expensive ag ?

[Golddiggie]

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.

Except the time, and fuel burned, going to the LHBS to get the grain.

Storing grain is easy, and pretty cheap (depending on how you do it). You can use 5 gallon buckets (Home Depot or Lowes are commonly used). I mill at about 5-6# per minute. So time to mill is minimal. I also have several other malts on hand, so I can make whatever I want AND have added flexibility. If I decide, on brew day, to change up the grist, it's super easy (provided I'm not looking to remove grain already milled).

Space requirements for grain is not bad either. Usually a full sack can be split between two 5 gallon buckets (50 pound sack). You can even leave unopened sacks as is.

I can understand if you don't have the room to store them. I had a rough time trying to keep sacks of grain in my 1 bedroom apartment. Ended up storing my base malt at my brew-buddy's place. At least until I moved into a house, with a basement, and plenty of room.

 

[cluckk]

I know all this, but the LHBS opened a shop less than three miles from my house and I drive by it twice every day. Actually, it's no less convenient than my garage. As for storing grain, I see the bulk grain more as an invitation for rats and mice than a convenience. But, to each his own. Being in Texas, and so close to the LHBS, I'm more concerned with keeping down temperatures on my fermenter.

 

[Golddiggie]

The closest LHBS is about a 10 minute drive for me. But their malt costs are much higher than what I pay via group buys. I've not had any issue with storing my grain after over a year, so I don't think it's an issue. Then again, I don't have the rodents like you do down in Texas.

 

[kombat]

Get GammaSeal lids for your buckets. Rodent/bug/oxygen problem solved.

 

[Golddiggie]

Get GammaSeal lids for your buckets. Rodent/bug/oxygen problem solved.

Yeah, but those lids are NOT cheap. Can be a bit difficult to install, depending on the bucket (and temperatures) too. Installed the last pair I had (bought a 4 pack many months back) this past week. Not as easy as on the previous Lowe's buckets. Go figure.

I do like the positive, easy, sealing though. I have two vittles vaults that hold over a sack each. Plus the blue 14 gallon barrels I got during a group grain buy. Just needed to get some o-rings for those lids (from McMaster-Carr) and they are air tight. :rockin: No issues storing grain in any of those. I've even used standard Lowe's buckets to keep grain in. Just make sure you seal it tight.

 

[cluckk]

I know this will sound stupid since grain has been stored at ambient temperatures in various climates for millennia. What about temperature of storing bulk grain? My garage has an insulated door, but ambient room temperatures in the summer can reach well over a hundred, especially in the afternoon when the sun hits the door directly.

 

[Golddiggie]

I know this will sound stupid since grain has been stored at ambient temperatures in various climates for millennia. What about temperature of storing bulk grain? My garage has an insulated door, but ambient room temperatures in the summer can reach well over a hundred, especially in the afternoon when the sun hits the door directly.

I store mine in the basement where the temperature swings are minimal. While I wouldn't store it where the temperatures reach 100F+ stable temperatures could be more important.

 

[WileECoyote]

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.

Hello, Where are you buying from, I would love to know.

Cheers

 

[bottlebomber]

Hello, Where are you buying from, I would love to know.

Cheers

I buy my grain from Whole Foods, $35 a sack for US 2-Row and $1.50 a pound for all other grains not bulk. I get a lot of my hops from Niko Brew who frequently runs deals for $10 a pound hops on certain varieties. Sign up for his newsletter to get the deals. I wash yeast, or head down to the local brewpub for some free WLP002.

 

[DrunkleJon]

Whole Foods sells 2-row? Wow. Didn't even think about that. I may have to check them out.

 

[bottlebomber]

Whole Foods sells 2-row? Wow. Didn't even think about that. I may have to check them out.

Not all of them do. They are strategically placed to compete with HBS's, and as far the the one in Santa Rosa, it blows the Beverage People away on bulk grain prices. Check around. It may be something that they are willing to order for you if they don't carry a stock.

 

[DrunkleJon]

Never hurts to call/ask. Thanks.

 

[MyBeerPants]

can't really beat 35$

My LHBS can.

