago. Although I could be mixing it up with another malt. Still, under $40 for a 55# sack is pretty good in my book. :rockin:

Wow that's cheap. I need to find something like this.

 

[mikeysab]

I think anything around a buck a pound is decent for base malt. I just paid $190 for 240 lbs of assorted malts. 79 cents a pound is phenominal in my book but theres other group buyers getting it even cheaper i think.

Just so the op doesn't feel TOO bad about it, your 47 dollar batch is still less than a dollar a beer. Sure, group buyers pay about 40 cents or less a beer, but a quality beer for less than a buck is still a decent price, imho.

 

[johngault007]

Just so the op doesn't feel TOO bad about it, your 47 dollar batch is still less than a dollar a beer. Sure, group buyers pay about 40 cents or less a beer, but a quality beer for less than a buck is still a decent price, imho.

Good point. Sometimes I forget myself how inexpensive this hobby actually gets after start-up costs, new equipment and such. Anything under a dollar is still a great price for a beer considering most craft beer goes for $4 a pint, at least in these parts.

I never worried too much about getting the lowest price possible, but it came naturally when I moved to AG and started buying my base malt in bulk. I just couldn't pass up a $.90 discount per pound.

 

[Robin0782]

My last batch of IPA cost me $28 including 8 oz of hops, Simcoe and Centennial. I always add $8 to that, however, to account for propane and sanitizer, as well as CO2 since I keg. Likely an over-estimation, but it's still only $36 for 40 pints, $0.90 a glass. Even when I account for all the money I've spent on equipment over the years, split between all the batches I've made, it's only just over double that. Still really cheap. And with each batch that goes down. Now if we start talking about man hours, it could get expensive but hopefully you enjoy brewing and so that doesn't factor in.

 

[MarcusKillion]

I run a LHBS and this is a 25-30 dollar recipe. Do you know how much you paid per item.

I posted the prices here in another post .

Is your online store not up and running ? I tried the link on your page and got error page not found http://shop.thebrewshop.biz/

A note on my town and anything good for sale . Wichita is the largest city in Ks but seems to have very little in the way of shopping for things . I buy very little in stores . Most shopping done on line .Lots of things are too pricey here . we have only one LHBS and it is very small . Heck I drive a truck . there is NO real truck stop in the Wichita or surrounding areas. Amazing that we have so little in a big city , well big for Kansas .
I will be ordering my grains online from now on.

 

[MarcusKillion]

I think anything around a buck a pound is decent for base malt. I just paid $190 for 240 lbs of assorted malts. 79 cents a pound is phenominal in my book but theres other group buyers getting it even cheaper i think.

Just so the op doesn't feel TOO bad about it, your 47 dollar batch is still less than a dollar a beer. Sure, group buyers pay about 40 cents or less a beer, but a quality beer for less than a buck is still a decent price, imho.

I guess you are right . that is 3 bucks less a sixer than I can get microbrew for at the liquor store .

 

[MarcusKillion]

I can pick up a 50lb sack of Montana grown two row for $45 from my LHBS, any time all the time. Not the best price in the world, but it's good malt and locally grown. Definitely inquire about bulk base grains, it's the only way to fly with AG and you'll end up easily using it with 10lb here, 12lb there. Even if you only brew 4-5 times a year, you'll certainly use it up well before it expires.

I drink a bit less than a case a week so I brew about every couple weeks or so to keep a stash of different beers ready to toss in fridge . I usually have 3 or four different kinds at a time . As soon as I find a AG that I really like I will buy in bulk . As it is I have only tried one time . I will enjoy it in a month I think as I just put it in secondary to clear up a bit .
Now off to find a good online source for grain.

 

[MarcusKillion]

I looked up the same stuff on Northern brewer and came up to about 41.00 for what i bought in town . I had also bought a 2.50 bottle of yeast nutrient with my order . So about 6 bucks saving with 8.95 shipping included .

 

[ChandlerBang]

That is way too much. I usually buy whole sacks and split sacks of specialty grain. That recipe would cost me about $14. It would cost $11 if I used washed yeast.

I call bull**** on $11. Itemize please? 47 is nuts, but so is 11.

 

[mb82]

I call bull**** on $11. Itemize please? 47 is nuts, but so is 11.

I just did a 1.061 SMASH for about $15 with washed yeast at standard prices for malt and hops. If I had been able to get volume discounts then I can see $11 no problem.

 

[bottlebomber]

I call bull**** on $11. Itemize please? 47 is nuts, but so is 11.

