Allergic to All Grain

Went to the LHBS to get the ingredients for my first AG brew this weekend. Turns out I am allergic to all grain. As I started my crush, and the small cloud of dust rose from the mill, my asthma and allergies went crazy. By the time I was at the register, until an hour after I got home I was sneezing and couldn't breathe well. NBD, I've been living with this as long as I remember, but caught me off guard - I thought barley would be inert once it was killed.

It's the dust. Gets me too, although not quite as bad as you describe. If you can mill your own grain at home, conditioning the malt (with water spritz)and ventilating the area will help.

Shouldn't stop you from brewing though, right?

Have the LHBS guy do the milling while you wait outside.

Gary

How about a paper dust mask, they are cheap and easy to use.

I'd sooner go respirator mask than quitting brewing.

I sometimes get asthma for the rest of the day after I get my grain from the LHBS. I don't get asthma normally. It's just the super fine barley dust gets in my lungs. I've very careful to take deep breaths away from the dust and hold my breath when I need to be in it a little.

You can always take one of those crappy little painters masks with you or buy your own barley crusher. Don't give up on all grain though, totally worth a little unpleasantness.

Or better yet, a HEPA respirator.

This will work...

...as long as your eyes are spaced fairly wide and you're missing your right ring finger

Edit: To be on topic though, call in your order beforehand and just pick it up when you arrive. This is pretty standard for most LHBS.

+1 to that, I was surprised the first time this happened to me.

Now we have our own mill, too... so we mill outside.

We also mill into a large tupperware type bin, with the mill mounted onto the lid... this keeps down the dust dramatically, even with our fine milling, so I don't have much of a problem any more...

acidrain said:

Shouldn't stop you from brewing though, right?

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No way. I think I'll go with a bandana next time. Bandit-Style.

Qhrumphf said:

I'd sooner go respirator mask than quitting brewing.

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I wear the CDC approved full Hanta virus/Ebola suit BEFORE I would quit brewing!!