Such a deal

[Beer-lord]

I was expecting a price increase at my LHBS for sacks of grain due to the increases from UPS/FedEx and many truck lines but today, I still got a 55 lb bag of Canada Malting Group 2 row for $49. That's only $.89/lb! I know stores like MoreBeer sell bags for $38 but shipping is a fortune. I feel fortunate my LHBS is so reasonable. I could have gotten a 50 lb bag of RAHR for $46 but it was a a strangely higher Lovibond (ordered by mistake) at 3.8. I don't mind a darker beer but I was afraid of it giving too much of a presence in lighter beers.
Bottom line....if I bought my grain by the pound, I'd pay a minimum of $1.25/lb.....That's almost $20 more than buying by the sack. Enough to almost brew a 5 gallon batch. Buying 3-4 sacks a year, I save a good bit. I'm cheap.....can't you tell?

[LouieMacGoo]

That is a good deal. Any time you can get grain for less then a $1 a pound your doing good.

My LHBS sells Briess 2 row, 50 lbs bag for $39 which is a great price but since I don't yet have a grain mill I haven't taken advantage of the price.

[Beer-lord]

I've not been a big fan of Briess and only get that if they are out of the other 3 brands they carry but you should look into getting a mill if you brew often enough. I know I save enough each year by making larger starters and saving yeast and buying hops and grain in bulk to brew about 3 beers. That's pretty good in my book.

[Dawg LB Steve]

My guy has no problem with me bringing grain in that I bought from him to mill when I'm putting a recipe together. I bought 2 sacks of two row and divided out into 7, 10, and 16 lb containers, self serve store so I just add the specialty grains in and mill there. Came out to .80/lb

[swenocha]

I guess I'm fortunate that the per oz price at All Seasons is $0.06, which adds up to $0.96/lb. If I buy by the 55lb bag, I can get it for $0.82/lb, but I really don't have a great way to store and mill (I suppose that All Seasons would let me bring it back in in a recipe sized portion as Steve suggested... hmm...). I could get to $0.78/lb in bulk from Rebel, but only $1.19/lb if I buy in small portions. Weird. And they are so far away, so I just stick with All Seasons. Under $1/lb works for me. I also have friends who bulk buy from somewhere and get to $0.50/lb or something crazy, but I've never bought in on that...

I really need to install a grain silo at the house...

[Rebel_B]

I usually buy a 55lb sack of Gambrinus Pale malt for around $39 at my LHBS. I will need to buy another sack soon; I'm hoping it is still at a similar price.

[Beer-lord]

So it's beginning to look like my deal wasn't so great after all. $10 more than what others paid. I'm still saving money buying in bulk but I think I'll let them know other LHBS have better prices. Like that will do any good.

[Rebel_B]

I like to see the recent packing date on my sack of grain also; usually about a week or so before I buy it! These sacks don't sit around very long. Here's thread from HBT about my LHBS & Gambrinus malt:

http://www.homebrewtalk.com/f36/opinion ... lt-158473/
Quote:
Originally Posted by Splangy View Post
Yup, you would think that Gambrinus would be popular in the NW since they are pretty local. I can pick up a sack at Larry's down in Kent for $40-45 I think. I guess they are just not as well known as Breiss or the other big names...
I also buy Gambrinus from Larry's. I am a big fan of the ESB Malt. The Pale Malt is a very good substitute for American 2-Row.

Larry's is one of Gambrinus' main importers. If you drink beer from a Micro in the PNW, you're very likely drinking beer made with Gambrinus malt. Larry gets his delivery's a 40' trailer at a time. Larry doesn't import all that malt just to sell to homebrewers.

[John Sand]

I also buy two row in sacks. Last time at my LHBS I thought the price high, I'll check internet prices next time.
For those without a mill, I use an old Waring blender. It is quick enough, cheap and easy to store.

[myhorselikesbeer]

John,
Do you think a grinder would work if using the coarse plate? Sometimes I pick-up my order (pre-crushed) and then run into a brewing delay of a few days or even a week. I keep the grain sealed in the bucket but know that the freshness is being impacted.

[RickBeer]

While I'm buying steeping grains, not 2-row, I crush them and then heat seal them in the bag (no vacuum seal) at the LHBS, and then double bag them, and mine go 3 - 6 weeks before I use them. I can't imagine that sealed in a bucket a few days or a week matters.

[DaYooper]

Agree with Rick. I mean, look at all those Brewer's Best kits. I am guessing they are easily a week old. I will be doing the vacuum sealing trick soon as have a ton of Mr.B and BD HMEs I stocked up on knowing my brewing time will soon be limited so need to make up a bunch of steeping grain "kits" until I get to know the LHBSs up there.

[Rebel_B]

I was expecting a price increase at my LHBS for sacks of grain due to the increases from UPS/FedEx and many truck lines but today, I still got a 55 lb bag of Canada Malting Group 2 row for $49. That's only $.89/lb! I know stores like MoreBeer sell bags for $38 but shipping is a fortune. I feel fortunate my LHBS is so reasonable. I could have gotten a 50 lb bag of RAHR for $46 but it was a a strangely higher Lovibond (ordered by mistake) at 3.8. I don't mind a darker beer but I was afraid of it giving too much of a presence in lighter beers.
Bottom line....if I bought my grain by the pound, I'd pay a minimum of $1.25/lb.....That's almost $20 more than buying by the sack. Enough to almost brew a 5 gallon batch. Buying 3-4 sacks a year, I save a good bit. I'm cheap.....can't you tell?

Just picked up another sack of grain at my LHBS; 55lb (25kg) Pale Malt for $39.25! Smells fantastic, packaging date on the sack shows March 7th, 2015. Just arrived at my LHBS on Monday the 9th.

ImageUploadedByTapatalk1426122350.403573.jpg (241.44 KiB) Viewed 1556 times

[Beer-lord]

Lucky dude! Great price and from what I've read, good malt.

[Rebel_B]

I didn't mention in the Reply, but I also get an 8% discount from that stated price: 5% for being in the local club & another 3% for paying by cash $. So, actual cost was: $36.11!