Whole Foods

[kngof9ex]

This explains wholefoods for people who have never been there

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2UFc1pr2yUU]Whole Foods Parking Lot - Music Video [HD] - YouTube[/ame]

 

[Ceetar]

I picked up some Irish Moss at the Paramus, NJ one yesterday. Had to explain to the cashier what it was when I checked out.

They had packages of dry ale yeast, I don't remember which one, but neither them nor Corrado's had the London ESB yeast I wanted. I think i'm not brewing this Saturday..

 

[Kate00]

Got to love the Santa Rosa Whole Foods, Brew tasteing room and brewing supplies. Does that get any better. And it is cheeper that the other LHBS.

I wish our whole foods had brewing supplies.

 

[badbrew]

Out here, WF is an overpriced store with no brewing supplies that looks like disneyland inside.

 

[jiggs_casey]

the other name for whole foods is whole paycheck. they do have an excellent selection of goods but it is pretty costly.

hilarious!

 

[ReverseApacheMaster]

The one in Arlington I seem to remember carries homebrew supplies but there is definitely not a bar. I live very close to a Central Market so anything organic I need I go to CM for and they have a very good beer selection. The local WF, not so much.

I did not realize that one in Austin did growler fills. I might have to peruse the selection next time I'm down.

 

[Sacdan]

Just got back from WF is Folsom, CA... All 27 gains sell for $1.25/lb and there is a mill to use. White Labs vials in the cooler with hop union packs. And there is a beer garden out front with gas heaters.

I never thought I would say "honey, can I please go with you to the grocery store"!.

Wow! I have been there twice just to buy beer and never knew they sold supplies. I saw a bag that looked like a sack of grain. I thought that it was rice or something else. I have to go check this out! I need to restock my grain supply!

 

[m1k3]

I considered making this post a new thread but since I think the issue was with the grain or crush at Whole Foods.... So, I am going to tack this post on here.

I have done 3 all grain batches with grain from WF (crushed myself in the store the night before brew day). The hops and yeast I had from William's and Northern Brewer.

First two all grain batches from WF went exactly as my last 10 before had (with my usual acceptable efficiency). I use a copper manifold in rectangular cooler.

But this time.... when I invited 7 guys from work for a brewing demo (wouldn't you know it), I managed to make 6 gallons of American Stout with a starting gravity of around 1.040 using 30 pounds of grain! I thought my refractometer might be broken when I took my first reading. It was my usual 60 minute infusion mash at 154F.

Last night I had first taste of the Stout and it is small and super roasty because of the lack of sweetness and alcohol. I drank 40oz of it no problem... it is a session strength stout.

I know it's hard to tell at this point what went wrong. Was the crush that bad this time? What base malt did I even buy? (I wanted Pale Ale malt and they were sold out, I got the one that looked like 2 row but the label was missing.)

The only good part about that experience is that I was charged $7.22 for the 30 pounds of grain. (they charged me $1.25 for each bag of grain not $1.25/pound!)

Here is the actual recipe for 6 gallons of finished beer. (I often make 8 gallons with 30 pounds of grain, if the efficiency is better.)

(And, I know that is a lot of crystal malt but it comes out of coffee bean type dispensers at WF and I have overshot the amount I want on two occasions.)

I think I need to return to the real LHBS next time.

Amt Name %
16 lbs Pale Malt (2 Row) US (2.0 SRM) 53.3 %
4 lbs 15.0 oz Caramel Malt - 40L (Briess) (40.0 SRM) 16.5 %
4 lbs 5.1 oz Caramel/Crystal Malt - 80L (80.0 SRM) 14.4 %
3 lbs Chocolate Malt (350.0 SRM) 10.0 %
1 lbs Roasted Barley (Briess) (300.0 SRM) 3.3 %
12.0 oz Wheat, Roasted (550.0 SRM) 2.5 %

(Beer Smith2 says that at 65% efficiency that should have been 1.100 OG)

Thanks for any ideas on this.

 

[thegerm]

30 lbs, 6 gallons and 1.040? you've got some kind of major malfunction. the grains at whole foods are not pre-crushed... it sounds like you thought they were. this could account for your extremely low efficiency.

 

[m1k3]

I put them through the crusher.

I think it was channeling from my lautering system. I only stirred the mash before the 60 min stand.

I have switched to a stainless steel braid and plan to batch sparge and maybe recirculate with the pump if needed.

 

[BuckNasty]

Will have to check this out next time I'm out in the paradise that is Santa Rosa. Every time I go through there I think of moving....gorgeous Norcal chicks at Russian River brewery, the ocean nearby with free diving, perfect weather, hardwoods abound for woodworking, and far enough from SF yet not in the sticks.

 

[bobeer]

The WF in Fairlakes, VA has a couple taps at each food bar areas. You can get growlers filled there too for 10 bucks. Not sure if they have homebrew supplies though. That would be awesome since my lhbs is farther than the WF.
I hear they just put in a burger joint in there too. Armed with big screens and more taps. Emeril's food cooking show used to be filmed where the burger joint is now.