Need a new supplier for all-grain brewing

[cabron99]

I have been brewing for about 12 years and always supported my LHBS. Exclusively. Now, for one reason or another, they have started failing miserably. Trying to stay faithful but that means most weekends I can't brew. Now to my question. Of those of you that order online, where do you go to get reasonable prices? I have been paying around $.90 for base and $1.90 for specialty grains. Haven't found andything below $2.50-3.00 online. I have always purchased base in bulk and specialty in recipe amounts. Would prefer not to have to order specialty grains in 50lb sacks. Any leads, even if obvious to you will be appreciated. (I'm 71, have a successful business going, and don't need a new career as a supplier, thanks, though.)

Patrick

 

[SoCal-Doug]

Stick with base malts in bulk when you can. I would recommend MoreBeer. You can save a bit more if you order 5 or 10 pounds at a time and mill it yourself. There is a well stocked MoreBeer store in Riverside but that would be a 2+ hour drive for you. Their online prices are pretty fair. Shipping is the killer anywhere.

The problem with online pricing is someone still has to weigh it, bag it, box it, and possibly mill it. Those employees kinda prefer to get paid for their time, which increases the cost.

Also snoop around your area for other brewers and clubs and try to work up combined trips or bulk orders. If you can find 5 people that all use (for example) CaraPils, get a bag and split it 10 pounds each at $1/pound.

I totally get not wanting to mitigate and facilitate bulk orders. It's all about effort vs value and that ratio varies from person to person.

 

[flars]

Looks like Northern brewer may fit you needs. Most grains are $1.79 a pound. Some up to $2.79. Shipping is usually rather fast.

 

[IslandLizard]

Look for a group grain buy in your area.

Or find for a (semi) local store to buy sacks of base malts from to defer shipping. They may give you a price break when buying (multiple) whole sacks.
To make it worth the round trip, perhaps combine with another purpose, and stock up for a year's worth of brewing, even include some specialty and roasted malts to have on hand.

Unmilled grain can be stored for over 2 years in a clean, dry, and cool area where rodents or insects can't get to them. But you do need a mill or access to one.

 

[MaxStout]

MoreBeer and William's have been my go-to places. If you're in CA, shipping would be quick, and a closer zone, ratewise, as both stores are in CA. I think sacks of base malt may be a bit over a buck a pound, but the shipping will add a lot.

Another thought for grain: is there a homebrewing club nearby that might do group buys?

Edit: make friends with a local craft brewer and see if they would let you piggyback a few sacks of malt on their order.

 

[philly224]

Another vote for more beer. Love them!

 

[cabron99]

Thanks for the ideas. Looks like I might have to get ready for expensive online orders ($2.50 plus) or drive down to the Valley (1 hour each way). Once again thanks!!

Pat

 

[blubrewbbq]

Stick with base malts in bulk when you can. I would recommend MoreBeer. You can save a bit more if you order 5 or 10 pounds at a time and mill it yourself. There is a well stocked MoreBeer store in Riverside but that would be a 2+ hour drive for you. Their online prices are pretty fair. Shipping is the killer anywhere.

The problem with online pricing is someone still has to weigh it, bag it, box it, and possibly mill it. Those employees kinda prefer to get paid for their time, which increases the cost.

Also snoop around your area for other brewers and clubs and try to work up combined trips or bulk orders. If you can find 5 people that all use (for example) CaraPils, get a bag and split it 10 pounds each at $1/pound.

I totally get not wanting to mitigate and facilitate bulk orders. It's all about effort vs value and that ratio varies from person to person.

+1 for More beer. Prices are decent and they have free shipping when you spend over $60 (maybe it's $59). My LHBS closed last year and morebeer generally get things to me in Atlanta within 2 business days. Customer service has been top notch. I tend to purchase grain in multiple 10# bags for base and 5# bags for the speciality malts that I use often.

 

[eric19312]

+1 on more beer for grain. Their 10 pound bags qualify for free shipping. I get most of my specialty grains from them. For base malt I drive to LHBS about 40 min each way. Pick up 2-4 sacks at a time it’s not that big of a deal. Wish there was a Long Island group buy I could get on though.

 

[MrPowers]

I alternate between morebeer and my LHBS for pretty much anything anymore. Morebeer ships quickly, has a good (but not perfect) selection of ingredients, and their customer service is fantastic.

 

[IslandLizard]

We have our (Washington) DC area group grain buy 3-4 times a year. We even split sacks of specialty malt and DME. It's about an hour drive each way for me, but ever so worth it!

 

[mongoose33]

Don't know where Ventura is, but the cheapest prices I've ever found online are from Ritebrew. I'm fortunate to live close enough to occasionally pass by and pick up an order, or have a buddy do the same for me.

They have 2-row for $35 for a 50# bag, and Maris Otter for $52.35 for a 55# bag.

Lots of other stuff, too, at excellent prices.

 

[PADave]

I buy all my grains from morebeer. All my hops come from yakimavalleyhops.com.

 

[Transamguy77]

If you don't mind driving a bit Docs cellar in SLO is stocked pretty well for being a small placed. I buy my base malt for 55 a sack.

I hope you are in a safe place with the fire in your county

 

[IslandLizard]

Don't know where Ventura is,...

Several times I've asked the "transition team" to look into this issue. The "State/Province" field from the personal info page is NOT being pulled in to the user profile. It seems like a simple fix, but perhaps it isn't, or not important enough.

