Malt Milling Question

[Oberon67]

Hi.

When I was ordering malt a pound at a time, I ordered it milled. Now that my wife has obtained for me a 50-pound bag of 2-row, I've got plenty of malt to work with... but it's whole, not milled.

My first time around I ran it through a little coffee grinder. This powdered some of the grains and left others untouched; overall, the batch efficiency was poor.

So there are two answers that I know will solve the problem: 1) trundle my back of malt back to the store and pay them a bit to mill it for me, or 2) buy a grain mill.

It's a two-hour round trip back to my local home-brew pusher, and I don't want to spend a ton of money on a grain mill just now. On the other hand, I do have a hamburger grinder, or I could just bash the stuff with a rolling pin.

How is this issue traditionally addressed? What's the classic DIY method for busting up malt?

Thanks in advance...

 

[Aonghus]

Obtain a mill to crush your grain (one need not spend a ton of money and it will be easier than trying to smash grain with a rolling pin). I use the JSP malt mill, the price is not bad: http://schmidling.com/maltmill.htm
I have seen others posting about success with it as well. Many folks use others with great success. Here is a thread with folks weighing in on the subject:
https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f36/grain-mills-your-opinion-464996/

 

[electrolight]

+1 for the mill. I always thought it was the most unnecessary piece of equipment as every lhbs can crush for you.

But since buying mine and buying by the sack... I love the freedom of weighing out a batch and brewing a beer when i have free time instead of buying just the right amount of crushed grain and having no grain on hand. I usually get the urge to brew around 6 or 7pm... just after my lhbs closes.

Grant it, this whole dilemma can be avoided by planing... but let's be real, who plans anymore.

 

[electrolight]

Oh... All that said... If you were really determined... I'd go with the roller pin... don't get frustrated Though. Go into it knowing it will take 2 hours to mill your 5 gallon batches worth... Unless you've got some nice arms.

 

[Oberon67]

Oh... All that said... If you were really determined... I'd go with the roller pin... don't get frustrated Though. Go into it knowing it will take 2 hours to mill your 5 gallon batches worth... Unless you've got some nice arms.

My arms aren't bad, but it's not an ordeal I have to face. Thankfully I'm only brewing 1-gallon batches at present, so I'm thinking 20 minutes of manual grain crushing is all I will need.

Thank you for the reply.

 

[C-Rider]

If you are not doing HUGE amounts of grain and your wife has a blender try it. I can mill 7 lbs in 10 min into a fine powder (2 coffee cups at a time) just right for BIAB.

 

[RM-MN]

For the cost of gas for 2 trips to your LHBS you could buy a Corona style mill and have the freedom to brew when you want with freshly milled grains. I bought this one.

http://www.discounttommy.com/p-189-...er-for-wheat-grains-or-use-as-a-nut-mill.aspx

Note that in the continental US the shipping is free.

 

[IslandLizard]

+1^ to the Corona Mill, or any of the cheaper offshoots. $25-50 gets you one of those. For around $100 you can get a budget roller mill. Make your own base and hopper for it. Even stiff cardboard and duct tape can result in a hopper.

For $150 you can get a Monster Mill, but you've got to add the crank, or a very powerful drill.

If you only do gallon batches, it takes you around 15-20 batches to use up the sack. Store it dry and cool, and where rodents and bugs can't get to it.

 

[brew_ny]

http://www.homebrewing.org/Cereal-Killer-Grain-Mill_p_2310.html

not a bad mill for the price I have ran about 1500 pounds thru mine

without a problem

all the best

S_M

 

[kh54s10]

Corona Style mill if you don't want to spend the money on a roller mill. I have been using mine for about 3 years now. And 65 batches. Mostly 5 gallon brews. Get a heavy duty drill from Harbor Freight for about $30 to save time and weary arms.

 

[bobeer]

I have a cereal killer mill and I think I got it for under $100. Worth every penny if you're going to have to mill every time you brew. It's worth it for the consistency of the crush alone.

 

[MDExile]

I have a cereal killer mill and I think I got it for under $100. Worth every penny if you're going to have to mill every time you brew. It's worth it for the consistency of the crush alone.

+1 for the Cereal Killer.

I put about 50 pounds through my Corona style mill before I upgraded to the Cereal Killer. I'm only about 150 pounds through the Cereal Killer, but, to me, it was worth the upgrade. I used my drill to drive both. The Corona took longer and more effort.