I could swing that.
10 lbs 2-row
.7 x 10 = $7.00
.5 lb c60
.75 x 1 = $.75
.5 ounce Apollo (bittering)
.35 x 1 = .35
2 oz cascade (aroma and flavor)
2 x .62 = 1.25
Washed yeast or yeast from the brewery = free

$9.35
80% efficiency gives me 1.055
$35 a sack for 2-row
$10 a lb for hops through Niko

18¢ a beer, it can be done. Shoot, I could even splurge on hops and make it an IPA and keep it under 11 bucks.

 

[Bradinator]

Interesting read. At my LHBS they sell base grain at $1-1.50 CDN/lbs and sell 55lbs bulk bags for $50. Specialty grain goes for $2-4 lbs depending. Hops are pricey at $2.50/oz. Dry yeast is $3-6.

In the past I went straight to the grain supplier (CMC) and was able to pick up the same 55lbs bulk bag for $25... But its a 4 hour commute and they do not deliver, which means I need to take a half day off work which is not ideal.

I searched online to find cheaper prices then the LHBS and have yet to locate any.

 

[Mojzis]

I pay 2.15 an ounce of hops and still make a batch for 14-18$ on average. Bulk grain, washed yeast, etc. 11$ I could make happen if i got a cheaper bag of 2-row for sure.

 

[MarcusKillion]

So far I have tried Northern Brewers, Morebeer and homebrew heaven and found not much difference in the price compared to the 47 I paid in town.

any suggestions on where to buy ingredients cheap ? How ever I did not try to buy large quantities of specialty grains only 1 pound or more than 1 ounce hops so that may make a difference . The price on 2 row at 50 pounds was much better than in store

 

[bovineblitz]

Maybe it's just me, but when I have to buy specialty grains, I deliberately buy at least twice as much as I need for the recipe I'm working on. I figure I'm at the store already anyway, and if I like the beer I may want to make it again, or I'll likely use it in another beer at some point and I don't want to have to wait to order it online or make another trip to the LHBS, and it's only a couple bucks anyway ... so I just buy a couple pounds' worth.

Granted, I have my own grain mill at home, so the grain might not get used for a few months, but still, I figure for the extra couple of bucks, it might come in handy down the road.

Anyone else do this too?

I've been doing AG for years and don't have a mill. I don't really have a choice, being an apartment brewer. Space is at a premium, and I already use too much space for all the equipment.

 

[sketerbuck]

I posted the prices here in another post .

Is your online store not up and running ? I tried the link on your page and got error page not found http://shop.thebrewshop.biz/

A note on my town and anything good for sale . Wichita is the largest city in Ks but seems to have very little in the way of shopping for things . I buy very little in stores . Most shopping done on line .Lots of things are too pricey here . we have only one LHBS and it is very small . Heck I drive a truck . there is NO real truck stop in the Wichita or surrounding areas. Amazing that we have so little in a big city , well big for Kansas .
I will be ordering my grains online from now on.

I'm still working on the online store.

 

[Mojzis]

Brewmasterswarehouse. Flate rate shipping, good pricing and semi bulk hops. Fast shipping and friendly too. My new hbs.

For bulk malt you just need to get in on a buy or ask around. I got my corona mill for 20$ and i get great efficiency with no issues sparging. I'm also an apartment dweller and a mill is the lowest space consumer. The 55 lbs of grain however sits in a container under the bed.

 

[Hopper5000]

I was just at one of my LHBS, morebeer, and they have 55lb US 2 row sacks for 35 and marris otter for 62. Not too bad of a deal... might have to go for it. They also said if you buy a pallet (obviously a group buy) then it's even cheaper.

 

[Mojzis]

I was just at one of my LHBS, morebeer, and they have 55lb US 2 row sacks for 35 and marris otter for 62. Not too bad of a deal... might have to go for it. They also said if you buy a pallet (obviously a group buy) then it's even cheaper.

can't really beat 35$

 

[cluckk]

I brewed a similar beer Saturday. My bill was about the same as yours, but I also got a bucket (you can never have too many) and a good sized bottle of sanitizer.

I've thought about buying bulk grain, and grinding it myself, but with the cost of a grinder, the time in grinding it and the cost of safely storing it at home (away from pests, etc.) I find it simpler to simply go to the LHBS and let them do it. They pay all those costs and simply pass them on to me for my share in the prices. I hand the clerk my list and then look at all the toys until she brings me my grains, ground and ready to brew. I wouldn't save enough to make it worth the trouble.