The easiest workaround is for everyone to add a comma, a space and their State/Province/Country to their "Location:" field.

...but the cheapest prices I've ever found online are from Ritebrew. I'm fortunate to live close enough to occasionally pass by and pick up an order, or have a buddy do the same for me.

They have 2-row for $35 for a 50# bag, and Maris Otter for $52.35 for a 55# bag.

Lots of other stuff, too, at excellent prices.

Agreed, that place is my go to store too when it comes to equipment and sundries, while their shipping is very reasonable. Their malt prices are also enticing, except for shipping a 55# sack to me runs ~$30. So including 10-30# of malt (e.g., oat malt), I can't get locally, in an order makes it a bit more palatable.

 

[Upthewazzu]

If I'm not able to get a particular grain from my LHBS, I use MoreBeer. Free shipping over $69 and it usually comes in 2-3 days.

 

[cabron99]

This response is great. Am planning on MoreBeer and an occasional trip to the valley. All is not lost, after all!!

pao

 

[cabron99]

Don't know where Ventura is, but the cheapest prices I've ever found online are from Ritebrew.

Ventura is north of Hollywood and south of Santa Barbara, right in the heart of fire country. Ventura is a smoking ember and SB is getting ready to be one. Not looking good.

pao

 

[SoCal-Doug]

And more high winds today. Y'all be safe out there. We are all sending good thoughts to those in the fire zones.

 

[MaxStout]

Be safe. Hopefully it won't get too close to you. Maybe those Santa Ana winds will die down soon. You all need a break.

 

[UncleAvis]

If I'm not able to get a particular grain from my LHBS, I use MoreBeer. Free shipping over $69 and it usually comes in 2-3 days.

I haven't ordered from morebeer but when I was looking at the site it seemed that the 55# sacks didn't qualify for free shipping. Did i miss understand?

 

[blubrewbbq]

You are correct, the 55# sacks don't qualify. To get free shipping you have to purchase multiple 10# bags.

 

[PADave]

^^^ This. Doesn't make much sense, but five 10# bags will qualify for free shipping.

 

[IslandLizard]

^^^ This. Doesn't make much sense, but five 10# bags will qualify for free shipping.

Welcome to RETAIL!
Retail makes no sense to commonsense human beings. As so many things don't.

But this one is simple.
If you buy 5 10# bags they'll charge you 5x a 10# rate, which is higher than a single 50# sack's rate. That way the shipping cost is absorbed in the higher per pound pricing of items that "ship for free." There are nifty formulas for all that to figure out where the sweet spot lies, for both ends.

So calculate your per pound (or per sack) price, including shipping, and compare to find out which is the better deal. I can buy 55# sacks at one of my 2 LHBS for $45-60, I don't need to pay for shipping on those, and it's only an hour RT. There also happen to be 2 good breweries and 2 large taprooms within a half mile radius.

 

[cabron99]

Well, folks... Made my first grain order with MB. Not bad at all; base grain worked out to $1.13lb. Just $.23 more than the no longer available LHBS. Many thanks to you all.
BTW, Merry Christmas!

 

[user 125772]

Heck, I'd try my local craft brewery before I started mail-ordering ...at least for the base malt.

 

[PADave]

Heck, I'd try my local craft brewery before I started mail-ordering ...at least for the base malt.

Also have to factor in fuel and time into any local buys. I can sit at home in my underwear and place an order Sunday and it's on my porch Tues. I've compared my local sources for base malt and all things factored, there is no savings for me, YMMV. Even if there was, the convenience is worth it over saving a couple of bucks.

 

[SoCal-Doug]

Heck, I'd try my local craft brewery before I started mail-ordering ...at least for the base malt.

Have you ever found a brewery that would sell base malts to the public? Let alone at a price lower than a local shop bag price? I've talked to a few and they were basically offended that I would brew my own instead of drinking their beer. There was one brewery/supply shop in san diego that offered some cheapo domestic 2-row by the bag, but they wanted 15 or 20 bucks more than everyone else (all their brew shop prices sucked though). Then there is a pub in Anaheim that is a bit pricey, but if you know they are high and point it out, they will match whatever you can prove elsewhere.

 

[MaxStout]

Have you ever found a brewery that would sell base malts to the public? Let alone at a price lower than a local shop bag price? I've talked to a few and they were basically offended that I would brew my own instead of drinking their beer. There was one brewery/supply shop in san diego that offered some cheapo domestic 2-row by the bag, but they wanted 15 or 20 bucks more than everyone else (all their brew shop prices sucked though). Then there is a pub in Anaheim that is a bit pricey, but if you know they are high and point it out, they will match whatever you can prove elsewhere.

As if on the first taste of their one-of-a-kind craft beer, you would suddenly swear off homebrewing forever.

I could understand if a brewery just didn't want to set a precedent and have a bunch of homebrewers hitting them up to add orders. It's a business, they are busy, and I could understand some not wanting the extra hassle of people coming around to order and pick up grain. OTOH, many of these small craft brewers were homebrewers not too long ago. Still wouldn't hurt to ask--if you already have a rapport. And if they do agree to let you piggyback a few sacks of grain on their order, it would show good will to buy a few pints or a growler, in appreciation.

 

[charger]

My last online order came from http://www.farmhousebrewingsupply.com/. Hop prices were great and malt was competitive.