Need a new supplier for all-grain brewing

[SoCal-Doug]

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.

I am always happy to pay a [fair] markup, that's why people are in business. I would never ask for pure wholesale pricing. I encouraged them to mark it up a little for their 15 seconds to add it to their order. But being a homebrewer, I am cutting their throat by brewing my own and not choking down their 15 IPA's and 1 overhopped stout

 

[PADave]

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.

So how much are you saving? I'd rather not spend a dollar to save a nickle.

 

[charger]

So how much are you saving? I'd rather not spend a dollar to save a nickle.

I’ve picked up Golden Promise and Franco-Bel Pilsen at my local brewery. They are small and usually have a bag or 2 left over that they are willing to part with. They only asked for $45-$50 for the sacks but because my schedule doesn’t allow me to go there often, I usually just hand them $60. For the quality of malt, that’s still a great deal.

 

[Northern_Brewer]

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.

That's so short-sighted. Homebrewers are at the heart of a healthy beer culture, their enemy is wine and macro lager, not homebrew. In the same vein, Coke view one of their chief rivals as people who drink water...

Here in the UK you do get some breweries explicitly selling to homebrewers - after all, they get cheaper malt the more volume they buy- but it's not common. But there's many more who will quietly sell the odd bag unofficially. There's a brewery a bit of a way from me that sells UK two row for under £15 per 25kg sack, compared to a standard retail price of £24-25. I've got a deal with my nearest brewery to split the difference at £20, but I know them well so I usually get a sample or two of their finished product when I pick it up! (£1=US$1.34=€1.13). I'd rather have Otter which is normally £5-7 more, but they don't normally use it.

 

[MaxStout]

So how much are you saving? I'd rather not spend a dollar to save a nickle.

No idea on the amt. of savings. I only know of someone who got some grain through a brewer he knows. He had been a regular at the taproom and knew the owners, so it was basically a favor. The brewer let him buy it at cost, which was less than the LHBS charged for sacks. How much less, I don't know. I'll try to remember to ask him next time I talk to him.

 

[PADave]

No idea on the amt. of savings. I only know of someone who got some grain through a brewer he knows. He had been a regular at the taproom and knew the owners, so it was basically a favor. The brewer let him buy it at cost, which was less than the LHBS charged for sacks. How much less, I don't know. I'll try to remember to ask him next time I talk to him.

My point was if you save $5-10 on a sack of grain, but then go rack up a $20-30 bar tab buying a few pints or a growler out of goodwill, you are not saving anything.

 

[charger]

My point was if you save $5-10 on a sack of grain, but then go rack up a $20-30 bar tab buying a few pints or a growler out of goodwill, you are not saving anything.

Generally, the home brewers who purchase bulk through a local brewer aren’t patrons of the breweries just to get access to grain. They go there to support the local brewery and the ability to purchase through them is a plus. Plus you are developing a network with professionals to talk brewing with, they have loads of information that they are likely willing to share. They also enjoy getting a few bottles of homebrew that they helped support.

If you don’t support your local brewery, then you may not save any money by buying through them, and you probably shouldn’t.

 

[PADave]

Generally, the home brewers who purchase bulk through a local brewer aren’t patrons of the breweries just to get access to grain. They go there to support the local brewery and the ability to purchase through them is a plus. Plus you are developing a network with professionals to talk brewing with, they have loads of information that they are likely willing to share. They also enjoy getting a few bottles of homebrew that they helped support.

If you don’t support your local brewery, then you may not save any money by buying through them, and you probably shouldn’t.

I agree with all that. It's just when people talk about how much money they save by buying local, or by getting grain at a local brewery, think of the big picture and the perceived savings are not there. Lets say you save $10 a sack of grain. There are about 4-5 brews out of a 55 lb sack of base malt. So you're saving about $2 per brew, or $1 per case of beer.

 

[cabron99]

Just got my first order of grain for 2 batches of a IIPA I love. Couldn't be happier!!! My appreciation goes out to all of you that contributed to my education. Hope is not lost. Merry Christmas to all!

pao