bernerbrau
Well-Known Member
Has anyone thought seriously about the possibility of becoming a GF homebrew vendor? Obviously there's a need, as GF brewing appears to be a largely uncharted territory.
Now, most HBSes offer Sorghum and Rice extracts. If we want to get any more complicated than that, it looks like we're stuck doing home malting.
Bear in mind that I'm just thinking out loud here, as I've only just started to get into GF brewing.
Would there be a viable business model in setting up shop to manufacture and sell GF malts? Products could include:
My thinking is the business would start by taking individual orders and charging a premium for labor on top of the cost of the grain, and just malting to order. Then as reputation builds and product moves faster, start malting in bulk and shipping to order. Then whenever assets permit, obtain the hardware necessary to reduce GF wort down to extract, and package the extract.
**I put it on there as a potential product since it could save customers time, but selling gluten free liquid yeast would be a little trickier as it's not going to be as simple as diluting commercially available yeast and re-selling it. That would probably be inviting some trouble.
I'm not suggesting this wouldn't be an uphill battle. I'm just thinking there's a need for it, so why not investigate the cost versus the benefits of taking up the initiative to fill that need? What do people think of that possibility?
Now, most HBSes offer Sorghum and Rice extracts. If we want to get any more complicated than that, it looks like we're stuck doing home malting.
Bear in mind that I'm just thinking out loud here, as I've only just started to get into GF brewing.
Would there be a viable business model in setting up shop to manufacture and sell GF malts? Products could include:
- base malts from quinoa, buckwheat, millet, sorghum, amaranth, etc.
- specialty malts (caramel, crystal, roast) from quinoa, buckwheat, millet, sorghum, amaranth, etc.
- dry malt extracts from quinoa, buckwheat, millet, sorghum, amaranth, etc.
- liquid malt extracts from quinoa, buckwheat, millet, sorghum, amaranth, etc.
- Gluten free liquid yeast**
My thinking is the business would start by taking individual orders and charging a premium for labor on top of the cost of the grain, and just malting to order. Then as reputation builds and product moves faster, start malting in bulk and shipping to order. Then whenever assets permit, obtain the hardware necessary to reduce GF wort down to extract, and package the extract.
**I put it on there as a potential product since it could save customers time, but selling gluten free liquid yeast would be a little trickier as it's not going to be as simple as diluting commercially available yeast and re-selling it. That would probably be inviting some trouble.
I'm not suggesting this wouldn't be an uphill battle. I'm just thinking there's a need for it, so why not investigate the cost versus the benefits of taking up the initiative to fill that need? What do people think of that possibility?