50lb sack of 2-row for $29.50 http://www.brewbrothers.biz/2-Row-Pale-US-1573

 

[junior]

I buy my grain from Whole Foods, $35 a sack for US 2-Row and $1.50 a pound for all other grains not bulk. I get a lot of my hops from Niko Brew who frequently runs deals for $10 a pound hops on certain varieties. Sign up for his newsletter to get the deals. I wash yeast, or head down to the local brewpub for some free WLP002.

Bomber, what other brewing grains do they sell?

 

[ChandlerBang]

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.

I stand corrected. Where are you getting base malt for $.70 per pound???

 

[ChandlerBang]

I buy my grain from Whole Foods, $35 a sack for US 2-Row and $1.50 a pound for all other grains not bulk. I get a lot of my hops from Niko Brew who frequently runs deals for $10 a pound hops on certain varieties. Sign up for his newsletter to get the deals. I wash yeast, or head down to the local brewpub for some free WLP002.

Whole foods? Huh....

 

[bottlebomber]

Bomber, what other brewing grains do they sell?

They have the basic lineup - all the crystals, all the darks, common stuff like Munich and Vienna and maybe a few specialties like Aromatic and maybe a Cara or two. In bulk they sell a cheap two row, Rahr, MO, white wheat, German and Belgian pils, and probably a couple others. They actually do pretty good.

I stand corrected. Where are you getting base malt for $.70 per pound???

See above. Also, I am on no way claiming that my typical batch costs so little

 

[ChandlerBang]

I stand corrected. Where are you getting base malt for $.70 per pound???

Asked and answered Already...

 

[ChandlerBang]

See above. Also, I am on no way claiming that my typical batch costs so little

Right sure. But making drinkable beer at that price is something.

 

[TBaGZ]

Wish the whole foods down here carried grain at that price! I can't find anything under $50 a sack.

 

[bottlebomber]

Wish the whole foods down here carried grain at that price! I can't find anything under $50 a sack.

Before they started doing their thing the best I could get was $52 at the HBS, $78 for Maris Otter. WF has MO for $56! I don't think the HBS is real crazy about them being here. Especially since they also have what may be the best beer selection I've ever seen, and a tap room that rotates constantly and does casks frequently as well.

 

[whitehause]

My LHBS has MO for $55 and wyermann pale ale for $46. Both 55lb sacks.

 

[TBaGZ]

I'm talking plain 2-Row at $53 a sack. :/

 

[ChandlerBang]

My LHBS can.

50lb sack of 2-row for $29.50 http://www.brewbrothers.biz/2-Row-Pale-US-1573

Shipping estimator said $58 just for shipping....

 

[Mojzis]

Shipping estimator said $58 just for shipping....

I'm sure they pick it up.

Even at 50$ for 55 lbs I can still make beer for 0.38$ a bottle, so I can't complain. 29$ would be pretty sweet though

 

[WileECoyote]

I buy my grain from Whole Foods, $35 a sack for US 2-Row and $1.50 a pound for all other grains not bulk. I get a lot of my hops from Niko Brew who frequently runs deals for $10 a pound hops on certain varieties. Sign up for his newsletter to get the deals. I wash yeast, or head down to the local brewpub for some free WLP002.

Nice, Wish ours did.

Cheers

 

[MyBeerPants]

Shipping estimator said $58 just for shipping....

It's a good thing I live a mile down the street from the shop then

 

[HOPCousin]

What I saw in the original post was that you didn't preheat your mash ton.
Next time take your sparge water and boil it and add it to your mash cooler in order to preheat the insulation. Then draw it off after a half and hour before you put in your mash water and grains. Then set it aside and let it cool to your desired temp in a pot where you can bring it up to 170 again if needed.
Hope you try the all grain brewing again. Its a great way to spend a day if you have everythign you need and once you get your process down.

 

[Hernando]

I would check the receipt and make sure they didn't fat finger an error when entering the grain bill.

 

[Mojzis]

On second thought I could see the pricing. Went into a hbs near a friends and 2-row was 1.89/# and 1# of anything different (crystal 10) was 2.99#. Caps were 6+ for 144.